On August 10, 2022, President Biden signed into law the Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act, also known as the PACT Act. This legislation allows individuals who suffered from injuries and medical conditions, or passed away as a result of contaminants in the drinking water at Camp Lejeune.
Between 1953 and 1987, military members and civilians living at the Camp Lejeune military base were exposed to several toxic chemicals in the water supply:
- Trichloroethylene (TCE)
- Tetrachloroethylene (PCE or PERC)
- Vinyl Chloride
- Benzene
These contaminants came from many sources, such as fuel tanks that leaked carcinogens into the groundwater. Other sources include improper disposal of industrial waste and a nearby dry cleaner that leaked PCE or PERC chemicals. These issues were well-known for many years, but military officials chose to cover up reports of injuries, illness, and death as a result of the water supply.
With the passing of the PACT Act, injury victims, their family members, and loved ones of deceased victims have two years from the signing date (August 10, 2022) to file a lawsuit with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. If you lost a family member due to the effects of contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, it’s essential to learn about your rights and legal options. You may be entitled to monetary damages from a wrongful death lawsuit, which our lawyers can file on your behalf. To learn more about the legal process as a surviving family member of a Camp Lejeune victim, please give us a call and speak to a wrongful death claims attorney.
Health Complications from Contaminated Water at Camp Lejeune
It’s been estimated that over one million individuals were effected by contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during the years of 1953 and 1987. The toxicity of the drinking water at the base is associated the following health complications:
- Aplastic anemia (and related syndromes)
- Bladder cancer
- Breast cancer
- Female infertility
- Miscarriage
- Esophageal cancer
- Leukemia
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
- Lung cancer
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Hepatic steatosis
- Multiple myeloma
- Myelodysplastic syndromes
- Neurobehavioral effects
- Parkinson’s disease
- Scleroderma
- Renal toxicity
Many veterans, civilians, contractors, and their family members died as a result of these conditions. Finally, surviving family members can achieve the justice they deserve from the U.S. military. Our law firm is here to assist you in any way we can, so don’t hesitate to contact us if you have questions or concerns.
Can I Pursue a Case if my Family Member has Died?
Yes, family members of the deceased who passed away due to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune can pursue a case for wrongful death compensation. To qualify for a claim, your family member would have to have lived at or been stationed at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between the years of 1953 and 1987. Additionally, your family member must not have been dishonorably discharged, as those individuals are unlikely to qualify for a claim.
This is a significant victory for loved ones of Camp Lejeune victims, since many of them had attempted to bring a lawsuit against the federal government in previous years. With the signing of the PACT Act, those family members can now seek monetary damages, regardless of when the victim passed away.
What kind of Evidence will I need to Succeed in a Camp Lejeune Wrongful Death Case?
In order to succeed in a claim for wrongful death, you will need to show that your loved one worked at or lived at Camp Lejeune military base during the period of contamination (1953 – 1987). Then, you will need to prove that they passed away prematurely due to a health condition that’s associated with contaminated water (please refer to the section titled “Health Complications from Contaminated Water at Camp Lejeune”).
This evidence can be obtained from various documents, such as:
- Military service records
- Medical reports, bills, etc.
- Health insurance documents
- Documents from the Veterans Administration
There may be other sources we can uncover in order to build a solid case for compensation. But you must get started right away on the claims process to ensure that your case is resolved in a timely manner. Please get in touch with us and schedule a free case evaluation.
Monetary Damages in a Wrongful Death Claim
There are various economic and non-economic damages that you can request in a Camp Lejeune wrongful death lawsuit. Damages you may be able to recover include the following:
- Medical expenses up until the date of death
- Funeral / burial expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Value of lost savings / wages
- Loss of benefits / gifts
- Loss of consortium
- Legal fees
Producing evidence of these damages is essential to recovering a fair amount of compensation. Our attorneys can assist you in this area and fight for your rights as a surviving family member of a Camp Lejeune water contamination victim.
How much can I Receive from a Camp Lejeune Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
At this point, there are too many unknown variables to say for sure how much a Camp Lejeune wrongful death case is worth. But we can look at cases with similar circumstances to get an idea of what you could receive from a lawsuit. Considering previous settlements and verdicts in these types of cases, a Camp Lejeune wrongful death settlement will probably range between $250,000 to over $1 million.
While that may sound like a lot, keep in mind that Camp Lejeune victims were ignored for many years by the U.S. military as they struggled with painful and deadly health conditions. Currently, there is great public outrage over the treatment of these veterans, who sacrificed their lives to serve our country. That outrage extends to surviving family members, who have tried for years to bring an injury claim for wrongful death. Now that the PACT Act has allowed them to officially proceed with these lawsuits, high value settlements are likely for family members and loved ones of Camp Lejeune injury victims.
However, the exact value of your own case will depend on many factors, including the decedent’s age at the time of death, the extent of their injuries, and their education / earning potential. Thus, it’s essential to speak with an experienced wrongful death lawsuit attorney as soon as possible.
Legal Representation for Loved Ones of Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Victims
The PACT Act is a necessary measure to provide veterans and their family members with the justice they deserve. While money cannot take the place of someone you love, a wrongful death lawsuit can help you recover the financial and emotional losses you are left with. Furthermore, it is an acknowledgement of the sacrifices that were made by so many of our brave veterans and their family members.
Now that the law is on your side, we look forward to bringing you the settlement you and your family are entitled to. As for our legal fees, you won’t have to worry about that with our Zero fee guarantee. Under this policy, all our fees are deferred until we recover your settlement. And if we don’t win your case, you won’t be responsible for any of our expenses.
To learn more about your rights as the family member of a Camp Lejeune wrongful death victim, contact our law firm and schedule a free consultation.
