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Between August 1953 and December 1987, many people at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina, came into contact with the base’s contaminated water supply. This exposed them to harmful chemicals that caused disease and death.
If you or a loved one was on or near the base during this period, the Rock Hill SC personal injury lawyers at Schiller & Hamilton can help you and your family seek compensation. Our water contamination lawsuit lawyers can review your situation and advise you on your next steps. You can reach out to us for a free consultation. If we work on your case, you won’t owe us any upfront fees or costs. We receive payment only if we recover compensation for you.
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act Of 2022 Could Become Law
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022, part of the Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022, is up before the U.S. Senate. In mid-July 2022, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the PACT Act by a 342-88 vote. Observers expect the Senate to pass the bill eventually. Once the president signs the bill, it becomes law.
Once it becomes law, people who spent time at Camp Lejeune and meet certain criteria can pursue legal action against the U.S. government and other liable parties for their losses. For years, plaintiffs have tried unsuccessfully to recover damages from the federal government for illnesses they developed after their time at Camp Lejeune.
The federal government avoided paying these claims, citing the statute of limitations. All of that will change under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022, allowing injured parties to seek damages.
VA Disability Benefits For Camp Lejeune Survivors
Some people who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune became eligible for disability benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) after President Obama signed the Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012.
The types of benefits you can receive depend on your situation. For instance, if you’re a veteran, you can apply for disability benefits, granting monthly cash benefits and healthcare. If you were a civilian that was exposed to Camp Lejeune’s water, you can seek reimbursement for your medical bills, along with other benefits.
Chemicals In Camp Lejeune’s Water Supply Hurt Military Base Occupants
Not everyone who was at Camp Lejeune from the early 1950s to the late 1980s suffered water contamination exposure. Per the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), several factors can affect whether you can develop a health issue after coming into contact with certain chemicals, including when you were exposed and for how long. However, after rigorous testing of several of the military base’s wells, chemicals were detected in the water, including:
- Trichloroethylene (TCE)
- Tetrachloroethylene (PCE)
- Benzene
- Vinyl chloride (VC)
Many People At Camp Lejeune Developed These Health Complications
The substances found in Camp Lejeune’s water supply were found to cause these cancers:
- Adult leukemia
- Bladder cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
- Lung cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Bladder cancer
- Breast cancer
- Esophageal cancer
Camp Lejeune’s chemical-laden water is also associated with the following medical conditions:
- Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes
- Parkinson’s disease
- Birth defects
- Female infertility
- Hepatic steatosis
- Leukemia
- Miscarriage
- Myelodysplastic syndromes
- Neurobehavioral effects
- Renal toxicity
- Scleroderma
Our Rock Hill Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit attorney can help you or your family file a compensation claim against the federal government for any losses you endured. We can review your circumstances and explain your options.
Who Can File A Rock Hill SC Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit?
Veterans, civilians, dependents, and military base employees can pursue damages after suffering exposure to Camp Lejeune’s contaminated water supply. In general, claimants must show:
- They lived on the military base for 30 days (consecutive or non-consecutive).
- They suffered an illness directly related to the water supply at Camp Lejeune.
Family members of veterans must show documentation proving their relationship to the service member, which may include a marriage certificate or adoption papers. A successful claim may also require documentation that you paid for medical care.
What Damages Can A Rock Hill SC Water Contamination Lawyer Recover?
If the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 becomes law, it will expand the health care benefits you could recover because of your illness. It also would allow you or a family member to hold the U.S. government and other parties liable for their negligence.
Any damages related to your illness could be recovered, such as:
- Medical expenses (past, current, and ongoing)
- Lost income and lost or reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Disability, disfigurement, or scarring
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
- Reduced quality of life
- Loss of life enjoyment
- Loss of companionship
Can I Sue For Wrongful Death Damages In A Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Case?
If a deceased family member spent time at Camp Lejeune before developing a fatal illness, you could file a wrongful death lawsuit. Even if your relative passed away long ago, you could recover damages under a wrongful death action.
Generally, the same criteria of other Camp Lejeune claims apply to the ones involving wrongful death. The decedent must have:
- Lived, worked, or spent time on Camp Lejeune’s grounds for at least 30 days between August 1953 and December 1987
- Died from an illness linked to Camp Lejeune’s contaminated water supply
If your Rock Hill Camp Lejeune wrongful death action is successful, you could secure awards that compensate you and your family for:
- The decedent’s medical expenses
- Funeral, burial, and cremation fees
- Loss of the decedent’s household income
- Loss of the decedent’s companionship, guidance, etc.
Our Rock Hill attorney can advise you on how the wrongful death lawsuit process works under South Carolina law and how it applies to you.
Our Rock Hill SC Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawyer Can Handle Your Lawsuit
Schiller & Hamilton’s compassionate legal team will protect your rights and interests as you seek recovery for your losses. For more than 20 years, we have fought for the underdog – even if it means taking on insurance companies or large corporations. Our focus remains on our clients as we seek financial awards that help them regain peace of mind.
When you work with our legal team, we can:
- Find and name all parties liable for your losses
- Interview and document the accounts of witnesses who support your experiences
- Develop a case strategy that proves why damages are owed
- Consult with third-party medical specialists, including physicians and economists, for insight into the extent of your illness
- Advise you on all developments and laws that apply to your case
Litigation involves a lot of time, paperwork, and back-and-forth communications. Once we get to work for you, we will handle all these things, freeing up your time to focus on other matters.
Call Us For Help With A Rock Hill Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit
Schiller & Hamilton is ready to fight for your Camp Lejeune compensation. If you or a loved one developed a life-threatening illness related to water contamination, you deserve to pursue awards that account for your losses.
You deserve the chance to seek compensation for your pain and suffering and more. Call us today for a free, private consultation. We can review your legal options so you can make decisions moving forward.