How Long Do I Have to File a Water Contamination Lawsuit?
In 2015, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NDRC), an environmental advocacy group based in New York, reported that nearly 77 million people in the United States lived in places where the water systems violated safety regulations in some way, including the 1974 Safe Drinking Water Act. A recent investigation has found that nearly 1 in 4 Americans either has tap water that is not properly safeguarded against contaminants or has tap water that is not fit to drink. In 2015, 80,000 violations of drinking water safety regulations were reported by the Natural Resources Defense Council. There were over 12,000 “health-based” violations, or cases involving contamination issues.
Is There a Deadline for a Camp Lejeune Lawsuit?
The president signed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 on August 9, allowing victims of the Camp Lejeune water contamination crisis to seek compensation from the government. A claimant must file their Camp Lejeune lawsuit within two years of the act being signed, or as soon as possible after that.
Some people may have a different deadline than others. A claimant who doesn’t become sick during the Camp Lejeune contamination period but gets sick after August 9, 2022, has two years to file a suit from the date of their diagnosis.
How Long Will It Take for a Camp Lejeune Toxic Water Lawsuit to Settle?
It is unknown whether the federal government will seek to quickly settle Camp Lejeune Just Act (CLJA) claims or defend them vigorously. The first step in seeking a settlement for your injuries at this point is to file a lawsuit. The attorneys at the Wieand Law Firm are hopeful that settlements in the administrative claim phase or at an early stage of civil litigation are feasible.
The Department of Justice and the Navy are likely to screen claims and place them into a tiered system based on harm severity and the likelihood that Camp Lejeune’s toxic water caused them. This approach would mean that the strongest claims would be settled relatively quickly during the preliminary claim phase, which may last six months. Weak claims may take longer to process, as civil discovery may be required to strengthen them.
The Criteria for a Camp Lejeune Lawsuit
You can file a Camp Lejeune lawsuit as long as you meet the deadline and other requirements of your case. In addition to the standard criteria, these extra requirements must be met:
- Between 1953 and 1987, you or your child was exposed to contaminated water for at least 30 consecutive or non-consecutive days.
- Either you or your child suffered exposure at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Holcomb Boulevard, or another qualifying location.
- You or your child may have been diagnosed with cancer, a neurobehavioral disorder, or another serious health problem.
How Long do I Have to File a Water Contamination Lawsuit?
There may be a deadline for filing your water contamination lawsuit if you have a different issue. It varies from state to state. Our firm’s water contamination lawyers can help you determine whether there is a deadline for your lawsuit and help you meet it.
A Water Contamination Lawyer Can Help You Meet Any Deadlines
Your case can be prepared and filed soon, thanks to the assistance of one of our lawyers. Your lawyer will first identify any deadlines and then help you file your case in accordance with the law. Your lawyer will:
- Make sure you list all of the damages you suffered, including medical expenses, lost wages, new plumbing or water treatment systems for your home, and so on.
- All damages must be documented with supporting documents.
- Comply with all of the required documents to be filled and filed according to legal requirements.
- You can appeal a denial of your settlement or benefits.
- Either the defendant or a judge can resolve your case.
- Your lawyer can refer you for free lead testing if you have a Flint case.
- Your lawyer will ensure that Veterans Affairs gives you a fair disability rating for a Camp Lejeune case.
Our team will do their best to fight for the compensation you deserve and assist you in your recovery, in each water contamination case.
Why Time Is of the Essence in Your Water Contamination Case
Your well-being and your family are big priorities for you right now. Should you hire an attorney now or wait until news breaks of another settlement or class action suit? You may be unsure. However, there are several reasons to secure an attorney prior to the case.
Instead of waiting for the money to come in the future, your legal team may be able to recover compensation for you that will help you and your family survive now. It is important to secure a lawyer now if you must wait for another government-sanctioned settlement to participate in the next lawsuit. You will be informed about your legal rights as soon as they become available.
Contact Goldberg, Persky & White P.C. to Learn More
There is a deadline for filing water contamination lawsuits, so you have to find out whether there is one for your case. An attorney at GPW Law can help you qualify for the compensation you deserve in a Camp Lejeune case.
Our firm has handled numerous toxic injury cases like yours nationwide for over forty years. Our clients have been very pleased with our results, and we have recovered several million dollars on their behalf. Contact us today to learn more about what one of our attorneys can do for you.