Camp Lejeune is a naval base and a great home for active and retired naval officers, civilian employees, and their families. However, the camp's reputation was trampled by the contaminated water which led to fatal health issues for the residents who lived in the camp between 1953 and 1987.
Following the devastating effects of the water
contaminants, the U.S. government enacted the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022
to allow victims who have sustained injuries and suffered loss from the effects
of the contaminants to file a compensation claim.
Below is everything you need to know about camp
Lejeune disability benefits.
Who Is Eligible To File For Camp Lejeune Disability Benefits?
One can qualify to file a lawsuit for compensation against the U.S. government if:
- They legally lived and were exposed to the contaminated water
at camp Lejeune for a period amounting to 30 days, between 1953 and 1987
- They developed a health problem/s as a result of consuming
contaminated water
- They have a relative who meets the above criteria
The common health problems that health
scientists have linked to Lejeune camp contaminated water include:
- Kidney cancer
- Adult leukemia
- Bladder cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
- Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
- Aplastic anaemia
- Parkinson's disease
- Any other conditions related to the camp Lejeune water contaminants
How Do You File A Camp Lejeune Lawsuit?
To start the process, you should file an administrative
claim with the office of the Judge Advocate General (JAG) of the Navy's Tort
Claims Unit. In this claim, you provide sufficient information about:
- Your contact details
- Records to prove your involvement in the Lejeune camp like
military service records, social work records, school and housing records
- In-depth information about your injury, including the
medical records and losses you have suffered due to your health condition
- The amount of money you need to settle the claim
- Any other relevant information that will lead to
approval of your claim
After filing your lawsuit, the Tort Claims Unit
should approve or reject your claim within six months. You may reach the
settlement of the claim with the government at this stage if it is approved. If
declined, you can file a claim with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern
District of North Carolina.
Note: According to the Camp Lejeune Justice
Act's (CLJA) statute of limitations, you cannot file a claim after August 10, 2024 (two years after
the CLJA Act came into effect) or six months after the denial of the
administration claim. That means you should observe the timeline to enjoy the
benefits camp Lejeune.
How Do You Calculate The Damages of Camp Lejeune Claim?
Damages in this context refer to the loss you
incur due to medication or incapacitation you sustained due to an injury
related to Lejeune's contaminated water.
During your calculations, you should include
things like:
- The cost of past and the future medical care
- The income lost or reduced due to incapacitation from a
condition related to Lejeune water contamination
- Pain and suffering from a condition suffered from intake of
contaminated water
Note: Punitive damages are neither allowed nor
provided for under the CJLA Act.
Additionally, if you have been enjoying any
V.A., medicare, or Medicaid Benefits due to a condition you suffered from
exposure to contaminated water at Lejeune camp, such benefits may offset your
claim settlement or court award.
Do You Need Any Assistance From a Lawyer?
The process of filing a camp Lejeune
compensation claim is a complex one. For this reason, you need the help of a
personal injury lawyer to help you in filing a claim for Camp Lejeune water contamination. More specifically, a lawyer would:
- Help you establish whether you are eligible for V.A.
benefits and how they might be affected by the CLJA claim
- Assess the strengths and weaknesses of the case to advise you
accordingly
- Help you estimate damages and negotiate for your fair
settlement
- Help you collect the necessary documents to prove that
you lived and worked at Lejeune camp for 30 days and suffered injury from
exposure to the contaminated water.
- Network with doctors and other experts you need to handle the
outcome of your case
The best thing about most personal injury
attorneys for Lejeune cases is that they operate on a contingency basis. You'll
only pay them a percentage of your compensation if you win the case and zero
fee if you lose.
