Were you exposed to dangerous chemicals while serving or living around Camp Lejeune? If so, you may have a chance to secure compensation for your losses from the government. You can discuss your options with a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawyer.
Our team at Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi, PLC, can step in to provide you with professional assistance today. Allow us to use our decades of combined experience to build your claim. We provide free consultations and work on a contingency fee basis.
In This Article
- Why Choose Us to Represent Your Legal Needs?
- Can You Secure Compensation for Exposure to Contaminated Water?
- Why Were the Chemicals at Camp Lejeune Dangerous?
- Who Can Seek Compensation After Exposure to Toxic Chemicals?
- Is There a Class Action Lawsuit Against Camp Lejeune Water Contamination?
- How Much Is the Settlement for Camp Lejeune Water Contamination?
- What Kind of Compensation Can You Get for Exposure to Contaminants?
- What Diseases Are Associated With Camp Lejeune Water Contamination?
- Can Your Family Secure Compensation for the Loss of a Loved One?
- What Evidence Do You Need to Provide to Secure Compensation?
- What Should You Look for From Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawyers?
- What Caused the Chemicals in the Water at Camp Lejeune?
Why Choose Us to Represent Your Legal Needs?
Selecting the right Camp Lejeune water contamination attorney can severely impact your claim. Our lawyers have over 150 years of combined experience, allowing us to confidently handle complicated cases.
We put in the effort to stay up to date about the latest news on Camp Lejeune water contamination in 2022, passing on this information to our clients. In addition, we strive to answer all your questions, starting with a free consultation regarding your situation.
Our team has the legal knowledge and resources to take on your claim. We focus on bringing you compensation to cover your losses with personal care and attention.
Can You Secure Compensation for Exposure to Contaminated Water?
Marines and their family members experienced exposure to several dangerous chemicals when stationed at Camp Lejeune from 1953 to 1987. According to reputable news sources, more than one million people got exposed to chemicals like:
Tetrachloroethylene/ Perchloroethylene (PCE)
Companies primarily use PCE during dry cleaning. Other businesses use it while cleaning metal parts. The experts found tremendous concentrations of PCE in the drinking water around Camp Lejeune.
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Trichloroethylene (TCE)
Over time, PCE can break down into TCE. In industrial situations, companies use TCE to clean metal parts. However, the experts believe it entered the water at Camp Lejeune as PCE broke down instead of ending up in the water directly.
Vinyl Chloride (VC)
PCE and TCE further break down into VC given enough time. As a result, high concentrations of this chemical appeared in the water throughout Camp Lejeune.
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Benzene
Finally, professional testing revealed high levels of benzene in the water throughout Camp Lejeune. Companies use benzene alongside other chemicals when making synthetic fibers, resins, and plastics.
If you or a family member developed a health condition after exposure to these chemicals, you may have the legal option to seek damages to cover your medical expenses and other losses. You can work with a Camp Lejeune lawyer to learn more about your legal options.
Why Were the Chemicals at Camp Lejeune Dangerous?
Many of the chemicals found in the water around Camp Lejeune qualify as cancer-causing or carcinogenic. TCE, VC, and benzene all cause cancer. Many experts believe PCE may be carcinogenic as well.
Additionally, these chemicals increase the risk of developing other health problems and congenital disabilities.
Not everyone at Camp Lejeune experienced the same exposure to these chemicals. Additionally, people reacted in different ways to exposure. You can secure personalized care from Camp Lejeune water contamination lawyers.
Who Can Seek Compensation After Exposure to Toxic Chemicals?
The government has specific restrictions on eligibility for claims after chemical exposure at Camp Lejeune. Generally, you may seek damages to cover your losses if:
- You worked or lived at Camp Lejeune for some period between 1953 and 1987
- You experienced a qualifying health condition
Veteran service members from the Marines and the Navy may qualify for benefits. In addition, civilian workers on the base may also seek compensation for their medical expenses and other losses.
Finally, many Marines and Naval personnel brought their families with them to Camp Lejeune. As a result, residents and family members who developed medical conditions may have the opportunity to seek compensation for their losses.
Is There a Class Action Lawsuit Against Camp Lejeune Water Contamination?
The legal options for individuals impacted by contaminated water at Camp Lejeune have changed rapidly since August 2022. Before this date, Marines and their family members had more difficulty securing funds to cover their losses.
However, on August 8, 2022, President Biden signed the Sergeant First Class (SFC) Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act into law. The PACT act provides numerous provisions, including the Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA).
The PACT act provides a method for Marines to file a claim with the JAG office. Once JAG reviews and approves the claim, individuals have an option to file a lawsuit. Individuals may choose to work together to file class action lawsuits.
How Much Is the Settlement for Camp Lejeune Water Contamination?
The Congressional Budget Office estimated the cost for the CLJA. According to the estimate, the government may place upwards of $6 million in a settlement fund to cover the losses of individuals impacted by contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
The Budget Office believes over $200 million may go out in the first year. However, this number only represents an estimate and does not represent compensation paid to each individual impacted by the contaminated water.
You can speak with a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawyer to discuss possible settlements for your case.
What Kind of Compensation Can You Get for Exposure to Contaminants?
Our team understands the financial hardships you may have faced due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. Depending upon the factors of your case, your lawyer may help you secure damages to cover your:
- Past, current, and future medical expenses
- Lost wages or earning potential
- Pain, suffering, and emotional distress
In some cases, you could secure damages to cover lost companionship and the out-of-pocket expenses required to reach medical treatment facilities.
We also understand that some Marines have already received disability benefits associated with illnesses caused by exposure to contaminated water. In this situation, the government may reduce or offset your compensation based on the funds you previously received.
However, a potential water contamination lawsuit should not impact your government of VA benefits. You can discuss your situation in more detail with a Camp Lejeune lawsuit attorney.
What Diseases Are Associated With Camp Lejeune Water Contamination?
Medical professionals have tied exposure to toxins in the water at Camp Lejeune to several severe medical conditions. Many individuals exposed to the contaminants later developed cancers, including:
- Bladder cancer
- Brain cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
- Lung cancer
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Multiple myeloma
- Thyroid cancer
While cancer represents one of the most significant health risks associated with exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, it is not the only medical condition faced by Marines and their families.
Other conditions experienced by Camp Lejeune residents include:
- Anemia
- Cardiac defects
- Hepatic steatosis
- Kidney damage (nephrotoxicity)
- Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)
- Parkinson’s disease
- Scleroderma
Additionally, some individuals developed neurobehavioral disorders. Miscarriages and fertility issues resulted from exposure to toxic chemicals at Camp Lejeune. Additionally, many children developed cancers and lost their lives from exposure to these toxins.
You can discuss your specific situation with a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawyer. We look into the medical issues faced by your family and can help you determine if they were influenced by exposure to toxic chemicals.
Can Your Family Secure Compensation for the Loss of a Loved One?
In some cases, the toxins contained in the water at Camp Lejeune have led to fatal health conditions. Marines and members of their families, including children, have lost their lives due to exposure to these dangerous chemicals.
We understand the grief and emotional turmoil your family may experience in this situation and provide compassionate care to surviving family members. Under CLJA, your family has options to seek compensation to cover the financial losses you’ve faced.
While financial compensation cannot bring back your loved one, it may help you cover the costs associated with their medical care and funeral or burial expenses.
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How do You Move Forward With a Survival Action?
North Carolina allows a personal representative for your loved one’s estate to bring a survivorship claim. A representative may also file a wrongful death claim, which can recover compensation for lost inheritances and companionship.
Your loved one could name a personal representative in a will or another legally binding document. The court may also assign a personal representative if your loved one did not select one.
You can learn more about this process by working with a water contamination lawyer.
What Evidence do You Need to Provide to Secure Compensation?
It’s essential to consider the documentation and proof you need to provide to move forward with a claim under the CLJA. You may need to show that:
You Were at Camp Lejeune
Individuals who wish to seek compensation through the CLJA have to show that they lived or served in the area during the time the water contained contaminants. You may use your military records if you served in the Marines or naval forces.
Family members and civilian workers may use documents like utility bills, tax forms, and other official paperwork. You can speak with a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawyer to discuss the forms that would work in your case.
You Experienced a Specific Health Issue
The chemicals found in the water at Camp Lejeune have the potential to cause specific health issues and cancers. Your lawyer may include information from clinical trials and epidemiological studies to show the connection between the chemicals and your health.
Your lawyer may also collect medical documents from practitioners who provided you with care. These documents can support your condition, allowing you to secure compensation to cover your healthcare expenses.
What Should You Look for From Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawyers?
We understand the importance of selecting the right law firm to handle your claim if you experienced health effects from exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune while serving your country.
When you start looking for a lawyer, consider hiring a team that:
- Provides a free review of your case
- Has a history of successfully resolving claims
- Has the experience in taking complicated cases
- Charges no up-front costs
Allow us to start assessing your needs today. We understand the complicated nature of these claims and focus on answering any questions you have in a straightforward manner.
Our team only charges legal fees after successfully resolving your claim. We understand the financial strain you may face while handling the costs of necessary medical care. We also track any losses you sustained after exposure to toxic chemicals.
Your lawyer can also help you avoid mistakes while building your claim. We believe in helping you build a strong claim so that you and your family can move forward.
What Caused the Chemicals in the Water at Camp Lejeune?
The chemicals in the water at Camp Lejeune entered the water table from a dry cleaning company that operated nearby. The dry cleaners dumped chemicals into the water for three decades, exposing people who lived and worked nearby to dangerous toxins.
According to investigations performed on the water, it contained more than 3,000 times the safe concentrations for some of these chemicals. For many years, the water was unsafe to either drink or use, though Marines and their families received no information about this situation.
Note that Camp Lejeune used eight different water supply systems. However, the experts only found toxic chemicals in two of these supply systems. Therefore, not everyone who lived or served at Fort Lejeune experienced chemical exposure.
Talk to Water Contamination Lawyers About Your Claim
You have legal options if you suffered health effects after living or serving at Camp Lejeune. You can review these optoins with members of our team at Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi, PLC. Find out more by speaking to a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawyer.
You can get started by calling or filling out our online contact form.