Disability Law

Zadroga 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund Lawyers Announce Final Step in Claims Process

By Troy Rosasco

Troy Rosasco, a Partner at Turley, Redmond, Rosasco & Rosasco, LLP, has announced that as of December 5, 2011, the actual Zadroga Act Victim Compensation Fund 'Compensation Claim Form' is now available online for those who were sickened or physically injured as the result of being exposed to airborne toxins from the Ground Zero site after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

This means that eligible 9/11 claimants, with or without attorneys, can file their Zadroga Act Victim Compensation Fund claims today. According to Mr. Rosasco, 'Especially during the holiday season, many sick and destitute 9/11 victims will now find newborn hope that their anguish will be lifted in the coming New Year.'

On December 5, 2011, Sheila Birnbaum, Special Master of the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund, released the actual Compensation Claim Forms for both deceased and personal injury claimants, which are available online at www.vcf.gov.

Claimants should complete this form if they were physically injured as a result of the September 11, 2001 debris removal efforts; they were present at one of the crash sites (or in the path of debris removal) between September 11, 2001 and May 30, 2002; and they wish to be compensated from the VCF rather than file a lawsuit.

Claimants have until October 13, 2013 to complete the form. The new September 11th Fund form also has a 21 page set of "instructions" to help file your claim  and a helpful "9/11 Victim Compensation Fund Document Checklist" .  

While it is strongly suggested that the forms be filled out online, they can be mailed as well. Mr. Rosasco suggested that those who may be currently experiencing financial difficulty should file as soon as possible. 

'Here we are almost one year after President Obama signed the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010 into law, and all the "pre-season" hard work of the Special Master and the Department of Justice brought us to the real 'Opening Day' of the Victim Compensation Fund," Mr. Rosasco said. 'Now the long season of individual compensation claim evaluations and potential hearings will begin.'

'A roadblock that claimants faced in order to get their fair share of the $2.775 billion Victim Compensation Fund has finally been lifted,' Mr. Rosasco's partner, Daniel J. Hansen said. 'Thanks to the Special Master, claimants will have ample time to fill out the forms. Now that all the formalities have been taken care of, these heroes who unknowingly worked in the face of danger are able to receive the compensation they justly deserve.'

For more information, call 1(855) WTC-INFO or visit www.zadrogaclaimsinfo.com

Full post as published by The New York Disability Law Blog on December 06, 2011 (boomark / email).