Claiming Camp Lejeune Compensation for Deceased Family Member

By now, it is well known that the North Carolina Marine base and training facility, Camp Lejeune, provided contaminated water to its residents. This water contained chemicals known to cause cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and other fatal conditions, such as cardiac defects. If toxic water at Camp Lejeune caused the illness that led to the death of your relative, you might have the opportunity to bring a lawsuit against the U.S. military.

Through Camp Lejeune's wrongful death lawsuits, the relatives of deceased Camp Lejeune occupants gain the opportunity to recover compensation representative of the suffering, hardship, and financial losses their family incurred due to the negligence of Camp Lejeune’s officials. Read on to gain insight into the steps that must be taken to claim Camp Lejeune compensation for a deceased family member.

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What Was Responsible for Camp Lejeune Deaths?

Camp Lejeune’s drinking water contained numerous carcinogens and other deadly chemicals from 1953 to 1987. Some of these contaminants include:

Trichloroethylene (TCE),
Perchloroethylene (PCE),
Benzene, and
Vinyl chloride

TCE and PCE are both known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs are known to cause cancer and other severe health conditions in people who are exposed to them. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that approximately one million active duty service members, their family members, and civilians could potentially have been exposed to the harmful water distributed at Camp Lejeune.

Cancers and Conditions Caused by Camp Lejeune Drinking Water

The carcinogens present in Camp Lejeune’s drinking water are known to have been the root cause of thousands of victims developing cancer. Here are some of the forms of cancer that may have been discovered in form Camp Lejeune occupants:

Adult leukemia
Appendix cancer
Bile duct cancer
Bladder cancer
Brain cancer
Breast cancer
Cervical cancer
Colorectal cancer
Esophageal cancer
Gallbladder cancer
Hodgkin’s disease
Intestinal cancer
Kidney cancer
Leukemia
Liver cancer
Lung cancer
Multiple myeloma
Myelodysplastic syndromes
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Ovarian cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Prostate cancer
Soft tissue cancer
Spinal cancer
Thyroid cancer

Some serious conditions caused by Camp Lejeune's toxic water are not cancers. Instead, they are potentially fatal illnesses like:

Aplastic Anemia
Birth defects
Cardiac defects
Childhood leukemia
Dementia
End-Stage renal disease
Female Infertility
Fetal death
Hepatic steatosis
Parkinson’s disease
Renal toxicity (Nephrotoxicity)
Scleroderma

Camp Lejeune Lawsuits

If you or your relative got sick due to Camp Lejeune’s water, you may have legal options available to you. Although no amount of compensation can truly repair the harm done by their negligence, recovering a settlement will allow you to hold the U.S. government accountable for harming you.

There are currently hundreds of Camp Lejeune lawsuits already filed, and many thousands more with administrative claims filed with the Navy. To learn more about Camp Lejeune lawsuits, get in touch with a lawyer who is taking on these cases. You can find some attorneys and law firms that may be suitable through Lawsuit Legit. If necessary, they can also help prospective plaintiffs bring lawsuits on behalf of their deceased relatives.

Camp Lejeune Wrongful Death Lawsuits

State and federal law enable certain relatives to claim compensation from parties who engage in actions that result in the wrongful death of an individual. Through wrongful death lawsuits, family members can recover compensation for:

Past medical expenses
The decedent’s lost earnings
The decedent’s pain & mental suffering
Loss of services and companionship
Funeral expenses

In some instances, punitive damages may also be awarded.

Camp Lejeune Settlement Payouts

The amount that can be recovered through a Camp Lejeune lawsuit varies. Though, The Lawsuit Information Center reports that past verdicts suggest that upcoming settlements could range anywhere between $100,000 and $1.5 million. Although that range is broad, it is suitable due to the complex nature of Camp Lejeune lawsuits and the relevant illnesses.

Understand that these cases are high-value torts. Therefore the nature of each claim seriously varies. Some factors that will influence litigation outcomes include:

The victim’s age
The victim’s education level
The victim’s earning potential
The necessary medical treatment
Disease-related expenses

Can You Bring a Camp Lejeune Lawsuit if a Family Member Died a Long Time Ago?

Absolutely. The PACT Act was enacted to allow family members to get justice for their deceased family members. Even if your relative died more than a decade ago, legal options are still available to you and your family.