Nearly one million people were exposed to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, out of which tens of thousands of them developed cancer and died a premature death.
Diving deep into history, Grainger Laboratories in 1982 discovered synthetic organic cleaning solvents in the well water at Camp Lejeune, where thousands of service men and women lived along with their families. People exposed to this contaminated water developed a host of diseases, including leukemia.
Fast forward to 2022, the Senate passed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, signed by President Biden, which allowed people exposed to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune to recover damages.
However, filing a Camp Lejeune lawsuit doesn’t guarantee you compensation. Only if you can prove that you were exposed to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune will you be able to recover damages.
Continue reading to learn more about the Camp Lejeune lawsuit so that you can earn fair compensation.
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Camp Lejeune Lawsuit: Which Toxins Were Found in the Water at Camp Lejeune?
Grainger Laboratories in 1982 discovered toxic chemicals, also known as volatile organic compounds, in the U.S. Marine Corp Base Camp Lejeune water. Though discovered in 1982, the water contamination began as early as 1953. For nearly 30 years, service members, base workers, and their families were unknowingly bathing and consuming the contaminated water.
Perchloroethylene (PCE), trichloroethylene (TCE), and benzene were the three main chemical compounds found in Camp Lejeune water. While benzene and TCE are categorized as cancer-causing chemicals, PCE is likely to be carcinogenic.
Medical and scientific evidence shows that exposure to the toxic water of Camp Lejeune led to congenital disabilities, cancer, and other health problems.
Illnesses Associated with Exposure to Contaminated Water at Camp Lejeune
Birth defects and cancer aren’t the only two diseases victims of Camp Lejeune were diagnosed with after exposure to the contaminated water. Other illnesses common among people who used water at Camp Lejeune are as follows:
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Bladder cancer
- Adult leukemia
- Oral cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Breast cancer
- Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes
- Tonsil cancer
- Tongue cancer
- Parkinson’s disease
- Multiple myeloma
- Liver cancer
- Kidney cancer
Exposure to contaminated water is linked with several other health conditions, such as:
- Lung cancer
- Renal toxicity
- Miscarriage
- Hepatic steatosis
- Esophageal cancer
- Scleroderma
Who Qualifies for Camp Lejeune Compensation Claim?
Any service men, women, and their family members, nearby residents, or workers exposed to the toxic chemicals present in Camp Lejeune water between 1st August 1953 and 31st December 31, 1987, can claim compensation from the U.S. government.
Even if the Camp Lejeune victim passed away decades ago, their family members could file a compensation claim on their behalf.
As far as the latest Camp Lejeune lawsuit update is concerned, quite a few law firms, like TorHoerman Law, inform individuals about the claim process of Camp Lejeune lawsuits. As per its lawyers, compensation claims filed right after the passage of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act are now in their litigation stage. And as of April 2023, hundreds of Camp Lejeune lawsuits are pending in the federal court of North Carolina.
TorHoerman Law offers free consultations to plaintiffs in which its lawyers determine the settlement amount on the basis of the evidence. The lawyers of the firm are highly qualified and have settled more than 10,000 cases in all 50 states.
Settlement Amounts and Payout for Victims in Camp Lejeune
In order to receive compensation, an individual must have been present or served, worked, and lived in the camp between 1953 (August) and 1987 (December) for a minimum of 30 days (cumulative). Additionally, they must have suffered from some type of harm, like any type of cancer or other health conditions, because of exposure to the contaminated water of the base.
Even mothers of unborn children who lived, served, or worked at the base while pregnant may also qualify for compensation.
As no lawsuit has reached a settlement yet, determining the settlement amount and payout for victims of Camp Lejeune is difficult. However, several factors, such as time spent at the camp, the severity of the disease, medical bills, lost wages or income, and pain and suffering, determine the settlement amount of the individuals.
In this regard, a skillful attorney will be able to help you, so contacting them will be the best bet.
Camp Lejeune Lawsuit: The Takeaway
Water contamination at Camp Lejeune harmed enlisted servicemen, women, and their families in unimaginable ways. While the majority of them succumbed to their illness, a few are still battling cancer or other health conditions.
But now that the U.S. government has passed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, victims can recover damages by filing a Camp Lejeune lawsuit. Even if your loved ones passed away battling an illness acquired by living in Camp Lejeune, you could seek compensation by filing a wrongful death claim.
Remember, the statute of limitations for the Camp Lejeune lawsuit is two years. Hence, make sure you file it before August 2024.
