Between 1953 and 1987, the water at U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina was contaminated with toxic chemicals. Exposure to this toxic water has since been linked to various types of cancer, birth defects, Parkinson’s disease, and more.
If you lost a loved one to an illness caused by the contaminated water on base, you may be able to seek compensation through a Camp Lejeune wrongful death lawsuit — but you only have until August 2024.
Call Sokolove Law now at (800) 995-1212 for a free legal case review.
Camp Lejeune & Water Contamination Deaths
Over 1 million service members, their families, and non-military staff were exposed to drinking water at Camp Lejeune that contained dangerous chemicals.
These chemicals are known to cause numerous health issues, including cancer, infertility, and various birth defects with in-utero exposure.
Potentially life-threatening health conditions linked to Camp Lejeune include:
- Aplastic anemia
- Bladder cancer
- Brain cancer
- Breast cancer
- Cardiac defects
- Cervical cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
- Liver disease
- Lung cancer
- Lymphomas
- Multiple myeloma
- Myelodysplastic syndromes
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Pancreatic cancer
- Parkinson’s disease
- Prostate cancer
- Rectal cancer
- Sarcoma
If you lost a loved one as a result of any of these conditions, you may be eligible to file a Camp Lejeune wrongful death lawsuit against the federal government.
Thousands have already filed, and the U.S. government is actively evaluating claims — but you only have a small window left to take action!
Sokolove Law has over 40 years of experience helping clients pursue justice and financial compensation. Contact us now to get started.
Billions Recovered Nationwide
We’ve recovered over $9.3 Billion for thousands of injured clients nationwide. Let us get you the results you deserve.
Can I File a Lawsuit for Camp Lejeune Wrongful Death?
Sadly, many people who developed health issues from the contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune may have already passed away.
Family members can still seek compensation on their loved one’s behalf, even if they passed away decades ago.
You may be able to file a Camp Lejeune wrongful death lawsuit if your loved one:
- Lived or worked at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987
- Spent at least 30 days there (consecutively or broken up over years)
- Suffered health issues from the contaminated water before passing away
Not sure if you qualify? We can help you determine your eligibility to file a Camp Lejeune wrongful death lawsuit — for free.
Call (800) 995-1212 or fill out our contact form now to learn more. Our team’s available 24/7, and it costs nothing to speak with us.
What the Camp Lejeune Justice Act Means for Wrongful Death Victims
In August 2022, President Biden signed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 into federal law as part of a larger act, called the Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act.
This law allows victims to pursue compensation from Camp Lejeune lawsuits over their toxic water exposure on base or during military service. It also extends the statute of limitations or deadlines for these claims until August 2024.
Because of this, family members of former Camp Lejeune workers and residents can file wrongful death lawsuits on behalf of their deceased loved ones — even if they died years or decades ago.
How to File a Camp Lejeune Wrongful Death Lawsuit
When you work with Sokolove Law, we strive to make filing a Camp Lejeune wrongful death lawsuit as stress-free as possible for you and your family.
If you have a case, our Camp Lejeune attorneys can handle every step of the legal process for you.
1. Contact Sokolove Law
To get started, contact Sokolove Law to see if you have a case. During a free case review, we’ll listen to your story and ask you a few questions to determine your eligibility.
As a national Camp Lejeune law firm, Sokolove Law can help clients in all 50 states file their claims and pursue compensation for their loved one.
2. Gather Evidence
To take legal action, you may need to collect certain documents that establish your loved one’s time at Camp Lejeune as well as the illness they suffered from.
Important documents often include:
- Medical bills
- Medical records
- Military service records
If your loved one passed away years ago and you no longer have records of these expenses, don’t worry. Our team can figure out what’s needed — and help you find it when the time comes.
3. File Your Wrongful Death Lawsuit
At Sokolove Law, our lawyers can file the Camp Lejeune wrongful death lawsuit on your behalf within the deadline or statute of limitations.
During this process, our team will keep you updated every step of the way. We can manage your communications, deadlines, and the legal process overall.
4. Negotiate a Wrongful Death Payout
After filing your lawsuit, your legal team will work to secure a Camp Lejeune wrongful death payout for your case. This may involve negotiating with the defendant to ensure you get the compensation you may be entitled to.
It’s Not Too Late for Justice
Even if your loved one passed away decades ago, new laws may now allow you to take legal action and pursue compensation on their behalf.
Factors Affecting Camp Lejeune Wrongful Death Payouts
Camp Lejeune wrongful death payouts can be influenced by a variety of details in each case, including the following factors.
Length of Time on Base
In order to be eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit against Camp Lejeune, the deceased family member must have been exposed to the toxic water for a minimum of 30 days.
The longer the victim spent on base, the more they could’ve been exposed to the contaminated water and the worse their health conditions may have been as a result.
Age of Victim at Death
Many victims may have suffered poor health for years as their condition gradually worsened before their life was cut tragically short.
Generally speaking, the potential value of a wrongful death case may take into account the age of the victim at diagnosis and death as well as how their overall life was affected by the condition.
Extent of Medical Treatment
The higher a person’s medical expenses during their treatment and prior to their death, the higher the potential compensation amount for living family members.
Earning Potential
The more premature a person’s death, the greater their lost earning potential had they lived out their full life. This can call for a higher settlement amount.
Number of Dependents
More compensation may be available for victims who were responsible for providing for any dependent family members like children or spouses.
Get Help Filing a Camp Lejeune Wrongful Death Lawsuit
If your loved one died of a health issue related to water contamination at Camp Lejeune, whether recently or years ago, you may be entitled to compensation on their behalf.
Sokolove Law has over 40 years of experience helping veterans and their families fight back against those who caused them harm. We are proud to work with Ed Bell, the champion of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, to get our clients the results they deserve.
Let us fight for you. Call us at (800) 995-1212 or fill out our contact form now for a free review of your case.
Camp Lejeune Wrongful Death Claim FAQs
Can family members of deceased Camp Lejeune victims file wrongful death claims?
In many cases, yes. Family members of deceased Camp Lejeune victims may be able to file wrongful death claims on behalf of their loved ones, even if they died many years ago.
This is due to the passing of the recent Camp Lejeune Justice Act, which allows veterans and their families to pursue compensation for illnesses linked to the contaminated water.
What do you need to prove a Camp Lejeune wrongful death case?
For a Camp Lejeune wrongful death case, you need to prove that the deceased person:
- Lived or worked at Camp Lejeune during the contamination period
- Spent at least 30 days on base during this time
- Suffered from a health issue relating to toxic water exposure before passing away
Call (800) 995-1212 now for help determining if you have a Camp Lejeune wrongful death case.
How much is a Camp Lejeune wrongful death settlement worth?
It’s too soon to tell. To date, no Camp Lejeune settlements have been awarded.
That said, settlement amounts in general have a lot of variation. The final amount of financial compensation for claimants can depend on various factors in each case.
At Sokolove Law, our experienced lawyers can fight for the most compensation possible on your behalf. We’ve secured over $9.3 Billion for clients across the country.
See if you have a case with a free case review now.
Will filing a lawsuit affect VA benefits?
No. Filing a lawsuit will not affect someone’s VA benefits, including their health care benefits.
Instead, a Camp Lejeune lawsuit allows workers, veterans, and their families to pursue additional compensation from the U.S. government for injuries from the toxic water at Camp Lejeune.
Do you need an attorney to file a Camp Lejeune wrongful death lawsuit?
It may give you a better chance of getting compensation. Camp Lejeune wrongful death lawsuits are filed in federal court, where it’s highly advisable to have an attorney on your side who can protect and enforce your legal rights.
Our team has decades of experience fighting for our clients in court. We’ll do everything we can to maximize any potential compensation that you may receive.
What was in the water at Camp Lejeune?
The toxic chemicals found in the water supply at Camp Lejeune included volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like benzene, PCE (tetrachloroethylene or perchloroethylene), TCE (trichloroethylene), and vinyl chloride.
Water tested in the 1980s at the nearby water treatment plants of Hadnot Point and Tarawa Terrace was found to contain alarming concentrations of these compounds.
Numerous public health studies have since linked the water supply contamination to a number of life-threatening medical conditions, including birth defects and various types of cancer.
