You have heard the words “Camp Lejeune” in the news in the past few years, but few understand the tragedies there. Camp Lejeune was a Marine Corps military base in North Carolina. For years, it housed millions of servicemembers and their civilian family members.
Evidence was uncovered that during the 1950s and the late 1980s, the water supply at Camp Lejeune was contaminated with toxins associated with severe conditions, such as cancer, neurological disorders, and many other serious health conditions, many of them terminal.
How did the Camp Lejeune contamination happen?
The theory is that toxic chemicals near water wells connected to the camp made it into the water, causing mass contamination of the water in the entire camp. The issue, however, does not stop there.
Allegedly, the government knew what was happening in detail and failed to address the matter or even warn the residents. As a result, millions of people drank and bathed in toxic water, creating a massive health issue spanning several generations.
What are related illnesses?
Diseases related to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune include:
- Variety of cancers
- Anemia
- Scleroderma
- Neurologic disorders
- Liver disease
- Hepatitis
- Infertility
- Congenital disabilities
Remedies are available for anyone who lived on the camp for at least 30 days between specific dates, lost a family member or has a related illness can file a lawsuit.
What is my claim worth if I decide to file a lawsuit?
That depends on how living on Camp Lejeune affected you personally or if it affected any of your family members in any way. Issues to remember are your diagnosis, medical records, expenses connected with these illnesses, lost income, your age, and pain and suffering. This means that the government will go back and evaluate all of this to determine the amount of your award.
The Camp Lejeune contamination catastrophe was extraordinarily tragic and one that people will never forget. If you have been affected by this, you have the right to seek justice. Hopefully, the information, knowledge and research gathered will help prevent future disasters like this one, particularly those who bravely volunteered to serve our country.