KJ McElrath  |  February 20, 2019

Category: Cancer

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First responders, cleanup workers, residents and others suffering from 9/11 health effects can still qualify for compensation from the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund.

Those who have been diagnosed with cancer, respiratory disease, toxicity disorders or disabilities resulting from physical injuries, as well as surviving family members, can be eligible to collect compensation and may qualify for lifetime medical treatments free of charge.

To date, thousands of people who continue to experience illnesses brought on by the poisonous substances released by the collapse of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001 have claimed millions of dollars from the fund.

About the Fund

What is officially known as the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) is a provision of Public Law 107-42, the Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act, passed by Congress and signed into law shortly after the events took place. Under the terms of the law, victims or surviving family members who accept settlements from the VCF forfeit their right to bring a lawsuit against the airlines involved.

The VCF is a taxpayer-funded federal program, separate from the September 11th Fund that was established by the New York Community Trust and United Way of New York City and funded largely by donations. That fund was closed in 2004, though monetary distributions continued through 2007.

The VCF also closed in 2004. But it soon became apparent that many illnesses due to 9/11 health effects had long latency periods, and many victims were being diagnosed years after the events occurred. As a result, the fund was reactivated in January 2011. Thanks to a bill signed by President Barack Obama in 2015, the VCF will continue to operate through the end of 2020.

What 9/11 Health Effects Qualify?

The toxins released by the collapse of the World Trade Center was a virtual “witches’ brew” of chemicals and substances that included aluminum, asbestos, glass, aviation fuel and more.

In addition to toxicity-related diseases and non-malignant respiratory illnesses, there are more than 70 different types of cancer that qualify under the law. Among these are cancers affecting:

  • Bladder
  • Bone
  • Brain
  • Breast
  • Colon
  • Esophagus
  • Kidneys
  • Liver
  • Ovaries
  • Prostate
  • Stomach
  • Thyroid

In addition, people suffering from cancers such as leukemia, mesothelioma, non-Hodgkins lymphoma and tumors affecting the head and neck can also file a claim with the VCF.

Who Can File for Compensation?

The toxins released by the collapse of the World Trade Center was a virtual “witches’ brew” of chemicals and substances that included aluminum, asbestos, glass, aviation fuel and more. These substances lingered for several months over Lower Manhattan as cleanup efforts continued, causing more than a million people to be exposed to airborne carcinogens.

Anyone who was residing, employed, attending school or were part of a rescue and/or subsequent cleanup and suffers from 9/11 health effects as a result may be eligible to file for compensation from the VCF.

Navigating the complex and burdensome paperwork and strict deadlines to participate in the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund can be difficult. An experienced 9/11 Victim Fund attorney can help and ensure you get the maximum compensation available.

If you were present near Ground Zero, generally considered to be Lower Manhattan below Canal Street, between September 11, 2001 and May 31, 2002, and were diagnosed with cancer 4 years or more after exposure (or 1 year or more for blood and bone cancers), you may qualify for compensation.

Submit your information now for a free, no-obligation review of your potential 9/11 cancer fund claim.

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Free 9/11 Cancer Fund Claim Evaluation

If you qualify, a September 11 Victim Compensation Fund attorney will contact you to discuss the details of your potential claim at no charge to you.

PLEASE NOTE: If you want to participate in this investigation, it is imperative that you reply to the law firm if they call or email you. Failing to do so may result in you not getting signed up as a client or getting you dropped as a client.

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