Introduction

The Camp Lejeune water contamination crisis is one of the worst environmental disasters ever. Countless military members, their families, and residents living in the area from 1953-1987 suffered due to toxins in the drinking water. The worst part is that they never had the faintest idea of the threat of the contaminated water they used for drinking, cooking, and bathing every day. Sadly, the disaster was avoidable, but the authorities failed to pay attention and overlooked their responsibility.

You may have probably suffered if you lived in Camp Lejeune from the fifties to the eighties. In fact, countless veterans and their family members bore the brunt, and many suffer even today due to chronic health conditions. But the good thing is that you can now get justice for yourself and your loved ones under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act.

This article provides a brief explanation how to seek relief for your suffering due to toxin exposure.

Understand the Camp Lejeune Justice Act

Since this act is your pathway to justice, you must understand it before proceeding with any claim. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act, passed in August 2022, provides victims a chance to seek relief for their suffering because of toxic water contamination decades ago. You can take legal action against the government because it is no longer immune to lawsuits filed by former and current military members. You need not worry about injustice because you are not denied the right to get legal assistance to seek compensation.

Know all about the Camp Lejeune Contamination

The Camp Lejeune water contamination is among the most daunting environmental disasters in American history. The water systems at the base had hazardous toxins such as trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PCE), 2-dichloroethylene (DCE), benzene, and vinyl chloride. The worst part was that they lingered in the systems for decades before being officially recorded in the early eighties. Contaminated water went to homes, schools, recreational areas, administrative offices, and even the base hospital. Thousands of families suffered from illnesses and chronic health problems due to prolonged exposure to dangerous chemicals.

Check the Potential Implications of Toxin Exposure

As a military veteran posted in Camp Lejeune, you must check the potential implications of toxin exposure during your stay at the base. Veterans and their families exposed to contaminated water run a high risk of illnesses and health problems. These include cancers of the breast, bladder, kidney, liver, lung, and oesophagus, multiple myeloma, Leukaemia, Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, renal toxicity, and myelodysplastic syndromes. Birth defects, female infertility, and miscarriage are other severe implications. The effects also include neurobehavioural conditions and Parkinson’s disease. Veterans can collaborate to file a toxic water class action lawsuit to seek relief as a group. However, you must provide medical records to establish these health conditions and link them with your stay in Camp Lejeune during the high-risk timeline.

File a Claim Sooner rather than Later

Camp Lejeune victims or their survivors must file a claim sooner rather than later because a two-year deadline is imposed on them. Not bringing your claim within two years means you may miss the chance to obtain compensation. Further, you can do a few things to strengthen your case and get relief sooner than later. Start by hiring a legal specialist to represent the case. You must also have copies of official documents to prove that you lived and worked at the Camp Lejeune base between 1953 and 1987. Military veterans can do it easily by getting their official service records. You must also have relevant medical records to support your claim, as they can help to prove the connection between your illness and the toxic water at Camp Lejeune.

Be Ready for the Claims Process

Getting your paperwork and hiring a lawyer are the first steps to start a claim. But you must be ready for a complex process. For example, eligibility for compensation boils down to proving that you lived or worked at Camp Lejeune for at least thirty days. Also, you must establish the link between the disease and toxins in the basecamp water supplies. The best way to get through is by collaborating with reliable and competent lawyers who know the law.

Summary

As a military veteran, you have the right to claim compensation for toxin exposure in water supplies in a military area. But you must understand the law, assess your eligibility, and gather evidence to build a solid claim. A specialist lawyer does the rest, so do not skimp on expertise. You deserve compensation for your suffering, and US law ensures that you get a rightful value.