September 11, 2001: one of the gravest days in United States history. Terrorists slammed two airplanes into the towers of the World Trade Center. As the towers crumbled, first responders rushed to the scene, to dig amid a cloud of toxic debris.

Tens of thousands of victims suffered from the 9/11 terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people and injured countless others. A substantial number of victims did not sustain physical injuries immediately, but were exposed to toxic dust that contained numerous substances that have been linked to cancer. Over the months and years since, many of these people have begun to experience a range of negative health effects.

On January 2, 2011, President Obama signed the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010 into law, establishing he World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program to “extend and improve protections and services to individuals directly impacted by the terrorist attack in New York City on September 11, 2001.” The Act provided medical monitoring and treatment benefits to first responders, including eligible firefighters, law enforcement officers, rescue, recovery and cleanup workers and related personnel.

The Zadroga Act also established a benefits program for eligible persons who were present or close to the New York City Disaster Area’s dust cloud on September 11, 2001, including those who worked, resided, or attended school, childcare, or adult daycare.

The 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund (VCF) was created through the Zadroga Act to help victims of 9/11 file claims to receive compensation, even if they did not experience injuries or illnesses right away. When victims sustain injuries or illnesses because of the 9/11 attacks, they may not be able to work or complete daily tasks as they once remembered. Compensation can help these victims not only with medical bills but potentially with lost wages.

The 9/11 victims’ compensation fund lawyers at Parker Waichman LLP understand the pain and loss of the 9/11 attacks. We are from New York, and our friends, family, and neighbors worked at the World Trade Center. The sense of devastation with which we were left continues to resonate nearly 20 years later. We proudly fight for the heroes who rushed into the chaos to help and, in the years to follow, have paid the price for that heroism. Our Zadroga Act lawyers have the experience and resources to pursue justice for people who suffered health complications after the 9/11 response.

You can read more about the Zadroga Act here.

References

https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/PLAW-111publ347/summary%20?

http://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title42-chapter6A-subchapter31&edition=prelim

https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/PLAW-116publ59/summary