Author Archives: Michael Barasch
Numerous Health Complications Common from 9/11 Aftereffects
Over the past several years, there has been growing concern surrounding the numerous types of health effects stemming from the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in Manhattan. After the building materials, furniture and electronic equipment fell and were crushed, dust and debris from the buildings filled the air. Many New York residents, attack victims and […]
‘Invisible Diseases’ Continue to Affect 9/11 First Responders
In a recent interview on the National Public Radio program “Here and Now,” 9/11 first responder John Feal said that he and the people who rushed to Ground Zero on that day 13 years ago are now suffering from “invisible diseases” that threaten their lives. The program, which aired September 10, detailed the health issues […]
9/11 Victim Compensation Fund Approves Nearly $500 Million in Claims
The fund created to help cover the costs of medical care for the first responders of the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C. recently approved about $494 million in claims from victims and their families. The 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF), established in 2011, has approved 7,885 claims and issued […]
Clinton Supports Reauthorization of Zadroga Act
We recently commemorated the 13th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, and with it has come renewed calls for action on the re-authorization of the James L. Zadroga Act, a federal law that provides health care benefits and compensation to firefighters, responders and other first responders that day. It also provides benefits to family […]
Huffington Post Reminds Us of 9/11 Responders’ Sacrifices
The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 are etched in the minds of most Americans. However, it can be easy to forget the real impact that day had — and continues to have — for individuals and families who were part of the tragic event. On the anniversary of the event this year, the Huffington […]
‘Stair Climbs’ Memorialize Heroics of NYC Firefighters, First Responders
Few people can truly imagine what it must have been like to be trapped in the World Trade Center on the morning of September 11, 2001. What’s even more difficult to believe is that so many firefighters rushed into the two towers to rescue as many people as possible, climbing countless stairs while knowing that […]
Victims, Volunteers Still Waiting on Much-Needed Assistance
It’s tough to believe, but 13 years later there are still people who were significantly impacted by the terrorist attacks of 9/11 who are still waiting to receive the assistance they desperately need. Consider the case of Jaime Hazan, a volunteer and first responder who assisted in the immediate aftermath of the attacks in September […]
Firefighters’ Deaths Lead to Calls for Expanding Zadroga Act
On September 22, 2014, three firefighters who responded to the World Trade Center attacks on 9/11 all died on the same day due to cancer stemming from exposure to hazardous materials and chemicals on that day 13 years ago. Retired FDNY Lt. Howard Bischoff and firefighters Daniel Heglund and Robert Leaver, who were also retired, […]
VCF Claims Management System (CMS) Helps Law Firms More Effectively Represent Their Clients
Substantiating a Victims Compensation Fund Claim, both initial eligibility as well as amount of compensation, is an extremely paper-intensive task. A thorough presentation can require reams of documents ranging from medical records to tax returns, utility bills, deeds, leases, pay stubs, time sheets and much, much more. Keeping track of all this material and keeping […]
What Are My Options If My Injuries Are Not a Presumptively Covered Condition?
Presumptively covered conditions are those that have been definitely linked to 9/11. Generally, the Victims Compensation Fund (VCF) covers only injuries and diseases on this list. However, the VCF amends its list periodically. For example, the VCF amended its list to include several types of cancer in October 2012, added prostate cancer in October 2013 […]
