Did you live, work, or attend school in Lower Manhattan at the time of the September 11 terrorist attacks or any time in the eight months following the attacks? Have you been diagnosed with cancer or a chronic respiratory illness?
You may be eligible to benefit from the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund.
Call Eisbrouch Marsh, LLC today at 201-342-5545 to discuss your case with an experienced lawyer and find out if you qualify for compensation.
Our team of experienced personal injury attorneys offers free consultations for prospective Victim Compensation Fund claimants, and do not collect any fees until clients secure a settlement from the Victim Compensation Fund.
The Exposure Zone
The “exposure zone” is defined as the area of lower Manhattan south of Canal Street/East Broadway/Clinton Street.
If you were a first responder or survivor in this area on 9/11 or the months following (anytime through May 30, 2002), you may be entitled to compensation for cancer or respiratory illnesses that developed after that time. Potentially eligible parties include:
- Firefighters
- Police
- Paramedics
- Cleanup workers
- Recovery workers
- Volunteers
- Residents living in the area at the time
- People attending school in the area at the time
- People working in the area at the time
Our experienced attorneys can determine if you were present in the toxic dust exposure zone during the eligible time period. You may also be eligible if you developed an illness or injury as a result of working or living along a route used for crash site debris removal. Eligibility also covers injured or sickened parties who were present at the Skanksville, PA and Pentagon terrorist attack sites. If your work brought you into contact with the chemicals, dust cloud or toxic debris from the NYC exposure zone, you may be eligible (such as working in the New York City Morgue or cleaning emergency vehicles that responded to Ground Zero).
What Is the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund?
The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) is a federally funded program established to compensate victims for injury or death caused the terrorist attacks or the removal of debris from lower Manhattan in the aftermath of the tragedy of September 11.
In 2011, President Obama signed the Zadroga Act into law. In 2015, the VCF was extended to accept claims for five more years, until December 18, 2020.
Eligibility for the Victim Compensation Fund
In general, if you meet the following two criteria, you may be eligible for compensation:
1. You were present in one of the crash sites or related debris removal routes during the specified time period.
These sites can be summed up as:
- Ground Zero and the area of lower Manhattan south of Canal St./East Broadway/Clinton St.
- Fresh Kills landfill on Staten Island
- New York City morgue
- Trucks/barges/transportation removing Ground Zero debris and wreckage
- Locations where emergency vehicles were cleaned
- Shanksville, PA crash site
- The Pentagon crash site
These crash sites are described this way in the Zadroga Act:
"(1) The World Trade Center site, Pentagon site, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania site; or
(2) The buildings or portions of buildings that were destroyed as a result of the terrorist-related airplane crashes of September 11, 2001; or
(3) The area in Manhattan south of the line that runs along Canal Street from the Hudson River to the intersection of Canal Street and East Broadway, north on East Broadway to Clinton Street, and east on Clinton Street to the East River; or
(4) Any other area contiguous to the crash sites that the Special Master determines was sufficiently close to the site that there was a demonstrable risk of physical harm resulting from the impact of the aircraft or any subsequent fire, explosions, or building collapses (including the immediate area in which the impact occurred, fire occurred, portions of buildings fell, or debris fell upon and injured individuals); or
(5) Any area related to, or along, routes of debris removal, such as barges and Fresh Kills."
The toxic debris and dust from these crash sites affected tens of thousands of people. Hundreds have died as a result of their illnesses.
2. You were physically injured or sickened as a result, OR you are the personal representative of a person who died as a result of their illness or injury.
The Zadroga Act includes many types cancer, respiratory illness and other health conditions. Ask our attorneys for clarification on your illness and whether you are eligible.
Our attorneys will help you arrange the documentation and proof that you were present in one of the eligible zones at any point between 9/11/2001 and 5/30/2002. We also help our clients prove that they developed a qualifying injury or illness as result.
Pursuing a compensation fund award includes the following steps:
- You meet the filing deadline. These registration deadlines vary and are based on your individual circumstances. At Eisbrouch Marsh, we can help you meet the appropriate deadlines.
- You can demonstrate that you were present in the exposure zone.
- You can show that you have a physical illness or injury related to the 9/11 attacks and aftermath. Illnesses that can qualify you for compensation include:
- interstitial lung disease
- obstructive airway diseases
- pulmonary fibrosis
- reactive airways dysfunction syndrome (RADS)
- asthma
- chronic sinusitis
- chronic rhinitis
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- asbestosis
- acid reflux disease
- Follicular (nodular) non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Diffuse non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Malignant immunoproliferative diseases
- Leukemia of unspecified cell type
- Lymphoid leukemia
- Monocytic leukemia
- Multiple myeloma
- Peripheral and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma
- Cancers of the digestive system, including: stomach, rectum, colon, esophagus, Rectosignoid junction, Retroperitoneum and peritoneum, liver and bile ducts
- Thyroid cancer
- Mesothelioma
- Cancers of the urinary tract, including: prostate, kidney bladder, ureter and renal pelvis
- Skin cancer (both Melanoma and non-Melanoma)
- Female breast cancer and ovarian cancer
- Eye cancer
- Cancer of the head and neck
- Respiratory system cancers including lung cancer, tracheal cancer, and cancer of the mediastinum and pleura
- Connective and soft tissue cancers
- Cancers that are deemed “rare” by the CDC and WTC Health Program regulations, such as malignant neoplasms of the pancreas, thymus, adrenal gland and spinal cord
What Type of Compensation Is Available?
You may be eligible to collect benefits for:
- Loss of earnings
- Pain and suffering
- Out-of-pocket medical expenses
- Household related services that you can no longer perform
Do I Need an Attorney to File a VCF Claim?
Eisbrouch Marsh attorneys are available to answer questions and facilitate the process of obtaining compensation. Those who attempt to file a Victim Compensation Fund claim without the benefit of legal representation are often stymied by requests for endless documentation.
An experienced lawyer is in the best position to ensure you receive maximum compensation and you stay informed on the status of your claim every step of the way.
Call Today for Your Free Consultation with Eisbrouch Marsh
Eisbrouch Marsh are compassionate, experienced lawyers who advocate on behalf of those suffering from chronic health problems after the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks. Known for our honesty, compassion and steadfast work ethic, our attorneys remain committed to obtaining the compensation your family needs and deserves.
Call us today at 201-342-5545 for your free consultation.
With offices in Hackensack, Newark, and New York City, our lawyers welcome clients from Bergen County, Essex County and all nearby areas.
