A new legislation is finally allowing individuals a chance to pursue financial compensation from the United States government if either you or your relative experienced health issues as a result of the contaminated water in Camp Lejeune between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987. The experienced attorneys at Riddle & Brantley in North Carolina have provided crucial information regarding this new legislation and what requirements you must satisfy to be eligible to file a Camp Lejeune claim.
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Who Qualifies to File a Claim?
There’s new legislation known as the Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA), which in practice, strips the government of its earlier protection to claims filed on behalf of service personnel who were hurt while doing their duties and serving in the armed forces. Because of a particular clause in North Carolina law, inhabitants at the base were not given the opportunity to file a lawsuit for many years, even though they had been drinking hazardous water for many decades. The new legislation aims to rectify this wrong. You have the right to submit a claim for compensation if you or a member of your family became sick at the base due to water pollution if that was your residence or place of work for at least one month between 1953 and 1987. You are also qualified if your mother was a resident or employee of the base and pregnant during this time
That’s because the new legislation grants the right to file a lawsuit to any person who was a resident working or was otherwise subjected to the water at Camp Lejeune between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, regardless of whether or not they were a veteran.
Individuals who have already applied for benefits through the VA, including veterans whose claims have been rejected, are still entitled to file cases under the new legislation. Whether or not you have previously gotten rewards does not affect your current qualification. This law is intended to offer you the opportunity to have your day in court and offer recompense besides the VA benefits. If you have applied for the VA, two possible outcomes could arise. To learn more about the veteran’s basic medical benefit plan, visit this website: https://colonialsun.com/
You could get a second chance if you were turned down for VA benefits. The new legislation’s primary objective is to help individuals who have been denied benefits in the past, and VA rejections do not disqualify you. If you are currently getting VA benefits, the legislation may allow you to collect compensation for items that the benefits do not cover, such as the pain and suffering you have endured and job loss. The way the legislation is set up, the court will decide about the actual suffering you have sustained (physically, mentally, and financially). Then it will lower that amount by the total compensation the VA has given you.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it’s in your best interest to investigate your alternatives carefully, as the government is expected to spend over $6 billion to settle these cases over the next decade. If you plan to file a lawsuit against the liable party, you should contact an attorney and start the process immediately.
