If you developed a dangerous health condition or if a member of your family died as a direct result of exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, you could have the right to file a lawsuit under the PACT Act. If you are interested in learning more about your right to file a lawsuit, as well as the possible value of your lawsuit, do not hesitate to reach out to the experts here at our law firm as soon as possible.
The Normandie Law Firm is a personal injury law firm with decades of experience handling all sorts of claims, including injury claims and wrongful death claims. If you or a loved one suffered harm after being negligently exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, contact us today to explore the legal options available and the compensation that you could recover. Our lawyers are ready to help.
A Brief Review of the Water Contamination at Camp Lejeune
From 1953 to 1987, the water at Camp Lejeune, a Marine Corp base in Jacksonville, North Carolina, was highly contaminated with at least 4 toxic chemicals. These chemicals included the following: Tetrachloroethylene (PCE or PERC), Trichloroethylene (TCE), Vinyl Chloride, and Benzene. Groundwater and well water was contaminated by a nearby business, leaking fuel tanks, and improperly disposed industrial waste. Today, we know that military leadership was well aware that the water at the camp was highly toxic, but they refused to do anything about it. Because of that, over a million Marines and other military service members, contractors, civilians, and their families were exposed to toxic water – and many of them developed severe medical conditions and some died as a result of these conditions. These conditions included the following: aplastic anemia, bladder cancer, breast cancer, esophageal cancer, female infertility, hepatic steatosis, kidney cancer, leukemia, liver cancer, lung cancer, miscarriage, multiple myeloma, myelodysplastic syndromes, neurobehavioral effects, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Parkinson’s disease, renal toxicity, scleroderma. If you or a loved one developed cancer or any of the medical conditions mentioned here, you could have grounds to file a lawsuit.
The PACT Act Gives Affected Parties the Right to Sue
On August 10, 2022, President Biden signed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act as part of the Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act into law. The PACT Act gives all those harmed after being exposed to the contaminated water supply at Camp Lejeune the right to file a lawsuit against the government. That is, affected parties and their families, with the exceptions of those who were dishonorably discharged, can file a lawsuit and recover damages. The law gives claimants a two-year window from the date of signing to file their lawsuits, so claimants have until August 2024 to file their lawsuits.
For more information about your right to file your water contamination lawsuit under the PACT Act, contact the experts here at our law firm today.
You Could be Compensated
Do I have the right to be compensated? Yes – whether you are filing an injury lawsuit or a wrongful death lawsuit, you could have grounds to recover compensation. The PACT Act gave the parties affected by the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune the right to sue and recover damages. These damages can include the following:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Disability benefits
- Pain and suffering
- Funeral and burial costs
- Loss of consortium
- Punitive damages
- Legal fees
Of course, the specific type and amount of compensation that you could receive will be strictly based on the details surrounding your Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit. When you allow the experts here at our firm to handle your claim, you can trust that our lawyers will fight for your right to recover the maximum payout available. It doesn’t matter whether we have to negotiate a settlement or go to trial to get a verdict – our lawyers will not rest until you recover what you are owed.
What is the Average Value of these Claims?
Cases consisting of exposure to toxic chemicals and the development of dangerous health conditions tend to be high value. The health conditions listed above are associated with high medical costs and long-term treatment. These cases can be worth, at minimum $150,000. These cases are more likely to be worth anywhere from $350,000 to $750,000. Of course, it is possible for these cases to be worth $1million or even more. For more information about the average value of claims similar to yours, do not hesitate to contact us as soon as possible.
What is the Value of My Camp Lejeune Case?
To better understand the possible value of your Camp Lejeune claim, it is essential that you understand the different factors that determine claim value. These factors include the following:
- The total cost of medical care, including different treatment options (medications, chemotherapy, surgeries), rehabilitation (physical therapy), follow-up care (routine check-ups, etc.)
- The permanency or recurrence of the medical condition, including whether the condition was curable, required long-term and follow-up treatment, or reappeared, for instance.
- The total lost wages/earnings, including whether the health condition prevented the victim from working temporarily or permanently.
- The way that the victim’s health condition affected his or her normal life (i.e., the ability to participate in usual hobbies and activities)
- The mental and emotional distress that the victim and his/her family suffered because of the health condition
- Whether the claim went to trial or settled out of court
For more information about the different factors that could affect the value of your Camp Lejeune case, contact us today. Our lawyers can evaluate your claim and help you better understand what you could potentially recover if your Camp Lejeune water contamination case is successful.
Time to Settle these Cases
How long is it going to take to settle my Camp Lejeune case? How long can I expect to wait until I can be compensated for my Camp Lejeune case? In general, these cases can take anywhere from a few months to a few years to settle. Here at our law firm, we always aim to reach fair settlement within 6 to 8 months. In the worst-case scenario, it can take 2 years or even longer to reach a settlement; the cases that take this long to settle are usually very complex. With all the cases that we handle, we are very transparent with our clients. If your claim is taking longer than expected to settle, you will know the reason why and we will keep you informed every step of the way to ensure that you know how we are working to get your settlement.
Have you already started your claim elsewhere? Is your current lawyer taking too long to settle your claim? Have you been waiting for a settlement for months or years without any update or without seeing any progress with your claim? In some cases, the incompetence of the legal team is what causes claims to take so long to settle. If you are unsatisfied with the way that your current lawyer is handling your case, contact us today for a free second opinion. If you decide to switch lawyers and allow us to handle your claim, you can trust that our experts will do everything possible to get you a fair settlement value as soon as possible.
Contact Normandie Law Firm Today
Whether you have questions about your right to file a lawsuit or how much you could potentially recover if your Camp Lejeune lawsuit is successful, do not hesitate to contact us today. Our lawyers are ready to provide you with all the information that you need. Our lawyers have decades of experience handling claims and helping victims and their families recover the settlement that they are owed. You can trust that we can handle your claim effectively and secure the best settlement available.
Normandie offers free legal services, which include free consultations and free second opinions. During these free legal services, our lawyers will be available to answer all your questions, address all your concerns, and provide you with the guidance that you need to begin or continue your claim. To benefit from these free legal services, contact us today.
Our Zero-Fee guarantee ensures that you will never be required to pay upfront legal costs for any of our legal services. We also work on a strict contingency structure; therefore, our clients will not be required to pay anything until winning their claims. If you do not win, you will not have to pay us anything.
If you are ready to speak with our lawyers, contact us today.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
Camp Lejeune Water Contamination CANCER Lawyers
Bladder Cancer Camp Lejeune Lawsuit Lawyers
How much is my Camp Lejeune Case Worth
