AMERICANS witnessed the worst terror attack on September 11, 2001, with bombings across multiple locations, such as the Pentagon, Shanksville, and New York. The destruction at the Twin Towers in the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan was perhaps the most daunting as it took a toll on thousands of lives. Survivors were exposed to toxic gases, dust, and debris, which later caused cancer, respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular disease, and several other medical problems, including skin issues, PTSD, anxiety, and deafness. Even first responders, clean-up crews, and people living, working, and attending school near Ground Zero were affected.
Life is not the same for survivors and families of the 9/11 victims, even decades later, as the painful memories of the tragic event haunt them. While nothing can wipe them away, being compensated can definitely make a difference. Fortunately, the American government understood the plight of survivors and victims and gave them the opportunity to claim compensation through the WTC Compensation Fund. But claiming it requires a good understanding of your legal rights as a survivor or a family member of a victim. Here are the best legal tips for 9/11 terror attack survivors.
Subscribe to our daily newsletter
Why? Free to subscribe, no paywall, daily business news digest.
Know the basics of the law
The first step before filing for compensation for your suffering is to know the basics of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. The act was passed into law several years after the tragic event. Many 9/11 survivors and first responders suffering due to the exposure to deadly toxins invested constant effort for the implementation of the law. The act extended the WTC Health Program to 2090 and the Victim Compensation Fund for an additional five years. Further, it added $4.6 billion more to the VCF to pay claims. As a survivor, you have an opportunity to land the compensation you deserve, provided you take the right approach to file a claim for it.
Understand the coverage
Knowing the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act gives you a good start, but you must understand whether you come under the coverage criteria. Of course, you qualify as a survivor of the bombings. But you may also claim if you worked as a military service person, firefighter, police officer, emergency medical personnel, or recovery-cleanup crew member. Others qualifying as survivors include MTA train or bus operators, doctors, nurses, daycare workers, teachers, court personnel, paralegals, reporters, photographers, office workers, construction workers, couriers, mail delivery personnel, residents, and students. Spouses and families of the victims can also legally file a claim.
Check the qualifying health conditions
Being eligible for the 9/11 claim also boils down to suffering from one of the qualifying health conditions that establish suffering due to exposure to on-site toxins. You can consult expert attorneys for 9/11 victims to ensure a valid claim because they have the relevant experience. Thousands of people, who were present on-site or lived, worked, and studied around the area were exposed to toxic smoke, dust, and debris from the contaminated zones. The unprecedented exposure led to a multitude of illnesses and health symptoms. The list of qualifying conditions includes adult and childhood cancers, leukemia, respiratory issues, acute traumatic injury, mesothelioma, aerodigestive disorders, lung disease reflux, and hearing loss. Several more WTC-related health conditions come under the list.
Assess your compensation value
Before filing for compensation, you must also assess the rightful value of your claim. Once again, a 9/11 specialist lawyer can help you with the tricky part. Typically, you can get coverage for elements similar to a personal injury claim, such as medical expenses, lost wages, and the cost of hiring assistance to perform tasks due to loss of mobility and independence. Further, you can file for non-economic losses, such as the cost of your pain and suffering and diminished quality of life due to a physical disability. Besides survivors, the families of victims can also claim on the behalf of their deceased loved ones. They can seek payouts for the medical treatment, financial loss, and pain and suffering of their family members.
Knowing the legal facts about 9/11 compensation definitely puts you in a better place as a survivor or a family member of a deceased victim. You must claim your rightful compensation because the tragedy is beyond imagination, and the grief and after-effects are more painful than anything one may think of. Getting a seasoned lawyer to pursue your claim should be your priority because they ensure the maximum compensation value for clients. Moreover, awareness keeps you a step ahead of the challenges and hindrances that may stand in the way of optimal compensation.
