Author Archives: Michael Barasch
Working with VCF Once Your Claim is Approved
Receiving a favorable compensation decision from the VCF may seem like a hollow victory until you actually have the money in hand, especially if you and your family are struggling to make ends meet. Fortunately, the VCF administrators have taken steps to streamline the payment process and avoid many of the issues and delays that […]
Certification of Cancer for WTC Health Program Treatment
The nature of cancer can make it difficult to link conclusively to an event. However, researchers have determined that exposure to certain known carcinogens can cause cancer. Yet, until June 2012, authorities did not acknowledge the probable link to cancer for hundreds of responders, residents and workers at Ground Zero, the Pentagon and the Shanksville […]
Who is Responsible for Uncovering VCF Fraud?
Whenever there is money involved, fraud is a concern. The Victims Compensation Fund is no exception, especially in light of several high-profile cases of fraud that occurred during the administration of the first VCF. Fortunately, it has been very encouraging that cases of fraud have thus far been few and far between in the new […]
Attorney Fees for VCF Representation
One of the most common reasons that people hesitate to consult an attorney following a personal injury or other loss is the fear that the attorney’s fees could consume a substantial portion of whatever award they receive. However, in nearly all cases the enhanced rewards you receive coupled with the stress and uncertainty you avoid […]
Proving You or Your Loved One Was Present at Ground Zero or the Pentagon on 9/11
To be eligible for 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund benefits, you must prove that you were present during or immediately after the terrorist attack. If you are applying for loss of your loved one, you must prove that she or he was present and died as a result of 9/11-related injuries or disease. Proof of presence […]
Your Acid Reflux May Be 9/11 Related
Post 9/11, many Ground Zero, Pentagon and Shanksville crash site first responders and lower Manhattan residents and workers experienced Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disorder (GERD). After several studies concluded that GERD could be triggered by the conditions at the attack and crash sites, the medical disorder was included in the list of presumptively covered conditions under the […]
What to Expect at a VCF Hearing
The VCF hearing process has been largely uncharted territory, owing in part to the fact that the Zadroga Act did not provide any detailed guidelines for adjudicating contested VCF eligibility and compensation decisions. Indeed, the first such hearings have only taken place within the last year. However, consistent with the purpose of the Act, the […]
VCF Claims on Behalf of Minor Children
Tragically, many children were victims of the World Trade Center collapse, Pentagon attack and plane crash at Shanksville. Some lost parents either during the attacks or in later years as a result of 9/11-related diseases. Others who lived or attended school in lower Manhattan sustained physical injuries or illnesses. In fact, children exposed to the […]
Options for 9/11 Victims Struggling with Mental Health Issues
The psychological aftermath of being involved in an event such as 9/11 can be just as painful, debilitating and real as any physical injury. Even more than a decade later, many first responders still struggle with flashbacks, anxiety, depression and other serious psychiatric symptoms. For some, these issues can reach disabling severity. For others, they […]
Proving Non-economic Losses in a VCF Claim
For most VCF claimants, non-economic losses represent the bulk of their recovery. While out of pocket costs for medical treatment — as well as lost wages from total or partial disability — can be significant, intangible losses like pain, disfigurement and the inability to fully enjoy life’s pleasures remain a major factor. Unfortunately, proving the […]
