Following the discovery of deadly toxins in the water wells that supplied water to the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, many of the victims–veterans and their family members–have been filing claims for injuries, illnesses, and deaths from this contamination. If you served or lived in Camp Lejeune for at least thirty days between August 1st, 1953 and December 31st, 1987, you may qualify to file a compensation claim.
Of course, you’ll want to find an experienced personal injury attorney to help you file your claim. Working with the right Camp Lejeune settlement lawyer is important, as they’ll understand the requirements for eligibility and the possible obstacles that you might encounter along the way. Fortunately, there are experienced personal injury lawyers at Strom Law ready to help you file a successful claim.
Overview of Camp Lejeune Water Contamination
From the 1950s to the 1980s, Marines and their families stationed at Camp Lejeune are reported to have been exposed to serious water contamination after investigations revealed that the water they drank, cooked with, and bathed in was contaminated with deadly chemicals from a nearby off-base dry cleaning company.
So, how did the water become contaminated in Camp Lejeune? According to reports from various investigations, the water in the camp contained several chemical compounds that are commonly used in cleaning detergents. Different lab tests done by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), and Grainger Laboratories revealed that water in several wells that serviced the camp had high levels of tetrachloroethylene (PCE), a chemical often used by dry cleaners.
Although the investigative bodies initially accused Marine officials at the camp of not disposing of their industrial waste and wastewater properly, the main source of the contamination was believed to be the off-base dry cleaning company, ABC One-Hour Dry Cleaners, which drained its wastewaters into the nearby water wells, thus contaminating the groundwater.
How to Succeed in Your Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit
First, you need to check if you qualify to file a claim. Not every veteran, non-service worker, or relative of a veteran who lived in the camp is eligible to file a claim for Camp Lejeune water contamination. Only those victims who lived in the camp between August 1st, 1953 and December 31st, 1987 are eligible to file.
Even those who were at the camp during the specified period must prove that they stayed at the camp for at least thirty days and must also provide proof of having been diagnosed with one of the following presumptive conditions:
- Adult leukemia
- Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes
- Bladder cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Parkinson’s disease
If you’re not a veteran and you lived in the camp during the specified period, you can file a claim for healthcare benefits. The VA reimburses family members who lived with their kin at the camp during this period for healthcare expenses they incurred treating any of the following conditions:
- Lung cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Leukemia
- Myelodysplastic syndromes
- Hepatic steatosis
- Miscarriage
- Neurobehavioral effects
- Esophageal cancer
- Breast cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- Renal toxicity
- Female infertility
- Scleroderma
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
You must prove that you are related to the veteran, either by birth or marriage, and show that you lived in the camp for at least thirty days during the specified contamination period. You must also provide proof of healthcare expenses for any of the listed conditions.
Of course, a skilled personal injury attorney from Strom Law Firm can ensure you file a successful claim, avoid any unnecessary obstacles in doing so, and that you receive the compensation you are owed.
