Get Help with Your Claim to the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund
Experienced New York Injury Attorney Helping People with Injuries or Illnesses Caused by the 9/11 Attacks and their Aftermath
The Victim Compensation Fund was designed to provide compensation to those who lived, worked, or went to school within the designated exposure zone in addition to those who worked on the rescue, recovery, and clean-up efforts after the attacks. This area encompasses lower Manhattan south of Canal Street.
If you were exposed to a qualifying injury or illness in the designated area from September 11, 2001 to May 30, 2002, you may be eligible for compensation from the VCF. Remember, these claims are NOT limited to First Responders. If you lived or worked in the area, made deliveries into the area or were otherwise present within the designated time frame and suffered one of the many qualifying consequences, you could be able to apply for compensation from the Fund.
Funds may be available to help you cope with your injury or illness
Fortunately, victims of cancer or other diseases arising out of the events of 9/11 have a right to compensation to cover the costs of their illness. The 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund was established by the federal government to provide financial help to those saddled with long-term illnesses by the attacks occurring on September 11 and the cleanup entailed in those attacks. Find out if you have a right to receive a portion of these funds and get your claim filed with the help of the skilled and effective New York personal injury lawyer Leandros A. Vrionedes. The Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) provides support in the form of such costs as out-of-pocket expenses, lost earnings, disability, and pain and suffering for victims of dozens of diseases, including:
- Mesothelioma
- Leukemia
- Asbestosis
- Silicosis
- COPD
- Prostate cancer
- Colon cancer
- Thyroid cancer
- Breast cancer
- Brain cancer
- Pulmonary fibrosis
What Documents do I Need to Submit a Claim?
There are a number of documents which must be submitted to participate in the VCF. The specific documents you will need depend upon your particular injury or illness. Most persons filing a claim will need to submit the following:
- Signed Claim Form
- Authorization for Release of Medical Records
- ACH Payment Information Form, or payment authorization provided by your attorney
- Proof of Presence at a 9/11 Crash Site between September 11, 2001 and May 30, 2002 (employer records, proof of residence, etc.)
- Proof of injury
- Impact statement and medical records showing non-economic loss
In addition, if you are seeking compensation for Replacement Services, Loss of Past Earnings, Loss of Future Earnings or Collateral Source Payments, or if you are the guardian or representative of the victim filing on the victim’s behalf, additional specific documentation will need to be provided as well. We can help you determine the precise documentation applicable to your claim and help ensure that your claim is submitted completely and accurately.
How Long do I have to File a Claim?
Recent changes to the law have extended the deadline to file a claim from December 18, 2020 to October 1, 2090. However, depending upon when your condition was determined to be 9/11-related, the date may be much sooner. Specific dates differ depending upon whether your claim involves prostrate cancer; a rare form of cancer; other cancers; Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD); or other non-cancer conditions, including traumatic injury. Other conditions may be added to the list of eligible conditions periodically, and the timeline to file a claim may depend on when the condition was added to the list. Contact our office as soon as possible to determine whether you are eligible to file a claim, and to make sure your claim is filed in a timely manner.
Was your Claim Denied in the Past? Time Limits and Eligibility Have Changed
If you applied to receive a portion of these funds in the past and were denied, you may have become eligible by subsequent changes to the laws authorizing these funds. Initially, the Victim Compensation Fund provided support only to those who worked on the recovery efforts and sought medical care immediately after the attacks. Since its initial creation, the availability of funds has been extended multiple times, after having been closed once in 2004, reopened, and closed again in 2011. Additional forms of cancer and illness have also been added to the list since its initial creation, resulting in even greater eligibility for support among those who were nearby at the time of the attack.
Get Help Today with Your Claim to the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund
Whether you are just now filing a claim, if you filed a claim earlier and were denied, or if you need to amend your present claim to add a new condition, our office may be able to help. Find out whether you have a right to a portion of the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund today, and ensure that your claim is filed properly, by contacting the experienced and committed Manhattan personal injury lawyer Leandros A. Vrionedes for a consultation, at 212-889-9362, with additional offices in Queens at 718-777-5895. You can also call us toll-free at 1-800-634-8144.
