From 1953 to 1987, about one million people were exposed to contaminated water at the Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base in Jacksonville, North Carolina. If you or someone you know worked or lived at Camp Lejeune during this time and is currently facing serious health issues, it may be due to the water contamination. The good news is that you can file a claim for benefits and compensation, but you only have until August 10, 2024 to file a claim.
According to the 2022 Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA), victims will finally be allowed to file lawsuits and receive justice for their health issues and damages. Get your free case review from an attorney today or give us a call at 1-888-392-5392 to schedule a callback.
Ensure That You Are Eligible
In order to file a claim and receive compensation, you need to:
- Prove you were exposed to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune for a minimum total of 30 days between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987. This can be accomplished by finding and acquiring the correct military records or work documentation. Alternatively, you may use letters to addresses within the camp.
- Prove you later developed an illness linked to one of the toxins found in the water supply. The four main toxins are benzene, vinyl chloride, trichloroethylene (TCE), and perchloroethylene (PCE). Some of the qualified illnesses include: Parkinson’s disease, leukemia, brain damage, epilepsy, infertility, miscarriage, birth defects, and many different types of cancer. Proof of your health issues need to come in the form of medical records.
File a Claim
You are required to file a disability claim with the US Department of Veterans Affairs. The first step is the formal administrative process: you can file your claim for disability compensation online, by contacting a Veterans Affairs regional office for assistance from a counselor, or by visiting a regional office in person for support.
Claims are processed in the order they are received, so it may take months to receive a response from the Veterans Affairs office. During this time, we recommend finding a lawyer who is working with Camp Lejeune water contamination cases
After you submit your claim, the response may vary. Some responses include:
- It’s likely that the government will conditionally accept your claim based on further negotiations, likely with a lower settlement amount. If this occurs, your attorney can help you decide whether or not settling for a lower compensation amount is the best course of action for you.
- The government may initially deny your claim by not responding to your claim within the required response time (180 days) or by notifying your attorney of the rejection. In this case, you have the right to file a separate lawsuit.
In the Event of a Denial, File a Lawsuit With a Trusted Lawyer
If your claim with the Veterans Affairs office is denied, you should contact one of our trusted Camp Lejeune lawyers to file a lawsuit. We can help guide you through the process and officially file a lawsuit against the Eastern District of North Carolina, where Camp Lejeune is located.
When you file a lawsuit, your attorney will help you with the most time-consuming and mentally strenuous steps, such as conducting interviews with friends and family, contacting medical experts for their expertise, presenting your case to a jury, and dealing with any negotiations or issues during the entire process. It’s important to file a lawsuit with a lawyer you trust, who has a proven track record of winning lawsuits and retaining satisfied clients.
Why Should I Hire an Attorney To Process a Camp Lejeune Claim?
Although it’s possible to submit and process a claim to the Veterans Affairs office yourself, an attorney can help you gather all of the required documentation and evidence needed for a successful claim, and they can help you calculate the right compensation.
If your claim is denied, the attorney you’re already working with can file a lawsuit immediately upon notice of a denied claim, reducing the chance of any administrative delays or other issues. Attorneys can also negotiate and argue on your behalf, reducing the level of mental, physical, and emotional stress a lawsuit can bring.
Get Help With the Camp Lejeune Process From a Trusted Attorney
At George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers, we have Camp Lejeune contaminated water attorneys ready to review your cases and get you the help and justice you need. You deserve peace and compensation from one of the biggest health hazards and miscarriages of justice in the history of the United States.
Contact our attorneys at 1-888-392-5392 or fill out our online contact form to get a free Camp Lejeune case review today. We can help prepare your case with everything you need to get your due compensation.
