Lawyer for Leukemia Camp Lejeune Lawsuit
On August 10, 2022, President Joe Biden signed into law the Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act, better known as the PACT Act. It was a historic day for countless victims who were harmed by contaminated water at Camp Lejeune military base in Jacksonville, North Carolina. These individuals suffered from many severe health conditions, including leukemia, which is a cancer of the body’s blood-forming cells.
The passage of the PACT Act will allow these victims to pursue a claim for monetary compensation. If you are one of these harmed individuals, you may be asking yourself:
“I was stationed at Camp Lejeune and I have leukemia. What are the steps I need to take?”
Our lawyers can advise you in this area and help you recover the damages you deserve through a lawsuit against the federal government. To learn more about your rights and legal options as a Camp Lejeune water contamination victim, contact our office as soon as you can.
What is Leukemia?Leukemia is a cancer that affects your body’s blood-forming tissues. When a patient has leukemia, their bones marrow produces an excessive amount of white blood cells, which affects their ability to fight off infections. The general consensus among doctors is that leukemia forms when blood cells acquire mutations that change their genetic makeup. These mutations tell the white blood cells to keep growing and multiplying, leading to an excess of these cells.
According to Cancer.org, higher rates of leukemia have been found in people who were exposed to high level of toxins, particularly benzene. Regular exposure to dangerous chemicals can lead to the following symptoms, which are common signs of leukemia:
- Fever or chills
- Constant fatigue or weakness
- Rapid weight loss
- Easy bleeding / bruising
- Frequent or severe infections
- Frequent nosebleeds
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Enlarged liver / spleen
- Excessive sweating, especially at night
- Bone pain or tenderness
- Small red spots on the skin (petechiae)
Treatment depends on many factors, including your age, overall health, and whether the leukemia has spread to other parts of your body. Chemotherapy and radiation are common treatment options, but there are more advanced therapies as well, including chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy. This form of treatment engineers germ-fighting T cells, which are injected into your body. Or, you may be able to find a match through a bone marrow donor registry, which means your unhealthy stem cells will be replaced by leukemia-free stem cells.
There’s no denying that a diagnosis of leukemia has devastating consequences for the patient and their loved ones. If you’ve developed leukemia due to toxins in the water at Camp Lejeune, please seek legal advice from one of our attorneys. You may have grounds for a Camp Lejeune lawsuit, which can help you recover the losses that are associated with your illness.
From 1953 to 1987, the water supply at Camp Lejeune was contaminated by several toxic chemicals, including:
- Trichloroethylene (TCE)
- Tetrachloroethylene (PCE or PERC)
- Vinyl Chloride
- Benzene
These chemicals came from multiple sources. For example, a nearby dry cleaner was responsible for leaking PCE and PERC chemicals. As for benzene, which is associated with leukemia, that came from fuel tanks that leaked gasoline into the groundwater. We also know that improper disposal of industrial waste led to the contamination of well water at Camp Lejeune.
Over one million residents and workers at Camp Lejeune, along with their family members, were exposed to high levels of the chemicals mentioned above. Many people suffered from health complications like leukemia as a result and sought help from the U.S. military.
However, military officials were more interested in concealing reports of water contamination and failed to resolve the situation for over thirty years. This is a clear act of negligence by the U.S. government, which is why the right to sue under the PACT Act is so important.
How do I know if I’m Eligible for a Lawsuit?In order to file a Camp Lejeune injury claim, you must have resided at or worked at Camp Lejeune military base during the contamination period of 1953 to 1987 for at least 30 days. Also, you must show that your separation from the military was not due to a dishonorable discharge. Family members of deceased victims can also file a lawsuit as long as the decedent meets these conditions.
Because these cases occurred so long ago, it can be challenging to find evidence to support your claim. We suggest the following resources as a way to gather the necessary proof:
- U.S. military records
- Documents from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs
- Housing records
- Wage statements / employment records
- Medical bills / letters from health insurance providers
Depending on your situation, we may be able to find other ways to support your right to compensation. However, this evidence can take time to uncover, so please speak with one of our lawyers right away. We are ready to assist you in your quest for justice as a Camp Lejeune leukemia victim.
Where is the Lawsuit Filed?As this is a case that involves a federal agency, Camp Lejeune lawsuits must be filed with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. Personal injury lawsuits are complicated in general, but the complexities increase when you are filing in another state. Our attorneys can take the necessary actions on your behalf and ensure that your claim is filed according to the correct procedures.
Average Case Value for Leukemia Cancer Diagnosis Camp Lejeune LawsuitRight now, we are just at the beginning stage of these lawsuits, so it’s impossible to quote an average value for these cases. But we can look at similar lawsuits involving chemical exposure and its link to serious diseases like leukemia. Settlements for these cases are typically in the 6-figure range, starting from around $250,000. Much of the cost is due to medical expenses, but you also have to consider the income that is lost when a person is severely ill. There’s also the emotional trauma of coming down with a form of cancer and being ignored by the very people who are supposed to help you.
The attorneys of DTLA will take all these factors into account so that you can be fairly compensated from a Camp Lejeune lawsuit.
While we cannot guarantee a settlement time, we know that the U.S. government is eager to resolve these cases without the expense of going to trial. Our goal is to take immediate action on your claim and do everything we can to recover your payment within 6 to 8 months. However, some cases will be more complex than others due to many factors that are unique to the victim’s circumstances. Additionally, the federal government will be dealing with hundreds of thousands of these claims, so it all depends on how fast they respond to your settlement demand. If a settlement cannot be agreed upon by you and the U.S. military, you may need to take your case to trial. In that case, it can take 2 or more years to settle your Camp Lejeune lawsuit.
Is there a Time Period to File a Lawsuit?According to the PACT Act, there is a two-year window from August 10, 2022 for claimants to file a lawsuit if they have already been diagnosed with leukemia. If you haven’t been diagnosed yet, you have two years form the date that you receive an official diagnosis. Family members of Camp Lejeune victims that passed away from leukemia or another health condition may also have grounds for a lawsuit. These individuals have two years from the signing date of the PACT Act (August 10, 2022) to seek wrongful death compensation.
It’s essential that you speak to a lawyer right away and take action in a claim for compensation. If you miss the 2-year statute of limitations, you may permanently lose your right to pursue a lawsuit.
Should I join a Class Action Lawsuit or Should I file my own Individual Lawsuit?As we previously stated, over 1 million people were exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during the years of 1953 to 1987. Many of these victims developed leukemia as a result, so a class action lawsuit is certainly possible. Currently, there is no class action for these cases, but you can certainly start a class action or join a group of claimants if there is a Camp Lejeune class action lawsuit in the future.
To join a class action lawsuit, please reach out to our attorneys at your earliest convenience. There are different rules governing class action claims as opposed to single action lawsuits. We can advise you on everything you need to know and get you started on the type of lawsuit that’s right for you. That may be filing a lawsuit on your own, as opposed to joining others who are suffering from the same issues. To learn about the benefits of each type of lawsuit, contact our office and schedule a free consultation.
The Personal Injury Lawyers of DTLA Law GroupThe life-altering damage that is caused by leukemia is something no one should have to deal with. Sadly, some cases occur due to circumstances that are beyond anyone’s control. But other cases, like the ones at Camp Lejeune, were completely preventable, had the U.S. military taken the right steps. At last, those who are diagnosed with leukemia or lost a loved one to leukemia from water contamination at Camp Lejeune can seek the funds they are entitled to.
The lawyers of DTLA are ready to help with our many years of experience in complex personal injury and wrongful death cases. All our services will be free to you and your family, as we offer a Zero fee guarantee. That means we recover our fees as a part of your settlement, so if we don’t win your case, you owe us absolutely nothing.
A leukemia Camp Lejeune lawsuit attorney is waiting to speak with you, so don’t hesitate to give us a call.
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