Camp Lejeune Bladder Cancer Lawsuit

Bladder Cancer is definitively linked to Camp Lejeune toxic water. Bladder cancer is one of the PRESUMPTIVE CONDITIONS that have the greatest link to the Camp Lejeune contaminated water. Approximately, a dozen different cancers have known to be caused by the contaminated water, including kidney cancer.

Proof Linking Camp Lejeune Water to Bladder Cancer

There was tremendous anger by the public concerning the United States mishandling of the water contamination situation at Camp Lejeune Marine Base. As a result of public pressure, the United States Government commissioned many scientific studies to determine how the toxic water impacted the health of Marines, their families and others who lived, spent time on and or worked at Camp Lejeune.

The several decades during which veterans and their families were exposed to a number of toxins through their drinking and bathing water represented one of the most harmful acts of negligence committed by the federal government in United States history. For years, people who were residing at Camp Lejeune had no idea that the water from their sink could kill them or result in serious disease or illness.

Government kept injured veterans in the dark for many years

What was even worse was that the government kept these injured veterans in the dark for many years about the cause of their mysterious illnesses. By the time that the government came clean about what it did and how, victims no longer had the ability to file any lawsuit. Thus, Camp Lejeune veterans and their families went without compensation for this Injustice for decades. Even if the injured service members knew how they were harmed, they may still have not been able to take legal action.

Now, the law has been changed to allow those who contracted bladder cancer and any one of a number of other serious illnesses from Camp Lejeune water to file a claim and get paid for the damage that they suffered.

Contact an experienced attorney

First, you should contact an experienced attorney who knows how to file claims against the federal government to learn more about your legal rights. Our lawyers are standing by, ready to help you and your family go through the complex claims process to get the money that you deserve.

Why Toxic Camp Lejeune Water Caused Bladder Cancer

The bladder is particularly susceptible to developing a cancerous tumor when it is exposed to any level of toxins. Hazardous substances are not entirely scrubbed from the body. Those that are passed out of the body through the urine. It follows that the bladder is particularly exposed because of the amount of time that the urine spends in the bladder before leaving the body.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry performed an extensive study that surveyed roughly 247,000 people that were exposed to the toxic water at Camp Lejeune. The agency looked at various forms of cancer that have been associated with the contaminated water, and bladder cancer was one of the most common types of tumors that were detected among people exposed.

The ATSDR compared a group of Camp Lejeune veterans with a survey group of Marines who were deployed at Camp Pendleton. The study found that Camp Lejeune service members were 64% more likely to develop bladder cancer than those Marines who served at Camp Pendleton.

Bladder Cancer Is a Common Illness Among Camp Lejeune Veterans

Bladder cancer is considered one of the types of tumors that is most strongly connected with the toxic Camp Lejeune water. The causation is so strong that the Veterans Administration has designated bladder cancer as one of the eight illnesses that are presumed to be caused by toxic Camp Lejeune water. Bladder cancer is considered a Type 1 cancer, meaning that the connection between this illness and toxic water is the strongest.

In particular, there are two hazardous substances that are known carcinogens that have been linked with instances of bladder cancer. They are:

• Trichloroethylene (TCE)
• Tetrachloroethylene (PCE)

How Harmful Chemicals Came to Sicken Camp Lejeune Veterans

TCE is a substance that is used for cleaning metal parts. It was used extensively at Camp Lejeune over the course of several decades. TCE most likely made its way into the water supply because it was buried at a chemical dump that was located perilously near a groundwater well. The water from this well was used at one of the water treatment plants and was drunk by servicemembers and their families.

Source of the PCE was a dry cleaner

The source of the PCE was a dry cleaner that was located off base. This dry cleaner was known to have extremely poor chemical disposal practices. The problem with the pollutants was so extensive that the site eventually was designated for Superfund cleanup. The dry cleaner was located up gradient from the groundwater well that was located on base. The chemicals made their way down gradient, where they seeped into the water supply. It was decades before anyone realized the scope and extent of the problem, although base officials knew that the water wells were susceptible to being permeated by chemicals in the area. It was even more years until the military stopped using water from these treatment plants.

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act Finally Allows You to Seek Financial Compensation

For injured Camp Lejeune veterans and their families, the problem was that the law prohibited them from filing a claim against the federal government in several respects.

• The application of the Feres Doctrine kept injured service members from filing a claim against the federal government for harm that they suffered during the time of their service.
• The application of a North Carolina statute of repose prevented those injured by acts of mass pollution from filing a lawsuit against the polluter more than ten years after the last act of pollution.

Injured service members had tried to file a lawsuit against the federal government, only to have it dismissed by the court. The only way to give these injured veterans and their families any form of justice was for Congress to change the law to allow for a lawsuit against the federal government.

File a lawsuit in federal court in North Carolina

This is exactly what Congress did in August 2022. As part of the PACT Act, which related to veterans’ healthcare, Congress passed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act. This law created a new cause of action that gives injured service members and their families a limited amount of time to sue the federal government. First, the veterans must file a claim with the Department of Defense and negotiate a potential settlement with the government. If the claim is denied, or the veteran is unable to reach a settlement agreement, they can then file a lawsuit in federal court in North Carolina.

You do not have to specifically show that the toxic Camp Lejeune water caused your case of bladder cancer. The fact that you were on the base for 30 days or more during the relevant time period, along with studies that show the connection between the water and bladder cancer, should be enough for you to be in a position to receive financial compensation.

How to Get Maximum Compensation for Your Camp Lejeune Bladder Cancer Claim

Even if you are eligible for financial compensation, that is only part of the struggle that you must endure. The federal government is not necessarily the easiest entity against which to file a Camp Lejeune bladder cancer lawsuit. Already, there are reports of delays and a general lack of organization. Even still, the government would need to offer you enough money to settle your claim.

If you have filed a Camp Lejeune claim, you are entitled to the following elements of compensation:

• The cost of your medical care
• Lost wages for time that you missed from work to treat your illness
• Pain and suffering damages
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Embarrassment and humiliation

If your loved one died, even if it was years ago, your family may be able to file a wrongful death claim against the federal government. Your time to take action to get the money that you deserve is limited. You should contact an experienced attorney to discuss your case and begin the process of filing a claim to get compensation. The government has the money to pay your claim. It is up to you to take action to get it in full.

You have the right to say no and demand a Jury trial

An experienced attorney could come up with a dollar value of your claim. They could then negotiate compensation with the federal government. You have the right to say no if the government is not offering you enough money. They do not get to dictate the amount of your compensation. Instead, your legal rights determine how much you are to be paid. If you do not work with an experienced lawyer, you may never know that you could have gotten more money for your Camp Lejeune bladder cancer lawsuit before you sign away your legal rights.

lawyers are paid nothing unless you win your case

Our Camp Lejeune bladder cancer lawyers are paid nothing unless you win your case. You do not need to pay us any money out of your own pocket, and we will not send you bills while your case is pending. If you have a claim for Kidney cancer caused by the contaminated water, contact us.