To many people, hiring a lawyer is something that ends up being the last resort. They have exhausted all other options and finally realize that legal representation can be of great help.
This is, unfortunately, a common story. On the one hand, it is understandable. We tend to feel that involving a lawyer makes a situation more complicated than it needs to be.
On the other hand, a consequence of being averse to attorneys is that you often end up dealing with the inevitable complications all on your own. The legal system is simply not something that the average person is trained to navigate. It can be a complex and messy labyrinth that is challenging even for lawyers.
The Tragic Story of Camp Lejeune’s Water Contamination Disaster
Between the 1950s and the 1980s, people stationed at the U.S. Marine base, Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina, were exposed to toxic and contaminated water.
Harmful chemicals and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that originated from the washing of military equipment as well as improperly stored materials, are believed to have caused the disaster.
The toxins, mainly trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PCE), and benzene, made their way into the water supply used on the base and affected not just marines but also the family members and other staff that lived on the base.
The health consequences were devastating. One million people are believed to have suffered some sort of health issues as a result, with cancer, compromised immune systems, anemia, and menstrual / pregnancy-related issues in women.
As you might have guessed, class action lawsuits were filed left and right. Shockingly, 80% of claims filed by veterans to the Veterans Association (VA) were rejected. Poorly planned legislation was also observed. The PACT Act, a relatively new law that sought to expand benefits for veterans, ended up being hampered by its short filing time frame.
To make that clear, victims of the Camp Lejeune disaster have only until August 2024 to file their claims. That’s not a lot of time, considering that many of the veterans whose claims were rejected prior to the PACT Act will now have to re-apply. Going through the entire lengthy process once more is a daunting task.
Last year, in 2022, we also saw the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 come into play, another attempt at making the process of filing suits easier for victims.
What We Can Learn From It
In the case of the Camp Lejeune disaster, it is clear that having lawyers and attorneys on the side of the victims would have made a significant difference. With the legal system being complex and difficult to navigate, lawyers would have been able to help victims understand their rights and guide them through the process of filing claims and pursuing legal action.
Undoubtedly, many veterans would have given up hope after being rejected by the VA.
Lawyers can still help victims understand the nuances of the PACT Act and its filing requirements, ensuring that they meet the strict deadlines and requirements. This would allow more victims to receive the benefits they are entitled to.
Many law firms like Tor Hoerman Law, LLC have filed class action lawsuits and also release periodic updates to help spread awareness about the situation. While this is good news, it is still unfortunate that many victims are likely to give up, being sick of the way they have been treated by the government.
Lawyers, particularly law firms, can be surprisingly powerful advocates for such people. (And it is also in their financial interests as well.) They have the resources to raise public awareness about issues of government negligence and mismanagement.
By speaking out publicly, filing lawsuits or class actions, and advocating for policy changes, they can bring attention to these issues and push for meaningful change.
Conclusion
The Camp Lejeune disaster highlights the long-term health consequences of exposure to toxins and other hazardous materials. Many of the victims of the Camp Lejeune crisis continue to suffer from serious health issues decades later. This underscores the need for ongoing support and compensation for those affected by such disasters.
Lawyers and attorneys can play a crucial role in fighting for the rights of victims and ensuring that they receive the support they need to live healthy and fulfilling lives. Most people don’t associate law firms with being paragons of social justice. However, they can provide a voice for the voiceless and fight for justice on their behalf.