What If Someone Died Before They Could File a Camp Lejeune Toxic Water Claim?

Who is Eligible to File a Camp Lejeune Toxic Water Wrongful Death Claim?

In August of 2022, The Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA) was signed into law as part of the PACT Act. The CLJA allows Camp Lejeune’s contaminated water victims to file injury claims against the federal government. In some cases, the families of victims are also eligible to file a claim on behalf of loved ones who have since passed on.

To secure wrongful death compensation, victims suffering from illnesses linked to Camp Lejeune chemicals must prove their loved ones served, lived, or worked at the North Carolina Marine Corps Base. This time spent at the base must have gone on for at least 30 days at any point between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987. The 30 days of exposure do not have to have been in succession. Exposure time may have been built up over several visits or assignments.

This is a list of some of the potential victims whose family members are allowed to seek Camp Lejeune toxic water settlement money from the U.S. government:

• Military veterans who served at Camp Lejeune even if they passed on decades ago.
• Family members of military veterans who lived on Camp Lejeune, suffered health issues, and have since died.
• Non-military workers who were employed on the base and suffered from cancers and other conditions linked to contaminated water before dying.
• Individuals conceived and born after their mothers were exposed to these harmful chemicals and later passed on.

It’s important to note that some victims didn’t die from their health issues caused by Camp Lejeune exposure. They may have died for a number of other reasons, but as long as they likely suffered health issues due to toxic water at some point before they passed on, their families may still be eligible to receive settlement money.

How Can I Prove That My Deceased Family Member Was Eligible for Camp Lejeune Toxic Water Compensation?

Those who suffered illnesses from Camp Lejeune’s polluted water will have to provide proof of when they were at Camp Lejeune and show proof of cancer, a condition, or a disorder they developed.

When victims, sadly, didn’t live to see the day when they would be allowed to seek justice, their families may file a Camp Lejeune claim on their behalf. Families would need to secure certain documents to prove eligibility. A California Camp Lejeune Wrongful Death Lawyer would assist in collecting these documents no matter how long ago they were filed.

These are just a few of the documents that can help families show they are eligible for a wrongful death settlement award:

• Medical documentation. Your loved one’s diagnosis and hospital invoices showing treatment costs even going back decades. Birth records would also help if the deceased victim was born with birth defects due to a mother’s exposure to Camp Lejeune’s water. Cost for medical equipment and home renovations in the case of victims who suffered a physical disability before passing on.
• Military service records. Family members of Marines and military personnel from other branches of the U.S. Military would need to secure service records proving a loved one served at Camp Lejeune over the qualifying years for a total of at least 30 days. Work records could also be vital in showing a loved one who was a civilian worker at Camp Lejeune was employed during the qualifying period and was eligible for support.
• Paystubs. Proof of the loss of income and benefits a veteran of the military or a civilian may have suffered after becoming sick. Families might also receive support in the future for the emotional support and income the deceased would have continued to provide.

What Type of Things Will Earn My Family Compensation in a Camp Lejeune Wrongful Death Claim?

A wrongful death claim settled with the U.S. Government or an award granted in a court of law could earn family members the financial support they desperately need after a loved one has been taken from them.

Wrongful death claims are usually filed by a spouse or domestic partner or children of the victim on behalf of the rest of the family. Other family members may be eligible to file if the deceased victim had no spouse or children. A Camp Lejeune Contaminated Water Lawyer could also file a claim on behalf of the family.

Close relatives will be in line to receive long overdue financial support for several things. These are just a few of the factors that could earn a Camp Lejeune toxic water settlement for a grieving family:

• Support for the costs of a burial service.
• Support for all medical bills accrued over the patient’s lifetime.
• Reimbursement for the income the victim could no longer provide close family members while sick and dying. Support covering the income the deceased would have continued to provide for the family in the future.
• Emotional trauma suffered by loved ones. This can include the love and guidance those left behind can no longer lean on in the coming years.
• Loss of consortium (being without the intimate support of a spouse or partner).