What Exactly Happened at Camp Lejeune? 

 Posted on July 17, 2023 in Wrongful Death

When tragedy strikes, victims are often in a position to articulate their stories, advocate on behalf of their interests, and pursue the justice that they deserve. However, there are also oftentimes when victims of a tragic situation succumb to the harm that they have suffered before justice is served. In these situations, their loved ones may choose to pursue justice in the name of the departed.

Living victims of the Camp Lejeune toxic exposure tragedy can speak with attorneys directly about pursuing justice for the harm they have suffered. The surviving loved ones of those who have been lost can similarly seek justice. Yet, many surviving loved ones may not fully understand what happened to their loved one and whether their loved one’s medical issues were caused by toxic exposure. Understanding what happened at Camp Lejeune can help to clarify whether a loved one deserves justice as a result of their circumstances.

Toxic Groundwater

Those who have already lost their lives as a result of toxic exposure at Camp Lejeune suffered two different kinds of harm. First, they were exposed to toxins that made them physically ill. For more than three decades, hazardous waste was dumped into lots, forests, waterways, and other locations in and around the military base. The chemical compounds in this waste found their way into the groundwater, then into wells, and then into people’s drinking, bathing, and recreational water. Servicemembers, workers, and the families of those stationed at the Camp were all subjected to levels of toxins that exceeded – by hundreds of times – safe levels of exposure.

A Failure to Act

Additionally, victims have suffered the indignity of the fact that their health was not properly protected by those who knew that people stationed at the base, as well as their families, were being subjected to a serious risk of harm. Toxic chemicals were discovered in the Base’s water supply by the federal government years before most of the wells were shut down and years before people were protected from the toxins in question. It has been more than 40 years since chemicals were discovered in the water and victims and their families are only now receiving the opportunity to seek justice.

Contact a Compassionate Cook County Toxic Tort Lawyer to Learn More

The dedicated team of Cook County, IL Camp Lejeune lawyers at Schwartz Injury Law treats the task of representing the memory of those lost – and the task of fighting back against the twin forms of mistreatment they suffered – with the utmost seriousness. If you are a loved one of someone whose fatal medical challenges may have developed due to their exposure to toxins at Camp Lejeune, schedule a free case evaluation today. Our team’s legal consultation process is both confidential and is offered at no cost.

To learn more about your family’s rights and about our firm’s approach to representation, you can call our office at 708-226-9000 to schedule your case evaluation or you can submit a contact form on our firm’s website and we will get back to you promptly. You, your case, and your loved one’s memory will always be treated with the greatest respect. We look forward to hearing from you.

Sources:

https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/camp-lejeune/

https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/sites/lejeune/index.html

https://psmag.com/environment/what-happened-at-camp-lejeune