Marines stationed at Camp Lejeune will be eligible for compensation benefits, according to the US Department of Veterans Affairs. The announcement has been made because, over the years, it is revealed that marines posted for a considerable period have been harmed due to exposure to camp Lejeune toxic water. The North Carolina Marine Corps Base has a bad reputation for toxic water contamination that has left several veterans with serious and fatal health conditions, the most common of which is cancer. If you or a loved one served at Camp Lejeune and were exposed to toxic water and are now suffering from cancer or other deadly diseases, you should seek legal help from a Class A personal injury attorney.
Who are eligible for personal injury compensation?
Individuals who were present at or posted at Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base from the 1950s through the 1980s are eligible for personal injury compensation. During this period, people stationed there were exposed to toxic chemicals in their drinking water from Hadnot Point. It came to light that marines drinking water from here started suffering from certain diseases, and some even got diagnosed with cancer after a few years. The contaminated, toxic drinking water was present in both training facilities and residential areas. This is a serious personal injury case that associates veterans posted with a significant compensation amount.
How to receive compensation benefits?
In 2012, the US Congress passed the Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act in Parliament. This automatically enables the veterans and their family members exposed to any kind of toxic substance or contaminated water to qualify for personal injury compensation benefits. This particular law was passed concerning the veterans who were posted at the Camp Lejeune base and were exposed to the contaminated Hadnot Point water supply.
Requirements
To qualify for compensation benefits, certain specific requirements need to be fulfilled.
- It is vital to prove that one was actively involved in duty on the base during a particular period, ranging from 1953 to 1987.
- A marine and his/her family were stationed in the base for a minimum of 30 days and exposed to camp Lejeune toxic water.
- The veteran must prove that he/she is suffering from a serious or deadly health condition due to exposure to toxic and contaminated drinking water.
If one can prove the requirements, the compensation claim gets approved. Furthermore, one also gets approval for receiving healthcare benefits for life. Therefore, one’s medical care or hospital bills are easily covered, relieving him/her of financial burdens.
How much compensation is one entitled to receive?
Depending on the seriousness of one’s health condition or disability due to exposure to toxic water contamination, the compensation benefits are determined. The Camp Lejeune water contamination settlement consists of two types of compensation.
- A monthly compensation as high as $3000 every month is entitled to someone with 100% disability.
- Special monthly compensation is the second type where additional compensation amounts and benefits are accessible in certain specific cases, that center around the most serious disabilities due to toxic exposure.
Conclusion
Often, due to incorrect formatting or using the correct legal forms, the claim can be denied. This is where an experienced personal injury attorney can be of great help. He/she can help to file a proper appeal and also increase the chances of getting camp Lejeune toxic water settlement approved.
