SEPTEMBER 23, 2022 – Camp Lejeune is a Marine Corps base in the United States, located in Jacksonville, North Carolina. If you served there, then it is possible that you came into contact with contaminated drinking water. Various studies have shown that the contaminants present in Camp Lejeune’s drinking water have gone on to cause many of those who came into contact with it some very serious diseases.
If you suspect that you came into contact with the contaminated water (or a loved one did) and have gone on to develop a disease because of it, then you could be eligible for compensation. This post will tell you everything you need to know about getting it.
Ongoing Lawsuit
As this article is being written, a lawsuit is taking place. People who were the victims of the Camp Lejeune water contamination are claiming millions of dollars in compensation. You can join this claim if you were also affected by it. Between 1957 and 1987, the water supply at Camp Lejeune was unfortunately contaminated with toxic chemicals, which has led to thousands of military veterans and their families suffering from very serious illnesses. Some people have even died because of what took place at Camp Lejeune.
In order to get in on the claim, you will need to reach out to a personal injury lawyer; ideally, you should find a lawyer who has experience in the case. All you will need to do is to prove that you were present at the time the exposure took place and provide medical evidence to support your claims that you were affected.
Water Contamination
Camp Lejeune’s water was tested and discovered to have up to 3,400 times the permitted levels of chemicals. At least two of the base’s eight water treatment plants were affected. There were many chemicals involved. Nearly all of them were volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which have been shown to be very bad for people’s health, which is why they have been removed from things like paint in recent years. The two main chemicals were perchloroethylene (PCE) which is a dry cleaning solvent, and trichloroethylene (TCE), a degreaser. However, there are said to be more than 70 chemicals involved other than these.
Cause of Contamination
Researchers aren’t sure what caused the water contamination, however, there are a few known possible sources. One of them is an off-base dry cleaning company. It is also suspected that chemicals stored on the base to clean military equipment were involved. How these chemicals got into the water isn’t clear, however. In the early 1980s, a private company warned the USMC that their wells were contaminated, but no action was taken. Had action been taken back then, many people’s lives could have been saved, and many disabilities could have been prevented. It is in part due to the USMC’s negligence that claims for compensation due to the contamination are so successful.
Sending Notifications
In the late 1990s, the USMC began notifying the families and individuals staying on the camp that they might have been exposed to contaminated water. The contamination is said to have caused some very rare illnesses and cancers. Up until the point of their notification, many of the people involved thought that they had just inherited diseases and cancers from other family members in the past or thought that they were just extremely unlucky. Various children who were born on the base during the period when the water was contaminated were born with severe birth defects. Around this time, the USMC began investigating whether or not these birth defects were caused by the base’s contaminated drinking water.
Financial Relief
If you were serving on the base or lived there during the time that the water was contaminated, you are almost guaranteed compensation (assuming you were injured because of it, of course). In the near future, President Biden is expected to sign off on guaranteed monetary relief for the people affected. Additionally, claims are still being made in court. As mentioned several sections ago, if you want to make a claim for compensation then you will need to contact a lawyer.
Before you go ahead and hire a lawyer, there are a few things that you need to consider. The first is their level of experience. You shouldn’t ever hire a lawyer who isn’t experienced in compensation claims. Secondly, you should consider their reviews. A lawyer’s reviews will tell you a lot about them. Finally, you should consider their desired method of payment. Most personal injury lawyers offer their services on a no-win-no-fee basis. This is the best option for people who are on a budget.
If you were exposed to chemicals at Camp Lejeune, then you could be eligible for compensation. In order to find out whether you are or not, then reach out to a lawyer and explain your situation. If you are, then they can make a claim on your behalf.