Toxic exposure can be terrible for anyone. It does not just lead to diseases and handicaps in people, but it may also affect the quality of life of the offspring of victims of toxic exposure. It is crucial to understand that if you or someone you care about has been exposed to toxic materials because of someone else’s fault, then you deserve compensation. This article will talk about a similar case popularly known as the Camp Lejeune lawsuit that has affected the lives of hundreds of people.
Details about the Case
While Camp Lejeune has had an illustrious past in American history, it is only a few years back that a dark side of it was revealed. The contamination of water in the camp began in the early 1950s and went on till 1987. It was only during the 1980s that the worst-affected wells were shut down. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry says that the drinking water well got contaminated by lots of different things including but not limited to industrial solvents from dry cleaners, leaking storage tanks that were on the base camp, as well as many volatile organic compounds.
What happened as a result was that Camp Lejeune kidney cancer and other fatal diseases affected the lives of hundreds and thousands of veterans who had lived on the base between 1950 and the 1980s. They were afflicted by several diseases namely kidney cancer, breast cancer, leukemia as well as miscarriages, and birth defects. In 2010, it was also revealed that the fact of the contamination of water in the camp was known by the Navy and Marine Corps who covered it up for all these years.
Getting the Compensation Benefits
After so many years of the wells being shut down, it is now that the VA has finally started dispersing compensation amounts to victims who have been affected by the contaminated water. The fight for the veterans has been long and hard. So if you have been affected by Camp Lejeune’s dark history, it is only right to make sure you get the compensation you deserve. Here’s how.
- Find a Good VA Lawyer: You need a professional who is an expert on Veteran Affairs and who knows the process of applying to the government agency.
- Medical Records: Get your medical evidence in order. You need to make sure you have medical reports from doctors and healthcare professionals to prove that you have got any or more of the listed diseases.
- Being Eligible: You also need to prove that you have served at the camp between the listed period, namely between 1953 and 1987.
- File Application: Your lawyer will apply after filling it up. This way you will get the compensation you deserve.
You will be able to get higher compensation if you can prove a 100% disability related to Camp Lejeune water contamination. A lot depends on the kind of lawyer you hire so that you get the maximum compensation possible for your case.
