The PACT Act of 2022 has finally passed Congress! However, if you have suffered from a medical condition or illness related to exposure to toxic water at Camp Lejeune, you are not yet able to sue for damages. That does not mean, however, that you should not act as soon as possible.
In this blog post, I will explain the most recent legislative actions and what action you can take now to protect your rights and be prepared to file a strong claim for the compensation you deserve.
When Will People Injured by Camp Lejeune’s Contaminated Water Be Able to Sue?
On August 2, 2022, the Senate finally passed the Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022, also cited as the “Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022,” as an amendment to the Protecting Our Gold Star Families Education Act. This groundbreaking bill, which finally passed in the Senate by a vote of 86-11 after being previously passed in the House of Representatives, will expand the rights and benefits available to people exposed to toxins in the water while working or serving at Camp Lejeune.
What this means, then, is that as soon as President Biden signs the bill into law, victims of toxic exposure at Camp Lejeune will be able to file claims to get compensated for the damages they have suffered due to illnesses related to toxic exposure. Our firm, Boyers Law Group, is already helping people who have suffered injury from Camp Lejeune’s contaminated water understand how the law applies to them and get ready to file a claim as soon as possible.
When Should I Contact a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawyer?
Aid for victims of toxic exposure at Camp Lejeune is long overdue. Getting help from an experienced water contamination attorney to move your case forward as soon as possible is very important. The process involved in filing a claim with the federal court is separate and different from filing a claim with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, so working with a qualified, knowledgeable attorney is in your best interest.
Your attorney will explain the specific eligibility requirements, make sure you are eligible to file a claim under the terms of the law and collect the information necessary to put together an effective complaint. Getting started early will enable your lawyer to begin the lengthy process involved in gathering evidence related to your claim:
- Your military and work history (or your mother’s history if she lived or worked at the base between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987, and you were in the womb during the time she served there)
- The dates you were at Camp Lejeune
- Your exposure to contaminated water (how you were exposed and how long you were exposed)
- The medical condition or disease caused by the contaminated water, including your medical records related to the condition or disease
- The many ways your medical condition or disease has affected your life
As soon as the law allows, your attorney will complete all required administrative steps and file your claim with the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina to start the process involved in suing for the compensation you deserve.
Keep in mind that working with an experienced attorney who has the knowledge, skill and resources to amass the evidence necessary to demonstrate that your exposure to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune caused a medical condition or illness that has caused you to suffer numerous damages is very important to the success of your case.
Please do not hesitate to contact us as soon as possible by calling 305-512-7600 or submitting the “Tell Us What Happened” form on our website.
Who Will Be Able to Sue the Government for Injuries from Camp Lejeune’s Toxic Water?
Under the terms of the new law, anyone who served, lived, worked or was in utero at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987, and was subsequently diagnosed with bladder cancer, kidney cancer, liver cancer, leukemia, multiple myeloma, lymphoma, or other neurologic conditions is eligible to submit a claim
The VA considers these conditions to be presumptive injuries from the water at Camp Lejeune. However, other injuries might also have occurred, including: breast cancer, esophageal cancer, lung cancer, hepatic steatosis (fatty liver disease), scleroderma, infertility and neurological conditions.
If you or a loved one was exposed to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune and has suffered from any one of these or related conditions or illnesses, getting legal advice from a qualified attorney is definitely recommended. The proven trial attorneys at Boyers Law Group welcome the opportunity to help you understand the law and take appropriate action.
What Compensation Is Available for People Injured by Camp LeJeune’s Toxic Water?
It is too soon to tell how much compensation people injured by Camp Lejeune’s contaminated water will be able to obtain, since claims cannot yet be filed; however, what we do know is that the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has estimated that Camp Lejeune settlement payouts will cost the government $6.1 billion over ten years.
For injured victims, this means that funds should be available to compensate you for the economic and non-economic damages you have suffered, including but not limited to:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental anguish, depression, anxiety, stress
- Lost income and diminished earning capacity
- Past and future medical bills.
Your specific settlement amount could be substantial, but will depend on a number of factors, such as the medical condition or illness you developed due to toxic exposure, the ways in which the condition or illness has affected your life, your mental health, your family and your income; and your attorney’s ability to make a strong case demonstrating all the pain, suffering and losses you and your family have experienced because of exposure to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
Contact Qualified Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawyers
The PACT Act has passed! Now is the time to get a head start on putting together a strong claim for the substantial compensation you deserve. If you or a loved one were injured by exposure to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, the experienced water contamination injury attorneys at Boyers Law Group are ready to help with your claim.
For the legal expertise, compassionate understanding and powerful advocacy you need, call us at 305-512-7600 or submit the “Tell Us What Happened” form on our website. We are committed to passionately pursuing justice for you and your family.
