Eligibility for 9/11 Responders from Our VCF Attorneys

Our VCF Lawyer Can Help Police Officers, Firefighters, and EMTs Who Are Uniquely at Risk for 9/11-Related Health Conditions

The risk of developing a 9/11-related health condition increases according to the degree and length of exposure to Ground Zero toxins. As the first individuals to arrive on the scene shortly after the planes struck the towers, first responders — who ran into the toxic dust cloud while others ran away from it — suffered the most severe and prolonged exposure. 

It is no coincidence, then, that the first death officially attributed to exposure to the toxins was an NYPD officer named James Zadroga, whose name now graces the VCF’s enabling statute, the Never Forget the Heroes: James Zadroga, Ray Pfeifer, and Luis Alvarez Permanent Authorization of the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund Act.

How Responders Helped on 9/11 and in its Aftermath 

Responders across the New York City area sprang into action immediately after the first plane struck the Twin Towers, selflessly running up stairs into burning buildings to rescue those trapped inside. After the towers fell others continued rescue and recovery work in the buildings’ ruins, which they referred to simply as “the pile.” Work on the pile came with its own set of hazards, as the pile consisted mostly of sharp, twisted, and unstable steel beams laid on top of burning fires. The risk of falling or being crushed was ever-present, not to mention the long-term dangers of prolonged exposure to the toxins released by the collapse.

9/11-Related Health Conditions Affecting Responders

Investigators estimate that only about 20% of responders, including police officers, firefighters, and EMTs, had masks that would protect their respiratory systems from the toxins in the air. These toxins included diesel exhaust, pulverized cement, glass fibers, asbestos, silica, benzene, jet fuel, and lead. In the short term, many responders developed a severe respiratory condition that came to be known as “WTC Cough,” which resulted in a decrease in lung function equivalent to 12 years of age-related decline. 

In the long term, our VCF lawyer knows that numerous responders have been diagnosed with a wide variety of conditions believed to be 9/11-related, including, but not limited to: 

• Asthma and COPD
• Cancers, including lung cancer, bone cancer, breast cancer (including male breast cancer), skin cancer, brain cancer, thyroid cancer, and urinary system cancers
• Digestive illnesses and injuries
• Musculoskeletal disorders
• Mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseases 
• Mental health conditions 

The Zadroga Act allows any interested party to submit a petition to the WTC Health Program to add a condition to its official list of 9/11-related health conditions. Contact a VCF lawyer for more information about how to do so. 

VCF Deadlines for Responders to Keep in Mind

There are two important VCF deadlines responders should keep in mind: the registration deadline and the claim filing deadline. The registration deadline, which is the deadline by which you must create an account with the VCF and alert them that you are a potential claimant, is two years from the latest date on which the WTC Health Program certifies the health condition as being 9/11-related. The claim filing deadline, which is the deadline by which you must submit a formal claim, is the same for everyone — October 1, 2090. 

Compensation for 9/11 Responders is Available with a VCF Lawyer

Responders who put their personal safety and lives at risk during the September 11th attacks have the right to compensation and other benefits under a pair of federal programs. Although these benefits will never undo the devastation caused by the attacks, they are designed to help responders – and their loved ones – address the medical and financial consequences. At Pitta & Baione, our VCF lawyers help 9/11 responders and survivors get the full compensation and other benefits available.

We are experienced attorneys with a track record of success in the World Trade Center Health Program and the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund. Each VCF lawyer at Pitta and Baione has dedicated their career to assisting the people who responded heroically when New York needed them.

If you or a loved one is considering seeking benefits or having trouble getting a claim approved, time is of the essence. Victim Compensation Fund benefits are distributed on a “first come, first served” basis. There are also certain deadlines for filing a claim, which vary based on the circumstances.

A VCF lawyer can help you understand your rights and options and file the strongest possible claim for benefits.

Are 9/11 Responders Eligible for Compensation? 

Two programs offer benefits for responders: The World Trade Center Health Program and the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund. The benefits offered under each program and the eligibility standards for obtaining those benefits vary.

The World Trade Center Health Program provides healthcare benefits, such as free medical monitoring, as well as treatment and medication for physical and psychological illnesses. The benefits are available for responders with certain illnesses and other medical conditions, including cancer, respiratory ailments and traumatic injuries. Responders can get medical treatment through a network of clinics in New York and New Jersey, as well as throughout the country.

The 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund is designed to provide financial compensation to responders and their families for certain monetary losses associated with the attacks. A VCF lawyer can help you pursue compensation for lost earnings, benefits and related out-of-pocket medical expenses, along with pain and suffering.

For responders who have been injured as a result of exposure to toxic dust sent into the air during the attacks and building collapses, each program requires you to show that you were within a certain exposure zone at the time of or in the aftermath of the attacks. At Pitta & Baione, we want you to understand that the lines in the “exposure zone” can extend beyond what you normally see on television. We work with first responders and others who were exposed north of Canal Street to Houston Street between September 11, 2001 and July 31, 2002. The programs also consider claims by people who were exposed to toxins at the Fresh Kills Landfill in Staten Island, the New York City Chief Medical Examiner’s Office, and other areas related to, or along, routes of debris removal.

Talk to a VCF Lawyer About Your Benefits Today

If you or a loved one is a responder who is considering seeking 9/11 WTCHP or VCF benefits – or if you are having trouble getting your claim approved – the September 11th benefits attorneys at Pitta & Baione LLP can help.

For more information about eligibility requirements of the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund and the World Trade Center Health Program, contact a VCF lawyer at Pitta & Baione at 844-WTC-COMP or info@pittabaione.com.

Pitta & Baione LLP Successful Claims

BREAST CANCER

^$3+ Million

Secured an expedited award for a former Lower Manhattan corporate executive who developed 9/11 breast cancer.

BRAIN CANCER

^$1.95+ Million

Favorable result secured for an NYPD detective who responded to the attacks and later suffered from 9/11 brain cancer.

LUNG CANCER

^$1.76+ Million

Secured a wrongful death claim on behalf of a union carpenter who worked on the 9/11 cleanup efforts at Ground Zero and was later diagnosed with 9/11 lung cancer.

THYROID CANCER

^$1.65+ Million

Secured a favorable result for an area worker in Lower Manhattan who later developed 9/11 thyroid cancer.

BRAIN CANCER

^$1.7+ Million

Secured an expedited award for New York State Supreme Court employee who was disabled by 9/11 brain cancer.

LEUKEMIA

^$1.3+ Million

Secured a wrongful death award on behalf of a Lower Manhattan corporate executive who was diagnosed with 9/11 leukemia.

LUNG CANCER

^$1.1+ Million

Secured an expedited award for a union carpenter who worked in Lower Manhattan after 9/11 and was later found disabled by 9/11 lung cancer.

LUNG DISEASE

^$1.1+ Million

Secured an expedited award for a Local 94 operating engineer who worked in Lower Manhattan after 9/11 and was later found disabled by 9/11 lung disease.

NASAL CAVITY CANCER

^$1+ Million

Secured an xpedited award for a DSNY sanitation worker who assisted in the 9/11 cleanup efforts at Ground Zero and was later diagnosed with 9/11 nasal cavity cancer.

BRAIN CANCER

^$1+ Million

Secured an expedited award for a New York City Department of Corrections corrections officer who served as a volunteer responder on 9/11 and later developed a disabling and rare 9/11 brain cancer.

LUNG CANCER

^$960+ Thousand

Secured a favorable result for a wrongful death claim on behalf of a TWU Local 100 MTA worker who participated in the 9/11 recovery efforts and later developed 9/11 lung cancer.

COLON CANCER

^$770+ Thousand

Successfully represented an union carpenter who built temporary structures at Ground Zero as a 9/11 responder and later developed disabling 9/11 colon cancer.

View More Successful Claims

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Linda Grandstaff

From our initial phone call, we felt extremely confident in Pitta & Baione LLP. handling our 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund claim. Their expertise and familiarity with the 9/11 VCF claims process was evident in all that they did to help us with all aspects of our claim. We consistently felt their commitment to us and we continue to consider them a valued and trusted source of support.

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Matthew and his brother Chris helped me get a settlement so quickly it took my breath away! They were both not only professional and knowledgeable, but they took the time to actually talk to me and get to know me, I didn't feel like just another client, but family. They helped expedite my settlement in record time, when I needed it most!

Leslie Tarver

Christopher Baione is the Partner at the firm who assisted me with my legal needs. During a very difficult time in my life he was very patient, listened to my concerns, always had time to answer my questions and was available via phone or email. I hope to not need to call him again, but if I do, he will be the attorney I will be visiting. Excellent attorney. 5 stars from me

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Anonymous

The firm is very professional, in particular the two Baione brothers. The staff that I had and conversations with were pleasant and very cordial. Most of all I was never confused on what was needed from me regarding my case. They have worked as speedy as I could have wished in helping me with my case. Good Group keep up the good work.

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