“As a firm that continues to fight for the rights of 9/11 heroes, we understand how important the VCF is for helping rescue workers, first responders, and other victims...
Port Washington, New York (PRWEB) January 28, 2015
Parker Waichman LLP, a national personal injury law firm that has spent many years fighting to ensure that the heroes of 9/11 are never forgotten, is pleased that the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) has approved payments for claimants. On January 15, 2015,The Associated Press reported that the Fund approved payments for 3,100 claimants totaling $804 million; $59 million has been paid as of January 2, 2015, fund officials said.
The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund(VCF) is part of legislation passed by Congress and signed into law by the President to provide compensation for economic and non-economic loss to individuals or relatives of deceased individuals who were killed or physically injured as a result of the terrorist-related aircraft crashes of September 11, 2001. The original VCF operated from December 2001 until June 2004.
On January 2, 2011, President Obama signed into law the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010 (Zadroga Act), which reopens the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001. The Zadroga Act expanded the scope of the original VCF to enable more individuals who suffered physical injury or death as a result of the September 11th attacks to obtain compensation from the program.
“We are pleased that actions have been taken to compensate 9/11 victims,” said Matthew J. McCauley, Senior Litigation Counsel at Parker Waichman LLP. “As a firm that continues to fight for the rights of 9/11 heroes, we understand how important the VCF is for helping rescue workers, first responders, and other victims. We hope that swift action is taken to compensate more victims who became ill as a result of the toxic dust exposure associated with these tragedies.”
The VCF is one of the two programs established by the Zadroga Act, according to 9/11 HealthWatch. The Act reopened the VCF, which provides compensation to 9/11 victims who developed eligible illnesses as a result of exposure to the toxic dust clouds that developed following the attacks. The Zadroga Act also created the World Trade Center Health Program, which provides medical treatment and monitoring to victims. The WTC Health Program serves almost 70,000 first responders and survivors; this includes an increase of 8,600 enrollees since the start of the program.
Parker Waichman was deeply involved in working toward passage of the Zadroga Act, including lobbying efforts, and trips to Washington DC by Mr. McCauley and, often, the Firm’s clients. Mr. McCauley and the Firm continue to support the program and efforts to expand and extend its benefits and time frames.
According to Parker Waichman LLP, exposure to the toxic dust that remained in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks allegedly caused many rescue workers to develop respiratory illnesses, cancer, and other serious conditions. The VCF and WTC Health Program are a vital part of helping these 9/11 heroes.
9/11 HealthWatch reports that the WTC Health Program serves enrollees in every state and in 429 of the 435 Congressional districts nationwide. In the past year alone, more than 20,000 enrollees received assistance that provided treatment for more than 50 types of cancer.
Parker Waichman LLP, which worked, and continues to fight, alongside Ground Zero first responders and their advocates to help ensure passage of the Zadroga Act, vows to continue its efforts to safeguard these heroes and ensure that they receive all of the Zadroga Act compensation they deserve. If you or a loved one are eligible for compensation under the Zadroga Act, and would like assistance with your claim, please visit Parker Waichman's Zadroga Act claims page at yourlawyer.com, or call 1-800-LAW-INFO (1-800-529-4636).