Experienced Legal Advocates for Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuits
The U.S. Marine base located in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, exposed individuals who resided, worked or were otherwise located at Camp Lejeune to toxic water. Toxic water exposure at the base has led to significant health problems and injuries.
RTRLAW stands with the victims at Camp Lejeune including military members and their families who were directly impacted by the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. RTRLAW’s representation and goal is to represent victims in the legal hurdles and obstacles, to ensure that justice is served, and compensation is recovered for their injuries resulting from their sacrifice to serving the American people while stationed at Camp Lejeune.
What Is the Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Issue?
Camp Lejeune’s water was contaminated with a variety of hazardous chemicals, which are listed below. These chemicals exposed all personnel, civilian workers, family members, and others on the base between August 1, 1953, through December 31, 1987.
Camp Lejeune’s water supply was contaminated by a variety of hazardous chemicals including:
- Trichloroethylene (TCE)
- Perchloroethylene (PCE)
- Benzene
- Vinyl Chloride
These chemicals are known to cause serious health conditions. Exposure to the toxic water at Camp Lejeune has been linked to various health conditions, which continues to affect veterans, their families, and civilian workers who were at the base during this period.
The toxic water was contaminated from leaking storage tanks, industrial activities on the base, and also from an off-base drycleaning operation. The discovery, containment and removal of these toxins took many decades, which caused the number of unsuspecting victims to grow.
What Are the Health Effects Linked to the Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit?
The toxic water has been directly linked to a variety of severe and often life-altering adverse health effects for those who were exposed. The list below highlights the gravity and far-reaching impact of this environmental health catastrophe:
Various Forms of Cancer: Prolonged exposure to the toxic chemicals found in the water at Camp Lejeune has been scientifically correlated with an increased risk of developing different types of cancer, including:
- Leukemia, a cancer of the blood-forming tissues
- Kidney cancer
- Breast cancer
- Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
- Liver cancer, and
- Bladder cancer
- Neurological Effects: Various neurological symptoms resulting from the neurotoxic nature of the chemicals in the water is believed to be a primary factor contributing to these neurological issues and conditions, which include:
- Memory Loss
- Tremors
- Seizures
- Parkinson’s disease
- Birth Defects and Developmental Delays: These conditions can include but are not limited to, heart defects, low birth weight, and neural tube defects, resulting in a lifelong impact on the affected children’s health and development.
- Miscarriages and Infertility Issues: The contaminated water has been associated with a higher incidence of miscarriages among pregnant women who were exposed. Furthermore, both men and women have reported fertility issues, complicating family planning and leading to emotional distress.
- Liver and Kidney Damage: The toxic substances present in the water have been known to cause significant damage to vital organs, such as the liver and kidneys. In some cases, this has resulted in chronic conditions requiring ongoing medical treatment and, in severe instances, organ failure.
- Systematic Scleroderma/Systemic Sclerosis: These autoimmune disorders caused by the toxic water can affect the skin and internal organs.
- Neurobehavioral Effects: Exposure to the contaminants has been linked to a range of neurobehavioral effects, including mood swings, depression, and anxiety. These mental health challenges are believed to be a direct result of the toxic exposure, further complicating the lives of those affected.
The comprehensive impact of the water contamination at Camp Lejeune extends beyond the immediate health effects, often resulting in long-term medical complications, substantial financial burdens due to medical expenses, and a decreased quality of life.
Why Would You File a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit?
This lawsuit is not only a means to seek financial compensation for the irreparable harm caused, including significant life-altering medical conditions, but also to serve as a way to hold the negligent parties accountable and hopefully prevent future similar incidents to other unsuspecting victims, especially the men, women and families who serve our country.
RTRLAW’s primary goals for potential clients who are considering filing a Camp Lejeune lawsuit are:
- Securing Financial Compensation: Many of those affected by the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune have incurred substantial medical expenses as they sought treatment for the numerous health conditions linked to the exposure. Filing a lawsuit can lead to financial compensation, which plays a vital role in covering these medical bills, both past and future. Additionally, victims may have experienced a significant loss of income due to their inability to work, or reduced working capacity, stemming from their health issues. A successful lawsuit can provide compensation for these lost wages, helping to alleviate financial strain.
- Addressing Pain and Suffering: The health effects of the water contamination have undoubtedly resulted in considerable physical pain, emotional distress, and a diminished quality of life for the victims.
- Holding Negligent Parties Accountable: By filing a lawsuit, victims and their families take a stand against this negligence, holding the responsible parties accountable for their actions or lack thereof.
- Providing Closure: For many victims, the act of filing a lawsuit and pursuing justice is an essential step in finding closure, and to confront the parties responsible for their suffering.
- Contributing to Systemic Change: Beyond individual compensation and accountability, Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuits collectively play a role in drastically improving our environmental regulations and robust monitoring systems to ensure that such a tragedy does not happen again.
- Access to Legal Recourse: The U.S. government has recognized the gravity of the Camp Lejeune water contamination issue, leading to legislation that enables victims to seek compensation through the legal system.
- Most Notably: A fund has been set up for victims at Camp Lejeune.
Filing a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit provides not only financial relief, but also holds negligent actors and parties accountable. This often encompasses a sense of serving justice and obtaining some closure on the impact of these bad actors, including contributing to a systemic change by engaging in litigation. These factors play a pivotal role when considering a legal remedy, which will impact not only the injured and affected individuals, but also hopefully protect the environmental disaster created by this health crisis.
How Do I Know If I’m Affected by the Camp Lejeune Water Contamination?
Determining whether you or a loved one has been affected by the water contamination at Camp Lejeune requires a careful evaluation of various factors, specifically having contact with and/or consumption of the toxic water source. Factors to be weighed include the time spent at the base, health conditions suffered, and available documentation/evidence. Here’s a more detailed look at how to assess your situation:
- Time Spent at Camp Lejeune: If you or loved ones lived, worked or otherwise were exposed to the water at Camp Lejeune between the time frame of August 1, 1953, through December 31, 1987, then there is a correlation to this tragedy which needs to be further analyzed and discussed with an attorney.
- Health Risk: The contaminants found in the water at Camp Lejeune have been linked to a range of serious health conditions, including different forms of cancer such as leukemia, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, and other life-altering health conditions resulting from liver and kidney damage, neurobehavioral effects, and reproductive issues such as birth defects, miscarriages, and infertility.
- Medical Records: Medical records speak for themselves. To establish a connection between your health condition and the exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, a full review of your medical records is critical. This includes your diagnosis, when did symptoms begin, and any treatments received including future treatments. Your medical records in part, will directly tie in to pursuing a claim.
- Military and Employment Records: Alongside medical records, military and employment records will provide a roadmap to establish the duration of time spent at Camp Lejeune. This also applies if you were a spouse or a family member of an employee, because obtaining that individual’s records would establish your link to the injuries.
- Consulting with a Healthcare Professional: Injuries such as cancer can appear in all stages of life. Failure to have a past medical history can mean that the injuries were not present until whenever they arose. If you suspect that your health issues are linked to the water contamination at Camp Lejeune, it is advisable to consult with a healthcare professional as soon as possible. A doctor can provide the proper medical evaluation, treatment plan and team to best treat your injuries including possibly offering an opinion on the potential connection between your condition and your exposure at Camp Lejeune.
- Seeking Legal Advice: Given the complexity of linking health conditions to environmental exposure, seeking advice from an attorney with experience in Camp Lejeune water contamination cases, such as RTRLAW, can be beneficial. A skilled injury attorney can help you navigate the legal requirements, assess the strength of your case, and guide you on the necessary steps to take.
If you or a loved one lived or worked at Camp Lejeune between the 1950s and 1980s and are experiencing health issues associated with the known contaminants, there is a possibility that you may be affected. Careful review of medical, military, and employment records, consultation with healthcare professionals, and seeking legal advice are vital steps in establishing a connection and understanding your rights and options for justice and compensation.
Is There a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Class Action Lawsuit?
As of Nov. 1, 2023, there has not been a class action lawsuit filed for the Camp Lejeune Water Contamination cases. However, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 was signed into effect to allow those affected by the contamination to file lawsuits individually.
As a result, numerous lawsuits have been filed regarding the Camp Lejeune water contamination issue.
Do You Qualify for a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit?
Qualifying for a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit involves meeting specific criteria as discussed above and providing evidence to support your claim, including:
- Providing proof of time spent at Camp Lejeune during the affected period;
- Having a medical diagnosis of a condition linked to the water contamination.
The Steps in Hiring a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawyer?
Embarking on a legal battle can be a daunting task, especially when it pertains to something as significant as the water contamination issue at Camp Lejeune. RTRLAW has been serving injured victims since 1988 with experienced trial lawyers who deal with life-altering medical conditions and accidents resulting from negligent parties. Hiring a qualified attorney such as the ones at RTRLAW will play a crucial step to ensure that your case is handled in way that provides you the best chance of receiving the compensation you deserve.
By hiring RTRLAW, you can start your journey to justice by:
- Getting a FREE, no-obligation case review.
- Providing the necessary documentation, including medical records and proof of stay at Camp Lejeune. .
- Discussing the legal fees and any potential costs associated with your case. RTRLAW handles cases like this on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay NOTHING unless and until RTRLAW wins your case and secures compensation for you.
- Working closely with RTRLAW to build a strong case.
Taking the steps to hire a qualified Camp Lejeune water contamination lawyer is a significant move toward seeking justice and compensation for the harm caused by the water contamination. Researching and selecting an experienced lawyer, providing comprehensive documentation, understanding the financial aspects, and maintaining close communication are all integral parts of this process.
By following these steps and choosing a law firm like RTRLAW, you are positioning yourself for a stronger case and a better chance of receiving the compensation and closure you deserve.
Seek Legal Help With RTRLAW Today
RTRLAW is committed to supporting victims of the toxic Camp Lejeune water. Our experienced legal team will guide you through the legal process, helping you understand your rights and fighting for the compensation you deserve.
Contact RTRLAW today for a FREE, no-obligation case review and take the first step toward justice with a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit. For more information, call RTRLAW toll free at 1-833-HIRE-RTR (1-833-447-3787).