Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit

Qualifications for a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit

• Lived or worked at Camp Lejeune from 1953-1987
• Had exposure to contaminated water at the base for at least 30 days
• A member of the military, a military family member, a civilian worker, a caretaker
• Suffer from cancer or other serious illness
• Lost a loved one to cancer or serious illness

Roughly 1 million people were exposed to the toxic chemicals in the water at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987. Does that include you?

Do You Think You May Have a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Case?

It’s important to seek help quickly as you have a limited time to act. Talk to our Camp Lejeune water contamination and truck accident attorney at Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law. We specialize in complex cases and will leverage our expertise and resources to fight for the compensation you deserve.

Call our team about your possible Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit today at (713) 973-8888 or toll-free 1 (800) 444-5000. Get your free consultation and find out how we can help you.

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The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022

Those Who Suffered Illness from Water Contamination Get Justice

While the military members could get compensation through a prior piece of legislation, the Janey Ensminger Act, passed in 2013, their dependents and any civilians on the base could not. With the passage of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022, Congress made it possible for anyone suffering from illness caused by the contaminated water to seek compensation. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act was folded into another piece of legislation that protects those harmed by toxic exposure, the Honoring our PACT Act (Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxins Act). All of the language of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act remains the same (H.R. 3967, Sec. 804). On August 10, 2022, the President signed the Honoring Our PACT Act into law. As of its passing, anyone harmed by the water contamination at Camp Lejeune can bring a lawsuit.

Among the changes the PACT Act brings to veterans are…

• The process by which the Veterans Administration (VA) evaluates and determines exposure to toxins has been streamlined and is more transparent to military members and the public.
• The hurdles to prove a service connection to a range of illnesses stemming from toxic exposure have been removed. Among the illnesses in this list are several forms of cancer. This change will directly impact military members and others who were harmed at Camp LeJeune.
• Family members of veterans who died are eligible for benefits.
• Both the staff of the VA and military members will receive education about exposure to toxins and how to identify that exposure.
• Increased resources and staff for the VA to provide timely services to military members and their families.
• Increased staff at the VA to make claims processing move faster. This will provide quicker relief to those suffering from toxic exposure at Camp LeJeune.

Passage of this important piece of legislation means you can act now if you were exposed to toxins at Camp LeJeune. If you have serious illness connected to your time spent at the base, act quickly. Serious illness is expensive to treat and the effects on the finances and everyday life of you and your family cause added stress you don’t need. Get help from our team at Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law today. Call us at (713) 973-8888 or toll-free 1 (800) 444-5000 for legal representation by our attorneys with expertise in handling toxic exposure lawsuits.

Who Can File a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit?

To have grounds to file a lawsuit, you must have been exposed to the contaminated water while you worked at or lived on the Camp Lejeune base. If you suffer from cancer or other serious illness that may be caused by exposure to toxins in the water, you may have a case. With the passage of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, almost anyone with exposure to the water for at least 30 days can file. That includes military members, family members, caretakers and civilians. You can also file a water contamination lawsuit if you lost a loved one from illness linked to the toxic chemicals in the water. As researchers examine the tragic history of illness and death related to the water contamination, they find many who died were infants and young children.

Did you live or work in this area of Camp Lejeune? You may have a case.

What If You Were a Child and Lived at Camp Lejeune for Only a Few Years?

If you were exposed to the toxins in the water at Camp Lejeune in your childhood and, as an adult, suffer from illness linked to the water contamination, you can seek restitution. Even if you were still in the womb and your mother was exposed to the toxic chemicals in the Camp Lejeune water, you may have a case.

What If Your Loved One Suffers from Illness Caused by Toxins in Camp Lejeune Water?

Even caretakers of those who suffer illness caused by exposure to the toxic chemicals may seek compensation through a lawsuit. Spouses and children of those who died from exposure to the contaminated water can bring a lawsuit.

Find out if you have a case. Talk to our skilled attorneys at Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law. You can trust that our team will put all our resources into seeking justice for you in a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit.

What Caused Camp Lejeune Water Contamination?

There are two water supplies at the base that were contaminated by toxic chemicals. To understand what caused the Camp Lejeune water contamination, researchers identified the toxins in the water then studied what chemicals were in use in that area.

Tarawa Terrace Water Treatment Plant

The water treatment plant at Tarawa Terrace was near ABC One-Hour Cleaners, an off-base dry cleaner, that had harmful waste disposal practices. At the Centers for Disease Control, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) examined historical data and found the drinking water from the Tarawa Terrace water treatment plant had toxic chemical levels during the years 1957-1987. In February 1985, the military shut down the most contaminated wells.

Hadnot Point Water Treatment Plant

Supply wells related to the Hadnot Point water treatment plant had several sources of water contamination. They included nearby underground storage tanks that leaked toxic chemicals, spills of industrial waste in the area and waste disposal sites. The ATDSR found that toxic chemicals contaminated water from this treatment plant between 1953 and 1985.

How Was Camp Lejeune Water Contaminated?

For those who want to know how the Camp Lejeune water was contaminated, the data presented by the ATSDR seems to show the obvious. The toxic chemicals that were dumped in close proximity to the water supply at Camp Lejeune seeped into the drinking water and then traveled through the pipes. Anyone on the base from 1953-1987 who drank the water or bathed in the water was exposed to these dangerous chemicals and many suffered illness as a result. Tragically, some who drank or used the water died.

The Military and the EPA Take Action

Once research brought to light the amount of toxins at the base, Camp Lejeune was declared a Department of Defense Superfund site. After years of inaction, the military finally started to address the water contamination. Camp Lejeune was added to the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Priorities List in October of 1989. In 1992, the military began the cleanup efforts.

What Toxins Were in the Water at Camp Lejeune?

Generally, the toxins in the water at Camp Lejeune are classified as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which means they can vaporize and enter soil and the air as a gas. This is what allows the chemicals to seep into water wells. VOCs are typically found in solvents and fuels and are responsible for many legal cases where injuries are caused by environmental pollution. There are four VOCs found in the water at Camp Lejeune that can cause cancer or other serious illness:

• TCE – trichloroethylene
• PCE – tetrachloroethylene (also called perchloroethylene)
• Vinyl chloride
• Benzene

Where were these toxic contaminants? According to information from the ATDSR:

• PCE is the primary contaminant of Tarawa Terrace and is used in dry cleaning.
• A graph that maps data collected by the ATDSR shows how high the concentrations of PCE were at Tarawa Terrace. They were significantly above the maximum level of contamination considered to be safe in drinking water.
• TCE, PCE, benzene and vinyl chloride were contaminants in the Hadnot Point water.
• Benzene is used to make plastics and in other manufacturing. It is also naturally found in oil and gas, which were stored near Hadnot Point.
• Vinyl chloride is formed when TCE and PCE break down.

What Effects Did the Camp Lejeune Contamination Have on Humans?

Unfortunately, many who were exposed to toxic chemicals in the water at Camp Lejeune suffer from serious, chronic illnesses, including several forms of cancer. For some lucky individuals, their exposure to PCE, TCE, benzene and or vinyl chloride will not result in a health problem. According to the CDC, there are several factors that impact whether you contract a serious illness from exposure to toxins.

Those factors include:

• When you were exposed (in adulthood, childhood, infancy, during pregnancy)
• How much chemical exposure you experienced
• How long you were exposed to toxins
• How that exposure happened (through bathing, drinking, breathing)
• Your personal habits that may relate to exposure

Were You Affected by the Camp Lejeune Contamination?

If you have cancer or other serious illness and you know you were exposed to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, you should take action. Be sure you have a reliable Camp Lejeune water contamination attorney who will know how to document your exposure and how to show your illness was caused by the water contamination. You’ll need an attorney who has experience with complex personal injury cases and who has a history of winning for clients.

That’s why you should turn to Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law. We’ll give you a free consultation when you call us at (713) 973-8888 or toll-free 1 (800) 444-5000. There will be no fee unless you have a successful recovery.

What Are the Symptoms of Camp Lejeune Water Contamination?

Exposure to Toxic Chemicals in the Camp Lejeune Water Can Cause Several Serious Illnesses

The symptoms of Camp Lejeune water contamination are usually serious. Typically, those who suffer illness related to exposure to the toxins in the water at Camp Lejeune face battles with cancer or other chronic illnesses. Some have died as a result of toxic exposure. The ATDSR studied former Marines, their dependents and employees of the base and looked at prevalence of and increased risk of dying from childhood cancer, male breast cancer, birth defects and low birth weight, as well as various other forms of cancer and chronic diseases.

Through this research, the CDC agency identified a long list of illnesses related to toxic exposure. ATDSR “Assessment of the Evidence for the Drinking Water Contaminants at Camp Lejeune and Specific Cancers and Other Diseases” is a detailed report that examines cancers and other chronic illnesses that are symptoms of water contamination at Camp Lejeune. So, a symptom of Camp Lejeune water contamination is that you contracted one of these illnesses.

They include, but are not limited to:

There are many other diseases and illnesses associated with toxic exposure to TCE, PCE, benzene and vinyl chloride. If you suffer from one of these diseases and know that you were exposed to the water contamination at Camp Lejeune, you may have a legal claim.

How Do I File a Claim for Camp Lejeune Water Contamination?

The best course of action is to rely on the expertise of those who know the law. Our lawyers for Camp Lejeune water contamination cases will do the work for you. We’ll guide you through the process of making a legal claim for the compensation you are due.

If you want to know how to file a claim for Camp Lejeune water contamination, look no further. Rely on the experience and skill of our team at Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law. If you are in the position to bring a legal case related to your illness, we understand you’ve been through a very difficult time. We know how dramatically a serious illness can upend your life. And if exposure to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune happened years ago to your child, or perhaps even your newborn, you may have suffered the ultimate tragedy and lost your precious infant or child. Or perhaps you’ve lost a parent or spouse to cancer caused by exposure to water contamination.

Leave the work to us. We will fight aggressively to win all the compensation you deserve in your Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit. Get your free, no obligation consultation from our attorneys today.

Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Settlement Amounts

Once you pursue a lawsuit, you may wonder how much of your medical expenses will be covered, you may wonder if you can get compensation related to the suffering you experienced associated with your illness. There are specific damages you can pursue in a personal injury case, and those apply to a lawsuit related to toxic chemical exposure. We understand our clients want to know what they can expect for their Camp Lejeune water contamination settlement amount. Various factors will impact how much you can get in a settlement. But, to receive the most compensation possible, you should work with our skilled attorneys to be sure you get the justice you deserve.

Compensation in an injury lawsuit relates to the losses you suffered, also known as “damages.” In a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit, you can expect a settlement will cover these general areas:

• Medical expenses
• Loss of quality of life
• Pain and suffering
• And in the case of death, you can recover compensation for loss of your loved one’s income and their companionship.

Turn to Our Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Attorneys

We Will Use All Our Resources to Fight for You in a Camp Lejeune Lawsuit

Now is the time to choose your legal representation wisely. Our skilled attorneys at Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law have significant experience successfully handling complex cases. We only take on cases we are confident we can win.

You can rely on our expertise, trust in our experience and let yourself exhale because you know you can finally seek justice. We know that fighting a serious illness like cancer takes all the energy you have. We understand that losing a loved one to a chronic disease when it could have been prevented is heart breaking. We will fiercely pursue all the compensation you deserve for your suffering, your financial losses, and your medical expenses.

We know some of the victims of Camp Lejeune water contamination were taken from us too soon. We know others exposed to toxic chemicals as young children have been fighting severe illness for years. We can’t bring back your lost loved one or your lost health, but we can fight for justice. We can fight for the compensation you deserve.

Let us fight for you. Call our Camp Lejeune water contamination attorneys at Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law so we can get started on your case today. Reach our team now at (713) 973-8888 or toll-free 1 (800) 444-5000.