Posted: February 9, 2018
To this day, people continue to discover they have developed severe illnesses because of the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. This is not limited to first responders, but also the hundreds of thousands of Lower Manhattan residents, workers and students who were present in the area during and/or in the weeks and months following the attack.
Compensation Fund for 9/11 Survivors and First Responders Reauthorized Through 2020
The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund was established when the Zadroga Act was signed by President Obama in 2011. The fund compensates eligible 9/11 survivors for various repercussions of their illnesses, including:
- Pain and suffering
- Lost income, both past and future
- Out-of-pocket medical expenses
The Zadroga Act's main components are the VCF and a government-funded healthcare program for first responders and survivors. When Congress reauthorized the Zadroga Act in 2015, the VCF was extended another 5 years, until December 18, 2020. The healthcare program has been extended to 2090.
How the VCF Helps 9/11 Survivors
Suddenly, 2,977 people lost their lives in the September 11th plane hijackings that crashed into the World Trade Center in Manhattan. The plane crashes not only cruelly and reprehensibly stole the lives of all those people who perished, they also created a massive pile of wreckage that would sicken tens of thousands of New Yorkers, ultimately leading to many more deaths due to cancer and other terminal conditions.
The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund exists to help survivors who have become ill because of the attack. If you are a first responder who worked at Ground Zero or nearby, or if you were living, working or going to school in Lower Manhattan below Canal St., then you may be eligible. An experienced VCF attorney helps you file your claim correctly, without missing any important documentation or other aspects of filing.
At Eisbrouch Marsh, we will determine if you are eligible, which includes determining the following:
- At what point from September 11, 2001 to May 30, 2002, you were present in the designated disaster area, and for what duration
- How to prove you were there and how long you were there
- How to demonstrate that you were exposed to the toxic dust or fumes, and that you have a qualifying illness as a result
For months, noxious fumes rose from the smoldering wreckage. For several more months, dust clouds filled with toxic particulates billowed from the pile as brave men and women worked to clean up the wreckage. Despite all of this, the EPA Chief at the time told New Yorkers that the air and water in the area was safe just a few days after the attacks. As a result, many people returned home to Lower Manhattan and tried to get back to normal life. Students were told to return to school after just a couple of weeks. Unfortunately, the air at times contained asbestos, particulates of cement, toxic chemicals and other harmful matter that has sickened many people, sometimes fatally. If you or a loved one has been affected, you deserve to know if you are entitled to compensation for the harm and injury you have suffered.
Tens of Thousands may be Eligible and Unaware of It
Given how many people are thought to have been exposed to the dust and fumes, and how many people have thus far filed claims with the VCF, some estimates say there are tens of thousands who are eligible and haven't signed up, maybe hundreds of thousands.
If you aren't sure whether you qualify, please call Eisbrouch Marsh. If you were in Lower Manhattan for some amount of time in the 8 months following 9/11, and if you've developed a serious health condition, you may be eligible. A wide variety of health conditions are covered by the Zadroga Act, including many types of cancer, as well as pulmonary diseases and PTSD.
Free VCF Consultation with Eisbrouch Marsh
After finding out you have a related injury or illness, or losing a loved one due to such a health condition, there is a certain amount of time in which you are able to file a compensation claim. If you think you may be eligible for the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, please call the experienced attorneys at Eisbrouch Marsh for a free consultation.
To reach us in New York, please call 212-643-0044. From New Jersey, including Hackensack and Newark, please call 201-342-5545.
