Fort Bragg Water Contamination Lawsuit

Fort Bragg, now known as Fort Liberty, is one of the largest military bases in the world. Thousands of military members, their families, and base personnel have been stationed at this location over the years since it was established in 1918.

Unfortunately, it’s been discovered that the water at this military base had been heavily contaminated due to unsafe practices by the military. As a result, thousands of people have been affected by serious health issues, resulting in many lawsuits.

If you believe you or your family members have suffered damages from the toxic chemicals in the water at Fort Bragg, you should contact Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers for a free consultation. Here’s how our dedicated military base water contamination lawyers can help.

Fort Bragg Water Contamination Lawsuit Updates

The nature of lawsuits against Fort Bragg changes from time to time, usually based on new initiatives from the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Since the issue of chemicals in the water came to light, there have been several developments that may impact victims of the contamination who are seeking legal options.

March 2023

The Environmental Protection Agency releases stricter standards for what levels of PFAS are safe in drinking water. The new standards are still far lower than recent water testing at Fort Liberty has revealed, making the water still unsafe. Even today, the most recent tests of finished drinking water have revealed limits exceeding the EPA lifetime health advisory, so active-duty military personnel and families could still be experiencing health issues from this military base.

December 2022

The EWG releases information from the Department of Defense regarding the number of personnel exposed to high PFAS levels at military sites. Over 175,000 individuals were estimated to be provided with water containing PFAS contamination each year at these bases. This astounding number was calculated across 24 different bases in the United States.

March 2020

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) shares a news release about the Pentagon and EPA’s findings that hundreds of military locations had contaminated water. Fort Bragg and Camp LeJeune were among the most contaminated sites mentioned in this release. These findings have led to numerous lawsuits against each military base, including class action lawsuits with multiple claimants.

September 2019

The EPA is given $6 million in funding to research the polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that were discovered in drinking water at several military bases in the United States, including Fort Bragg.

Fort Bragg Lawsuit Eligibility Criteria

If you spent time stationed at Fort Bragg or living nearby, then it is possible you encountered toxic exposure that could cause severe health issues. However, not everyone will have a case to file legal action. Speaking with an experienced law firm is the first step in determining your eligibility for a claim, but here is a quick guide to see if you might have a case.

• Stationed at Fort Bragg (now Fort Liberty) for at least one cumulative year, confirmed by military record
• Diagnosed by a medical professional with an illness connected to toxic exposure from contaminated water, confirmed by medical records
• Possessing substantial documentation of your time at Fort Bragg and the health problems suffered due to toxic exposure

Toxic Chemicals in Fort Bragg Drinking Water

Fort Bragg was established in North Carolina in 1918 as a base for training World War I soldiers. It then became a testing ground for long-range artillery guns until it was eventually used as a testing site for airborne units during World War II. Now it is used for airborne and special operations units.

The frequent use of fire suppressant materials caused the toxic chemicals to enter the water supply. You may have a PFAS water contamination lawsuit if you were exposed to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) or perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), which are both types of PFAS.

Perfluorooctanoic Acid

PFOA is a man-made chemical common in many manufacturing processes before the 2000s. At Fort Bragg, it was a component of the Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF), which is used to put out petroleum-based fires, common during military tests. PFOA is often seen in more recent firefighting techniques.

Perfluorooctane Sulfonate

PFOS performs the same function as PFOA, serving in fire suppressant methods commonly used at military bases around the world. PFOS was used in greater volume historically, with PFOA now becoming more common.

Both “forever chemicals” stubbornly refuse to break down, which is why so many military members and families have been exposed to health problems from the drinking water systems at Fort Bragg.

Health Risks of Drinking Contaminated Water from Fort Bragg

If you or a loved one was stationed at a military base like Fort Bragg for at least a year, you should be aware of several health concerns.

Some of the symptoms of toxic exposure include raised cholesterol levels, decreases in birth weight, weakened vaccine effectiveness, and complications for pregnant women like hypertension or pre-eclampsia.

It is worth getting tested for toxic exposure from PFOs and PFOA if you notice these symptoms, as there could be larger issues with your health, including:

• Bladder cancer
• Breast cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Pancreatic cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Testicular cancer
• Liver cancer
• Multiple myeloma
• Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Thyroid disease
• Ulcerative colitis
• Leukemia

How to File a Fort Bragg Water Contamination Lawsuit

Toxic exposure to the drinking water at Fort Bragg can be life-altering, if not fatal. The numerous cancers and serious symptoms you might experience will have a huge impact on your lifestyle and happiness.

Being exposed to these chemicals can derail your future, especially concerning your finances. Our refined process will guide you through the legal framework for filing a successful claim, which involves:

• Free consultation – Give us a call to discuss the nature of your case and we will talk about your legal options to pursue a claim
• Case investigation – Your attorney will investigate your claim thoroughly to determine what is needed to file the lawsuit according to federal and state laws
• Gathering evidence – To prove you have a case, we will help you compile evidence to support the claim, such as military documentation and medical records
• Assessing damages – The purpose of a lawsuit is to pursue compensation, so your lawyer will assess damages to determine a settlement amount for the claim
• Negotiating for compensation – Negotiating with insurance companies and large entities is our specialty and we will work hard to get the compensation you deserve for your suffering
• Representation in court – Though these lawsuits usually settle out of court, a particularly complex claim could end up in court, where we will represent your interests

Evidence Needed to Support Your Claim

A preponderance of evidence will determine whether or not you receive compensation for your Fort Bragg lawsuit. Victims or family members must be able to support their claims with empirical data to prove the injuries or diseases caused by the water contamination led to legal damages. Here are a few examples of evidence you might need for your case:

• Military records showing you were stationed at Fort Bragg for at least a year
• Military records proving you lived within a mile of the area contaminated with PFAS
• Documentation showing you were on active duty during the timeline of the PFAS water contamination
• Medical records of your appointments and costs associated with diagnosing or treating your health problems
• Medical records and test results from medical examinations proving the existence of a disease of affliction
• Reports from a therapist or medical professional about your mental state

You Have Limited Time to File a Fort Bragg Lawsuit

A personal injury case typically has a statute of limitations depending on the cause of the damage and the state you live in. This statute limits how long you have to file your claim. If you wait until after this timeline to contact a law firm about the claim, then you will not be able to legally claim compensation.

The rules vary from state to state, but you generally have either a year or two years to begin the claim process.

There are multiple lawsuits against various military sites that are happening right now. Fort Bragg and Camp LeJeune are just two of the biggest water contamination lawsuits against military bases. No matter where you live or when the toxic exposure occurred, getting in touch with a law firm as soon as possible will give you the best chance of success with your claim.

Fort Bragg Lawsuit Financial Compensation Estimates

Multiple factors play a role in how much money a victim or surviving family members can receive from a lawsuit.

Generally, the range for an individual is between $30,000 and $500,000. The primary factors in determining this amount are the type of health risks that have resulted from the toxic exposure and the impact these conditions have had on a person’s life. The worse your condition, the larger the settlement is likely to be.

Some of the damages that could be present in a Fort Bragg water contamination suit include:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Loss of quality of life
• Future medical costs
• Loss of companionship
• Loss of financial support
• Physical pain
• Disfigurement
• Emotional suffering
• Disability

Contact a Fort Bragg Water Contamination Lawyer Today!

To win your Fort Bragg case, you need the best legal representation on your side. Our personal injury law firm can help you collect evidence, file your claim, and pursue just compensation for the damages you or your family members have suffered because of the toxic exposure to PFOS and PFOA.

With Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers in your corner, your chances of winning a settlement are greatly increased, helping you overcome the financial challenges from the diseases caused by Fort Bragg’s water contamination.

The great benefit of working with us is you pay no money upfront for our services. Since we work on a contingency fee basis, we only receive payment if we win your case. This incentivizes us to work even harder for every client who has suffered from water contaminated with PFAS at a military base like Fort Bragg.

Call us today at 888-424-5757 to schedule your free Fort Bragg water contamination consultation or fill out the contact form and we will reach out to you to discuss your case.

Related Practice Areas

• Military Base Water Contamination Lawsuit
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• Cherry Point Water Contamination Lawsuit
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• Fort Dix Water Contamination Lawsuit
• Fort Drum Water Contamination Lawsuit
• Fort Jackson Water Contamination Lawsuit
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All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.