Can I ask for an Early Settlement on my Camp Lejeune Lawsuit?
Did you develop an illness that’s associated with contaminated water from staying or working at Camp Lejeune during the years of 1953 to 1987? If so, you may be eligible for a lawsuit against the U.S. government under the terms of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act. The recently passed legislation was signed into law on August 10, 2022 as part of The Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act.
During the contamination period, over one million service members, contractors, visitors, and their family members were harmed by the following chemicals through the water supply at Camp Lejeune Marine Corps base in Jacksonville, North Carolina:
- Tetrachloroethylene (PCE or PERC)
- Trichloroethylene (TCE)
- Vinyl chloride
- Benzene
Numerous sources were responsible for these toxins, including leaking fuel tanks and reckless disposal of PCE and PERC chemicals by a local business. The U.S. military knew what was going on for over three decades, but chose to ignore reports of serious disease and death due to contaminated water exposure at Camp Lejeune.
Since the PACT Act became official, our lawyers have been meeting with claimants who are interested in suing for damages like medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Many of these people have one thing in common: financial hardship from many months or years of dealing with their illness. As a result, we’ve been asked time and time again, “Can I get an early settlement on my Camp Lejeune lawsuit if I need the money now?”
Can I get an Early Settlement on my Camp Lejeune Claim?Yes, if you qualify for a Camp Lejeune lawsuit and you retain one of our attorneys, we can offer you a cash advance against your settlement. You may have done some research on this topic and found many answer online that seem to contradict each other. So we understand if you want to ask whether it’s legal for a lawyer to lend money to one of their clients. In the state of California, this is possible under the Rules of Professional Conduct for attorneys, which states that:
“after the lawyer is retained by the client, [that lawyer may] agree to lend money to the client based on the client’s written promise to repay the loan…”
A written agreement is essential to providing you with the loan terms, including how and when the loan is to be paid back to us. We can go over these terms during a free case review and advise you of your rights and legal options. Early settlement loans are available for Camp Lejeune injury victims with the following medical conditions:
- Aplastic anemia (and related syndromes)
- Bladder cancer
- Breast cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Female infertility
- Hepatic steatosis
- Kidney cancer
- Leukemia
- Liver cancer
- Lung cancer
- Miscarriage
- Multiple myeloma
- Myelodysplastic syndromes
- Neurobehavioral effects
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Parkinson’s disease
- Renal toxicity
- Scleroderma
This question comes up a lot during consultations as well, since people are still confused about the requirements for a Camp Lejeune water contamination claim. For example, some people are under the assumption that you have to be a veteran to seek compensation, which is not true. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act allows anyone who lived or worked at the base from August 1, 1953, to December 31, 1987, for at least 30 days, exposed to the contaminated water and suffered injuries, to file a claim against the U.S. government.
In addition, you must show that you were harmed by one of the conditions from the previous section, which have been identified by the VA as health issues caused by chemical exposure at Camp Lejeune. Please note, however, that those who were dishonorably discharged or related to a dishonorably discharged veteran are ineligible for a Camp Lejeune water contamination claim.
How much of a Loan can I get on a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Case?The answer to this question is different for each person, since loan amounts are based on factors such as the estimated value of your settlement. What you can receive from an injury claim is something you will need to figure out with an attorney, so call us right away to schedule a free case evaluation. That way, we can start the recovery process on your behalf and bring you the damages you’re entitled to. In the meantime, we are happy to provide you a Camp Lejeune cash advance so that you can cover your basic living expenses.
Should I look into Early Settlement Offers from Lawsuit Funding Companies?Borrowing from a lawsuit funding company is completely up to you, though we advise you speak with an attorney before doing so. We understand why these loans are tempting, considering the approval process is relatively fast, and you don’t have to pay back the loan until you receive your settlement. But our lawyers have looked at these contracts, and the possible interest rates on these loans are staggering. Considering how long it may take to resolve one of these lawsuits, your interest rate may be in the range of 30 to 60 percent by the time you need to start making payments.
Frankly, the best option is to work with a law firm that will handle your Camp Lejeune injury claim and give you a pre-settlement loan at the same time. But what if you have a lawyer already and they’re not willing to work with you on a Camp Lejeune lawsuit loan?
Unfortunately, it is completely within your lawyer’s right to avoid giving loans to their clients. If you are in this situation, you may have wondered about the possibility of changing your lawyer. It’s your right to change counsel at any point in your case, but you should not make such a big decision without advice from an experienced attorney.
To assist you with this dilemma, we would like to offer you a free second opinion. This is a private consultation where you can have your case reviewed by one of our personal injury lawyers. We can talk to you about our Camp Lejeune early settlement program and answer any questions that you have on your mind. If you believe that continuing your lawsuit with us is the best choice, we will request your case file from your current law firm and take care of the entire transfer process, thereby sparing you the awkwardness of firing your old attorney. The only thing you have to do is contact our office and schedule a free second opinion.
The Attorneys of DTLA Law GroupHere at DTLA, our lawyers have many years of experience with personal injury and class action lawsuits involving negligence by government entities. We have what it takes to recover maximum payment for your harm and suffering due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. Along with legal advice and tireless representation, we offer early settlement loans so that you are not struggling financially while waiting for your case to settle.
As for our legal fees, that will never be your responsibility when you choose our law firm. Our Zero fee guarantee ensures that all our services are free, since we only get paid by winning your case. If we don’t recover your settlement, we eat the costs and you walk away without paying us a dime. If you’re ready to explore your legal options with one of our attorneys, contact our office at your earliest convenience.
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