Is it Too Late to File a Claim Against Camp Lejeune?
October 21, 2022

Thousands of victims of the water contamination at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune have come forward with their claims since the Camp Lejeune Justice Act passed as part of the bipartisan PACT Act expanding benefits and compensation for victims of toxic exposure in the military. The Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxins Act is one of the biggest expansions of VA benefits in U.S. history and also allows Camp Lejeune victims to file claims despite the previous restriction of North Carolina’s 3-year statute of limitations.

But with as many as 5000 claims filed in the first month of the act alone, many victims may wonder if it’s too late to file their own claims against Camp Lejeune. How much time do those exposed to the toxins in Camp Lejeune’s water have to seek compensation for their injuries?

Deadline for Filing Claims Against Camp Lejeune

Congress passed the Honoring the PACT Act under the Biden Administration in August of 2022. The bipartisan bill was signed into law on August 10th. According to the details of the act, victims have up to 2 years to file their claims. The statute of limitations for filing is two years from the date of the act’s passage, so victims can file claims until August 10, 2024.

Victims who previously filed claims and received denials have 180 days after the denial to file another claim. A law firm with knowledge and experience in filing this type of claim is the best way to ensure your claim is filed promptly and correctly for the fastest action.

Who Can File a Claim Against Camp Lejeune?

EPA water tests performed in 1987 revealed shockingly high levels of serious contaminants in the water at Camp Lejeune. The volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) came from solvents and other toxic substances stored underground in leaking tanks. These toxic substances were found in concentrations of 300 to 3,000 times the allowable limits for human consumption and are linked to many cancers, illnesses, and birth defects. The contaminated wells supplied water for drinking and washing too many facilities, barracks, and family housing communities on the base between August 1953 and December 1987.

If you or a loved one spent time serving in the military, working, training, or residing at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina for 30 days or more between 1953 and 1987 and experienced serious illness, cancer, or birth defects, you may file a claim as long as you did not receive a dishonorable discharge from the military.

What Can I Expect From a Camp Lejeune Claim?

Not only do specific illnesses now listed as presumptively caused by the water at Camp Lejeune entitle victims to medical care and other VA benefits, but veterans and family members who suffered illnesses or death from diseases linked to their time at the camp can gain financial compensation. Damages may include the following:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages and lost earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of quality of life

A skilled Arizona Camp Lejeune water contamination attorney can evaluate your case and help you to understand what compensation and damages your particular claim might bring you. Finally, victims of the toxic water at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune can achieve the justice they’ve long deserved in the form of medical care and financial compensation for their injuries.