Those directly affected by the toxic air and dust that resulted from the September 11th World Trade Center attacks may be eligible for a money payout from the 9/11 Victim’s Compensation Fund.

One particular victim who developed a rare form of skin cancer as a result of his exposure to September 11th fumes was able to prove his claim with the 9/11 Victim’s Compensation Fund because of one news station’s video footage of the event.

The 9/11 Victim’s Compensation Fund

To receive compensation from the 9/11 Victim’s Compensation Fund one must have been present in the Lower Manhattan Exposure Zone. This is the part of Manhattan that sits south of Canal Street. People who are eligible to receive compensation must prove that they have been diagnosed with a physical illness or injury including over 70 types of cancers.

Some cancers that qualify under the 9/11 Victim’s Compensation Fund include melanoma and different types of skin cancers, bone cancer, ovarian cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer and others.

Those people who may qualify for the 9/11 Victim’s Compensation Fund include first responders, firefighters, police officers and EMTs, construction and sanitation workers, city and utility workers, volunteers including out-of-state responders, and those who lived, worked or went to school below Canal Street.

Michael D. claims he was standing south of Canal Street in the moments following the September 11th terrorist attacks.

He told ABC Action News, “I was literally standing next to one of the antennas on the ground, ground-level. I was pretty much in the thick of it.” Years later, he developed a rare form of skin cancer that he believes was as a result of being in the toxic exposure zone.

He says that his health insurance only covers a small portion of his treatment and that it is quite expensive. One treatment, Michael claims, costs $104,000.

Michael hoped that he was eligible for payment from the 9/11 Victim’s Compensation Fund. The 9/11 Victim’s Compensation Fund has $7.3 billion that can go to pay victims like Michael who’ve been injured by the September 11th attacks.

He discovered that he needed to be able to prove he was south of Canal during the toxic exposure period in order to receive compensation from the 9/11 Victim’s Compensation Fund. Michael recalled that he had been interviewed by a reporter during this time and decided he would try to get video proof that he was in the exposure zone.

He contacted a detective friend who was able to get in touch with the news agency that interviewed him. After obtaining a copy of the video on which he was interviewed, Michael was able to receive compensation from the 9/11 Victim’s Compensation Fund which will help him with his medical costs.

Obtaining Help from the 9/11 Victim’s Compensation Fund

If you or someone you love was south of Canal in Lower Manhattan following the attacks on the World Trade Center in September 2001, you may stand to collect money from the 9/11 Victim’s Compensation Fund. Contacting an experienced attorney can help you determine your best options.