6 Vital Things to Consider Before Filing a Water Contamination Lawsuit

Whether you live in an area with a history of water contamination or located further away, it’s crucial to understand the laws that apply to contaminated wells. If you live in a state that doesn’t have a law about water contamination, then your only option is to file a lawsuit against the polluter.

You’ll need to carefully consider your options before deciding whether this is right for you and your family.

Is Your Water Contaminated? You May Be Eligible to Receive Compensation

As you may or may not know, water contamination can come from many sources. It includes everything from climate change and natural disasters to industrial pollution and faulty plumbing.

It’s important to know what type of contamination you have been exposed to so that you can take steps to protect yourself and your family. In addition, if your water is contaminated, you may be eligible to receive compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and more intangible damages like pain and suffering.

If you think your drinking water has been contaminated by anything other than natural minerals in the earth’s crust, it’s necessary to find the reason for the contamination.

Consider the Type of Contaminants You Have Been Exposed To

You should know what contaminated your water to determine how to proceed with your lawsuit. Depending on the situation, several different contaminants may have caused you harm and led to your illness or injury.

Suppose you were exposed to bacteria or viruses in a contaminated water system. In that case, you could have Hepatitis A, E Coli, Legionnaire’s Disease, or other illnesses caused by these organisms. Likewise, if there are pesticides in the water supply, those chemicals can cause symptoms like nausea and headaches, and birth defects in children.

You must talk with an attorney if you believe you have been exposed to dangerous chemicals or radiation in your water supply. They can help you determine whether or not you have grounds for a lawsuit.

Let’s take the example of Camp Lejeune. The water contamination at Camp Lejeune was discovered in 1982 when it was determined that industrial solvents and other toxic chemicals contaminated the drinking water. The contaminants included benzene and trichloroethylene (TCE), which can cause cancer.

If you were exposed to contaminated drinking water between 1953 and 1987, there is a chance that you may have been harmed by it. If you think you were exposed to toxic chemicals while at the place, you can file a Camp Lejeune Lawsuit for compensation.

As per news by Reuters, after the legislation removed the roadblocks from the cases, 5,000 claims over water contamination at Camp Lejeune have been filed in the first month. In addition, the plaintiff’s attorney expects 500,000 claims to be filed for compensation.

Consider the Damages Your Family Could Have Incurred

There are likely many things you will want to consider before filing a water contamination lawsuit. In addition to the damages and expenses outlined above, many other costs may have been incurred as a result of your family’s exposure to contaminated water.

It can include medical bills, lost wages due to time missed from work while sick, or caring for a sick person. It may also include funeral expenses if someone in your family died as a result of the exposure. You can also add moving costs if you relocate from your place because water contamination makes it unsafe for your family to stay at home any longer.

As you weigh these factors, you should remember that every case is different, and no two cases will have identical outcomes. However, one thing remains constant; it’s necessary to understand what happened and how best you can help clients recover from this experience financially.

Understand That Some Time Limits Apply to the Start of Your Case

When you’ve been injured by a contaminated water supply and are considering filing a lawsuit, there are many things to weigh. One such consideration is the time limit for filing your case. It is necessary because some states have strict statutes of limitations on personal injury lawsuits. It means you may not file your claim if it hasn’t been done in time.

These laws vary by state and can range from one year to two decades after an injury has occurred.

If you’re wondering how long before your case expires, this will depend upon where the contamination occurred and what type of substance was involved. Some states even have special rules for toxic substances released into drinking water supplies. These include Hawaii and California.

Find an Attorney You Can Trust With Your Case

While you may be tempted to go with the first lawyer that walks through your door, doing a little research is good. Talk to family and friends who have been in similar situations, or ask around at work. According to the Legal Trend Report by Clio, nearly 81% of people in the US sought referrals to approach a lawyer. If you’re insured, check with your insurance company as well.

In addition to referrals from others in your area of expertise, it never hurts to check out an attorney’s website. Also, you can check the website for any awards or honors they might have received for their work on behalf of clients like you. Finally, it can give you an idea of how experienced our attorney is with cases like yours before ever setting foot in the office.

Build a Strong Legal Team for Your Contamination Case

Having a quality legal team is essential for any water contamination case. You need a lawyer with a lot of experience with this type of case and who knows the local laws and regulations to file an effective lawsuit. If your case is against a large corporation, your attorney must also have experience building cases against big corporations to maximize your chance of success.

It is because large corporations have more resources than small businesses. Therefore, they may try dragging your case out to wear you down. In these situations, you need an attorney who knows how to deal with a big company’s legal team. In addition, an experienced lawyer can advise on how to proceed with your case so that you don’t waste money on unnecessary actions.

Prepare Yourself Before Filing a Lawsuit

Before filing a water contamination lawsuit, you should know what to expect and what not to expect. You should also know how to prepare for the process. According to Federal Judicial Caseload Statistics, the filing of personal injury cases in the US surged 150% in 2021. 

Filing a lawsuit is an emotional experience that requires patience and fortitude, but with the right attorney by your side, you can successfully navigate through this difficult time.

As you can see, there’s a lot to consider before filing a water contamination lawsuit. Your initial step should be to talk with a lawyer about your options and the process involved in such cases. It’s best to get the advice of someone who has experience in these matters so that they can guide you through what needs to be done next.