What Is the Average Payout for the Camp Lejeune Lawsuit?
Recent news has many people wondering, “What is the average payout for the Camp Lejeune lawsuit?”The Accident Attorneys of America can shed some light. Call now!
Overview Camp Lejeune
Camp Lejeune Marine Corps in Jacksonville, NC, became known for its long-standing drinking water contamination. The Camp Lejeune water supply was contaminated with hazardous and cancer-causing chemicals from 1953 until 1987. This contaminated drinking water was linked with different types of cancers, birth defects, Parkinson’s disease, and other illnesses.
According to the Congressional Budget Office, it is estimated that Camp Lejeune settlement payouts will be over $6.1 billion between 2022 and 2031. The Camp Lejeune settlements provide financial compensation for injuries sustained at the base as a result of toxic water exposure.
Civilians, military personnel, and their family members who worked or lived at Camp Lejeune between August 1953 and December 1987 for at least 30 days may be eligible for financial compensation through a Camp Lejeune lawsuit. To qualify, they need to be diagnosed with one of the illnesses thought to have been caused by Camp Lejeune contaminated water.
What Happened at the Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base?
Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base and Marine Corps Air Station is a large military base in North Carolina. There, marines and sailors were trained for combat missions around the world. In addition, the base has been home to military veterans, active service members, and civilian employees and their families.
However, it has been determined that the former Camp Lejeune residents were exposed to contaminated bathing and drinking water. Contaminated water supply contained volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other contaminants. Toxic chemicals came from several sources, including leaking fuel tanks and industrial spills.
It is estimated that Camp Lejeune contaminated drinking water contained more than 70 chemicals at levels 240 times more than what was safe. Approximately 1 million people were exposed to these toxins on the Camp Lejeune base during the 34-year period when the water supply was believed to be contaminated. The contamination was discovered in 1982.
In 2009, many Camp Lejeune veterans and other residents who suffered certain types of cancer began filing lawsuits against the federal government under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA). They claimed that they developed cancer or other health issues due to exposure to the toxic chemicals polluting the drinking water.
Have Any Camp Lejeune Lawsuits Been Settled?
No lawsuits have been settled at the time of writing. In fact, a North Carolina Statute, which says that a civil tort lawsuit can’t be filed after more than ten years, had blocked those who were exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune from pursuing any kind of compensation.
A Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit became an available legal option in August 2022 when President Biden signed The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 (H. R. 2192) into law. This act allows Camp Lejeune victims to get the chance to recover financial compensation.
A Camp Lejeune water contamination settlement may include damages that victims suffered due to illness that can be linked to the toxic Camp Lejeune water. These damages can include past and future medical expenses, disability benefits, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other potential damages, such as loss of enjoyment of life.
Is There a Deadline for Filing a Potential Camp Lejeune Lawsuit?
However, Camp Lejeune claims are available for two years from the day the Act was signed into law. That means the Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit deadline is August 10, 2024.
Those who would like to file a Camp Lejeune claim and pursue compensation should have skilled personal injury lawyers on their side. They will make sure the plaintiffs have all the necessary evidence, including diagnosis and medical records related to their illnesses, military service records as well as evidence they lived at Camp Lejeune military base.
How Is Camp Lejeune Settlement Amount Determined?
When determining Camp Lejeune settlement amounts, many different factors can be considered. For example, these factors may include:
- Length of exposure to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune
- Income individuals lost due to being sick
- The severity of the health issues experienced due to Camp Lejeune’s toxic water exposure
- Medical bills incurred due to these health issues
- Other potential losses
The average settlement in these cases will most likely vary from person to person since the circumstances of every case can be different. However, while the exact details on how water contamination settlement amounts will be determined are not yet known, many Camp Lejeune lawyers have made projections and educated guesses. They believe settlement compensation payout will depend on the severity of the suffered disease.
How Much Is the Average Camp Lejeune Settlement Per Person?
According to some lawyers’ estimates, Camp Lejeune cases, including breast cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, kidney cancer, bladder cancer, leukemia, and liver cancer, can be considered tier 1 cases. It is believed that these illnesses have more robust scientific data linking these cancer cases to the water contamination at Camp Lejeune.
Depending on other factors, it is believed that tier 1 Camp Lejeune lawsuits can range between $300,000 and $500,000 or even go up to $1,000,000.
Lung cancer, aplastic anemia, brain cancer, ovarian cancer, and prostate cancer, among others, are considered tier 2 cases. These cases may face greater scrutiny since fewer definitive medical studies link these cancer cases with exposure to the contaminated Camp Lejeune water. These settlements can be valued between $250,000 and $500,000.
Other attorneys believe that Camp Lejeune cases involving brain cancer can be worth $900,000 per person, lung cancer $600,000, and breast cancer linked to Camp Lejeune water contamination can be worth $600,000 per person. On the other hand, severe birth defects or wrongful death cases linked to contaminated Camp Lejeune’s water supply may be worth over $1 million.
How Can Our Camp Lejeune Lawyers Help?
As with any personal injury case, experienced attorneys can be of great help. In Camp Lejeune litigation cases, it’s crucial to prove you were exposed to toxic substances in the water for at least 30 days between 1953 and 1987.
Camp Lejeune cancer cases can be severe, so it may be difficult to fight your illness while seeking legal justice. Your Camp Lejeune lawyer can gather evidence and obtain your medical records so you can dedicate yourself to necessary medical treatment for healing.
Your lawyer may also be able to help you establish damages and determine the value of your Camp Lejeune water claim lawsuit.
Keep in mind that, as a part of the Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012, certain veterans can receive their health care from Veterans Affairs (VA) if they served at Camp Lejeune in the above-mentioned period, even if they don’t have a health condition related to toxic water exposure.
While individuals can pursue VA benefits on their own with the help of a veteran support officer, a Camp Lejeune water lawsuit is filed in federal court, so it is highly advisable to retain the services of an experienced legal professional.
Pursuing this type of case in federal court on your own can be extremely difficult. Accident Attorneys America can help you build a strong case and get the compensation you deserve.
