Very recently, those that developed harm, including dangerous medical conditions due to exposure to toxic water at Camp Lejeune got the right to file a lawsuit against the government. Our law firm has been contacted by many people looking to finally get justice. However, we have seen a common trend in the questions we are getting – these questions are about the expected time that clients must wait to get a settlement and whether they have the option of leaving their settlement to their family in case of their death. These questions make sense considering the common age and health conditions of these claimants.
If you have any questions about the time it could take to get your settlement or about whether you could make arrangements for your settlement to go to your family in the case of your death, contact us immediately. Our lawyers here at the Normandie Law Firm are more than ready to take on your Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit and help you recover the highest settlement that you are owed within a reasonable time. If you have concerns about dying before getting your settlement, our experts can help you set things up so that your settlement goes to family in the case of your death. If you are ready to speak with the experts our law firm, contact us today.
Some of the Common Questions We Have Received
Our law firm has been contacted with some of the following questions:
- How long does it take to settle a Camp Lejeune water contamination case?
- What is the average time period to settle a Camp Lejeune water contamination case?
- How long will I have to wait to settle my Camp Lejeune cancer case?
- What if I die before the settlement? Who gets the settlement money?
- If I die before my settlement, can I leave it to my family?
The exposure to the toxic water at Camp Lejeune happened from 1953 to 1987. The youngest possible claimants are at least 35 years old – considering that they were exposed in 1987 as infants or in utero, for example. However, this only accounts for a fraction of affected parties. Most parties that were affected by the contaminated water were already adults at the time of exposure. In addition, these parties developed dangerous health conditions, many of which significantly decrease their life expectancy.
We will answer these questions in the coming sections.
How Long Does It Take to Settle Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Cases?
How long will I have to wait for a settlement? What is the average time to settle a case? These questions are very common – especially considering how long victims have already been forced to wait just to get the right to sue. The time to settle these cases can vary significantly.
Some of the different factors that could affect settlement times can include some of the following:
- The type of harm suffered (i.e., the condition that developed as a result of the exposure to the toxic water)
- Whether medical treatment has concluded and maximum recovery has been reached
- Whether all necessary records are ready and available
- The competency of the legal team handling the case
- The cooperation of the defense (i.e., are they responding to communication quickly or are they stalling?)
- The cooperation of the claimant (is the claimant answering calls/emails, rescheduling important appointments, etc.)
So, how much time can it take to settle these cases? Although these cases can take just a few months to settle, they can also take years to settle. Cases that are straightforward with no complications whatsoever can settle within six to eight months. However, even minor complications can delay the settlement process, resulting in claims taking twelve to fourteen months to settle. Cases with more serious complications can take eighteen months to twenty-four months to settle. Unfortunately, these cases can take over two years to settle under some circumstances.
Our Team Fights for Settlements within Reasonable Timeframes – Here at our law firm, we know the struggles that come with having to wait around for a settlement. We know how frustrating having to wait months or years can be for claimants and their families. We are committed to settling all Camp Lejeune as quickly as possible without compromising settlement value. We aim to settle all of these cases within just six to eight months, so that you can finally get the justice that you are owed and can put Camp Lejeune behind you.
In addition, you will find that our lawyers will always be upfront with you throughout the settlement process. If we cannot settle your claim within the estimated timeframe, you will know why, and you can be sure that we will keep working tirelessly until getting you the settlement that you are owed.
What If My Current Lawyer is Taking too Long to Settle? – This is a very common issue. Sometimes, the only thing keeping the case from settling is the incompetence of the team handling the claim. If you are in this situation, then you could benefit from a second opinion from another legal team. If you decide to contact us for a free second opinion, you can trust that our lawyers will be available to provide you with an objective case review. If you ultimately decide to switch lawyers and allow our experts to handle your claim, you can rest assured that we will take care of the entire process and will immediately start working towards getting you the settlement that you are owed.
I am Worried about Dying before Getting My Settlement
This is a real concern for many claimants filing lawsuits for harm resulting from exposure to toxic water at Camp Lejeune. If you are suffering from cancer or any of the other common conditions that have been associated with the contaminated water at the Marine Corps base camp, you probably know that your condition can change for the worse at any moment. You might be wondering whether your family will have any survivor’s rights or whether your family could receive the settlement check if you lose your battle with your health condition before your case settles.
Can my family receive the settlement check if I am not alive by the time my case settles? – Yes, your family can receive your settlement check. This is because in the case of death while a lawsuit is still pending, family can essentially take the place of the deceased claimant. What does this mean? If you die in the middle of a lawsuit, your family will essentially be able to take over your claim. Once your lawsuit settles, your family will be entitled to your settlement.
What if I die before I even file my lawsuit? – This is also a possibility especially if your current health is critical. If you die before being able to file your lawsuit, your family can still file on your behalf. In other words, your family will be able to file the claim and get a settlement for the harm that you suffered due to the exposure to toxic water at Camp Lejeune.
Who Is Eligible to File a Lawsuit?
Under the PACT Act, those who were stationed at, lived at, or worked at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987 for at least 30 days could be eligible to file a lawsuit against the government. The lawsuit must be filed with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina within a two-year window (starting when the act was signed into law). This applies to veterans as well as their families, non-military staff, contractors, and their families. Those who were dishonorably discharged cannot file lawsuits.
Contact the Normandie Law Firm Today
The water at Camp Lejeune was contaminated with multiple toxins, including PCE or PERC, TCE, vinyl chloride, and benzene for over three decades. During this time, millions of innocent people were exposed to toxic water. Some of the common health conditions that have been associated with exposure to these toxins include the following: aplastic anemia, bladder cancer, breast cancer, esophageal cancer, female infertility, hepatic steatosis, kidney cancer, leukemia, liver cancer, lung cancer, miscarriage, multiple myeloma, myelodysplastic syndromes, neurobehavioral effects, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Parkinson’s disease, renal toxicity, scleroderma, etc. If you suffered any of these conditions as a direct result of your exposure to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, you could have grounds to sue under the PACT Act.
Here at the Normandie Law Firm, we are more than ready to help you with your case. We are proud to offer free legal services, which include free consultations and free second opinions. During these free legal services, our lawyers will be available to provide you with all the information that you need to begin or continue your claim. To benefit from these free legal services, contact us today.
Our Zero-Fee guarantee ensures that our clients will not have to worry about paying any upfront legal fees for our legal services. In addition, we work on contingency, so our clients will not have to pay anything until winning their claims. If you do not win, you will not be required to pay anything at all.
To speak with our lawyers, contact us at your earliest convenience.
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