Camp Lejeune, the world’s largest concentration of Marines and Sailors, has been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons in recent years. In the early 1950s, toxic compounds settled in the water wells that supplied water at the military base. Yet, the contamination wasn’t discovered until the 1980s.
Military chemists who tested the water in October 1980 detected trace levels of organic compounds in the base’s water. Before chemicals were detected and wells were shut down, military personnel bathed, drank, and cooked with the contaminated water. Hazardous chemicals present in the base’s water exposed the residents to a host of serious health issues.
Seeking justice for the damages sustained due to the exposure to the contaminated water was out of the question a few years back. But, the passing of the CLJA (Camp Lejeune Justice Act) of 2022 allowed people to recover damages.
Navigating the legal landscape alone is difficult. That is why we advise you to hire a lawyer for your Camp Lejeune lawsuit. In this article, we’ll discuss the factors you should consider when choosing an attorney for your water contamination lawsuit.
#1 Familiarity With the Water Contamination History of the Marine Base
Camp Lejeune’s water contamination claims are nowhere similar to other personal injury claims. That is why you cannot hire any lawyer to fight for justice on behalf of you.
Your chosen attorney must be intimately familiar with the water contamination history of the marine base. This is important for several reasons.
A lawyer handling Camp Lejeune lawsuits will be able to determine if you qualify for compensation based on the duration of your stay at the camp. Further, they will have to assess whether it is “at least as likely as not” that you or your loved one developed the medical condition as a result of exposure to the contaminated water.
To be eligible for a lawsuit, you must have resided at the camp for a minimum of 30 days within the said period. Only an attorney experienced in handling Camp Lejeune claims will be able to prove that you acquired a specific medical condition during your residency at the marine base.
#2 Knowledge of the Medical Conditions Linked to the Marine Base’s Contaminated Water
Before you hire a lawyer for your Camp Lejeune lawsuit, it’s essential to determine if they are familiar with the illnesses or injuries linked with the marine base’s contaminated water.
Testings revealed that VOCs, namely tetrachloroethylene (PCE), trichloroethylene (TCE), benzene, and vinyl chloride, were present in the camp’s water at high levels.
Studies link these chemicals with adverse health conditions. Exposure to these VOCs increases a person’s risk of developing bladder, breast, cervical, and kidney cancers, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, adult leukemia, and many more conditions. Neurobehavioral effects like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease, miscarriage, and birth defects, as well as birth injuries, are other related conditions, explains TorHoerman Law.
A lawyer familiar with health issues associated with Camp Lejeune’s contaminated water will be able to assess the monetary and non-monetary costs of the exposure.
The best lawyers for Camp Lejeune lawsuit are those who are recognized for their expertise in environmental and toxic tort litigations. That means you must go for attorneys who have significant experience handling legal disputes related to harm caused by exposure to pollutants and hazardous substances in the environment.
Your chosen lawyer must also deeply understand the intricacies and culture of military life. This understanding will allow them to offer representation that is legally sound yet culturally sensitive.
#3 Experience Handling Claims Against the Federal Government
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 allows victims of Camp Lejeune to sue the Federal government for the injuries suffered due to exposure to the contaminated water. That makes the U.S. government the defendant in Camp Lejeune lawsuits. Thus, the process of recovering compensation is far from easy.
It would be wise to hire an attorney who has experience handling governmental claims. These individuals will be able to navigate the complexities of Camp Lejeune better than other personal injury lawyers. Camp Lejeune lawsuits are complex, so choose a lawyer who has handled complex personal injury and wrongful death claims.
#4 Representation at No Out-of-Pocket Expense
Pursuing legal action is financially burdensome, but it is more so if you already deal with medical expenses.
Many lawyers work on a contingency basis. That means you pay them only when you win the case. Others, however, charge a flat fee or hourly rates. You pay them regardless of whether you win.
Choosing an attorney who charges a contingent fee will be wise. You won’t have to pay any upfront fees, nor fear losing your money in case you don’t win the case.
Wrapping it up, Camp Lejeune lawsuits are filed against the Federal government, so they are not easy to navigate. The only way to win fair compensation is to hire an attorney experienced in handling governmental claims.
However, not every lawyer can help you win fair compensation. Be sure to do a fair amount of research about the attorney before you hire them for your Camp Lejeune lawsuit. Look for client testimonials, as those short snippets give insight into their reputation as well as how they handle claims.