What Is a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawyer?
Camp Lejeune water contamination lawyers work at plaintiff law firms that have successfully handled cases involving diseases and injuries caused by large corporations. These law firms tend to have hundreds of years of combined experience.
This litigation experience has allowed the best plaintiff law firms to establish a prominent reputation within the nation’s court system. They have won record-setting cases for people who have been injured.
Do not take a chance on which Camp Lejeune water contamination lawyer you hire — the stakes are too high.
What sets leading Camp Lejeune water contamination attorneys apart from the rest of the lawyers is that they have the resources needed to deploy groundbreaking litigation tactics against the largest companies in the world. This is especially important with Camp Lejeune water claims because they have never been attempted on this scale before. Additionally, the Camp Lejeune water claims are against the federal government.
The nation’s most experienced trial lawyers have national recognition because of their successes in high-profile cases. Many also advocate at the policy level to win more rights for those injured by the acts of large corporations, so they already have a powerful reputation with lawmakers as tough opponents.
Camp Lejeune water cases are not VA claims. They are lawsuits against the federal government, which could prove far more complex than most lawyers can handle.
Contact our trained Camp Lejeune claims advocates 24 hours per day at (866) 473-4764 to connect with one of America’s top law firms.
Filing a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Claim
For the first time in history, Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base water contamination victims and family members may be eligible to file a lawsuit.
Filing a Camp Lejeune water contamination claim could mean:
- Claims are filed as individual lawsuits that go to court for a verdict
- Settlements are reached out of court
- A class action or multidistrict litigation is filed in one court
Since it is impossible to predict how these new Camp Lejeune water contamination claims will play out, it is critically important to find the right lawyer to assist you.
Your Camp Lejeune water contamination lawyer should have experience helping victims on a mass scale, such as through class action or multidistrict litigation claims. In this type of litigation, similar lawsuits from people across the country are grouped into a single legal matter.
Camp Lejeune water contamination attorneys have experience with this type of litigation in both state and federal courts. They are also known for their stellar litigating skills because of their extensive experience arguing cases against large and powerful corporations.
The difference is in experience and access to resources. Reach out to the Camp Lejeune Claims Center team today to see if you are eligible to file a lawsuit. If you have a case, we can connect you accomplished national litigation firms and competent trial lawyers.
What Was in the Camp Lejeune Water?
The federal government’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) discovered that two of Camp Lejeune’s water treatment plants — Tarawa Terrace and Hadnot Point — were contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This led to toxic water being supplied to the base.
VOCs found in Camp Lejeune water included:
- Benzene
- Dichloroethylene (DCE)
- Tetrachloroethylene — also known as perchloroethylene (PCE)
- Trichloroethylene (TCE)
- Vinyl chloride
- Other contaminants
The contamination was caused by a private dry cleaning business and ongoing base operations. According to ATSDR, toxic chemicals were released into Camp Lejeune’s water supply from 1953 to 1987, putting nearly 1 million people at risk for health conditions.
What Health Issues Did Camp Lejeune Water Cause?
Since nearly 1 million people were exposed to contaminated drinking water, Camp Lejeune’s health issues are extensive. This is especially true because men, women, and children of all ages were exposed, making health issues vary greatly.
Some of the Camp Lejeune water health issues include:
- Birth defects: Birth defects, including low birth weight, neural tube defects, oral cleft defects, and other major congenital malformations. Miscarriages and fetal deaths have also been reported.
- Cancers: Several cancers are linked to the toxic water, including leukemia, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, liver cancer, multiple myeloma, and Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
- Other Health Conditions: Heart disease, neurological effects like Parkinson’s disease, and bone-marrow-related health problems have been linked to Camp Lejeune drinking water.
Health issues associated with the Camp Lejeune water contamination disaster have been widely known for decades. Thanks to the tireless efforts of victims, survivors, and advocates, Camp Lejeune water lawsuits are finally on the table for the first time in history.
Who Can File a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Claim?
Anyone who lived or worked on the base for at least 30 days from 1953 to 1987 may have newly available legal rights. This includes military personnel, veterans, civilian workers, and their families.
Due to the lengthy time of contamination and the wide range of ages of those exposed, people in their mid-30s up to their late-80s could be eligible.
There are some very important things to understand:
- These are not VA claims — they are lawsuits against the government and have never been allowed before.
- You may still be eligible, even if you currently receive or were denied VA benefits.
- Spouses, children, and survivors may newly qualify, including families who lost a child decades ago to illnesses such as childhood cancer.
- It doesn’t matter how ago the exposure was — you may still qualify.
Victims and survivors know that Camp Lejeune VA benefits have never been enough to compensate for the financial losses or pain and suffering inflicted upon the nation’s bravest.
With the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, victims can finally get the compensation they’ve needed for decades. Survivors can take comfort that their loved ones will finally get justice.
If you are unsure whether you can file a Camp Lejeune Water contamination claim, do not worry. Our claims advocates are standing by to walk through the exposure history of you or your loved one to determine whether you are newly eligible.
Don’t wait — deadlines will come into play, and you don’t want to miss your chance. Get started with your Camp Lejeune claim today.
Camp Lejeune Water Claim Payouts
It is too early to predict Camp Lejeune water claim payouts. This is because there is no case history to use for financial projections.
However, it is essential to understand that Camp Lejeune water claim payouts are in addition to VA benefits. People already receiving disability benefits can also get money through a Camp Lejeune water lawsuit. It will not affect their monthly tax-free VA payments.
This is because, for the first time, the federal government is willing to pay Camp Lejeune drinking water victims for their pain and suffering.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has earmarked $6.1 billion for Camp Lejeune contaminated water claims between 2022 to 2031. Using this figure, it is possible that some Camp Lejeune victims could receive settlements in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
While this money will not reverse what happened or bring loved ones back, it will end the decades-long suffering caused by frustrating delays and denials.
Working with a qualified Camp Lejeune lawyer can ensure the highest payout for you and your loved ones
Do I Need A Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Attorney To File My Claim?
Since Camp Lejeune water claims are lawsuits, it is advisable to hire a skilled lawyer to help you. A Camp Lejeune water lawyer will work with you to get the most favorable outcome for your Camp Lejeune water claim.
A Camp Lejeune water contamination lawyer will:
- Build a strong case by gathering evidence, including medical records and proof that you spent at least 30 days on the base between 1953-1987
- Make sure your Camp Lejeune claim is filed before the deadline passes
- Negotiate aggressively with the government (the defendant)
- Argue your case in court if a settlement agreement cannot be reached
Remember, these are different from claims for VA benefits. Having a powerful litigation attorney in your corner can make all the difference in how your Camp Lejeune water claim is resolved.
How Much Do Camp Lejeune Water Lawyers Cost?
A reputable Camp Lejeune water contamination lawyer will not cost anything out of pocket. This is because they work on a contingency fee basis, which means they only receive a payment if your case is successful. Legal fees are taken from the money Camp Lejeune water lawyers win for their clients.
This should relieve Camp Lejeune water contamination victims, who may already be financially overwhelmed. Additionally, this generally means that the most skilled and powerful Camp Lejeune water lawyers will only take your case if they think it can be successful.
If a skilled Camp Lejeune water lawyer signs you up as a client, they will do all the heavy lifting to build the strongest case and get the most compensation.
After all, in contingent fee arrangements, lawyers also stand to lose if your case is unsuccessful.
Is There a Time Limit to File My Camp Lejeune Claim?
People who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune Marine Base for at least 30 days from 1953 to 1987 can file a new Camp Lejeune claim no matter how far back exposure was.
That said, laws called statutes of limitations place strict deadlines around how long people have to take legal action. These laws vary by state and circumstance. Additionally, a designated time frame will likely be set for Camp Lejeune victims to seek compensation.
These factors make it critical to file your Camp Lejeune water claim on time. If you miss the window of time allowed, you will be forever barred from taking legal action.
Connecting with a reputable Camp Lejeune water contamination lawyer is the way to ensure you meet all applicable deadlines.
Find a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawyer
Because these new laws have opened the floodgates for up to a million victims to finally take action, you will notice an abundance of Camp Lejeune water contamination lawyers offering to help.
With so many Camp Lejeune lawyers out there, some questions to ask before you hire one are:
- What is their prior experience and success rate?
- How much money have they recovered for their clients?
- Do they have ample staff, including paralegals, legal assistants, and access to expert witnesses?
- Do you feel comfortable talking to the lawyer and their staff?
- Will they travel to you if they need to meet in person?
- Do they have experience with class action lawsuits or multidistrict litigation?
- What fees will they charge?
- Do they seem to understand what veterans and their survivors have been put through?
You may also wish to ask what the breakdown of their practice is and the types of cases they handle. A lawyer handling many divorce cases may not be the most suitable to handle a never-before-attempted complex claim against the federal government.
Remember that choosing a lawyer is one of the most important decisions you have to make with your Camp Lejeune water claim. It could mean the difference between failure and success and can impact the amount of money you receive.
Who Are the Best Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawyers?
Camp Lejeune Claims Center only works with the country’s top litigation firms, and we take great pride in knowing that the firms we work with are nationally recognized, have outstanding reputations, and are committed to serving U.S. military veterans.
The top Camp Lejeune water lawyers have the following features:
- Ability to help victims in all 50 states
- Experience in state and federal courts with multidistrict litigation and class actions
- Resources and dedication to take on the federal government
- Significant trial experience
- Work at nationally recognized litigation firms that have won billions of dollars for clients
Do not delay finding a reputable lawyer to handle your Camp Lejeune claim. It is important to secure legal representation from the nation’s top lawyers to get the most favorable outcome for your case.
Our claims advocates are standing by 24 hours a day to get you connected with a top Camp Lejeune water contamination lawyer.
