Tennessee 3M Hearing Loss Lawyer
Hearing loss and tinnitus are serious, permanent conditions that affect many veterans and servicemembers. In some situations, defective earplugs may be the source of hearing loss. Specifically, 3M’s Combat Arms Earplugs, Version 2 (CAEv2) fail to properly fill the ear canal allowing dangerous sound waves to reach the wearer’s eardrum.
A Tennessee 3M hearing loss lawyer could help you if you suffered hearing loss resulting from defective earplugs. The federal government has recently identified CAEv2 as being responsible for hearing loss in many soldiers who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan. Military personnel affected by these faulty earplugs have the right to demand compensation and a determined attorney could help.
Filing a Civil Lawsuit Against 3M
In all defective products cases, a plaintiff must pursue a claim under the Product Liability Statute. This group of laws outlines the ways that a military personnel harmed by a defective 3M CAEv2 in Tennessee may file a lawsuit for damages.
A plaintiff can hold a product’s maker responsible for their injuries if they can prove that the product was defective or unreasonably dangerous at the time it left the control of the seller. Plaintiffs in these cases may wish to work with expert witnesses who can testify as to why a design created an unreasonable risk of harm.
However, in the case of 3M earplugs, the US Government has already made this determination. In filing a complaint under The False Claims Act, the Government has alleged a defective product that amounted to fraud. Still, it is the responsibility of a plaintiff in any product liability case to apply the facts of their own case to the law. A Tennessee 3M hearing lawyer could help with this complex process.
How Might a Defective Combat Earplug Result in Hearing Loss?
Earplugs are designed to create a solid barrier that prevents the sounds of explosions, gunfire, and aircraft from reaching the eardrum and causing permanent injuries. If that earplug fails to remain in the ear canal, or worse, does not create a sufficient seal while remaining in the canal, a wearer may suffer serious harm. This can include tinnitus, ruptured eardrums, and even deafness.
This failure to create a seal is at the center of many cases of hearing loss following the use of CAEv2. The United States Attorney’s Office recently filed a lawsuit against 3M alleging violations of The False Claims Act.
The government argued that the earplugs provided by 3M to protect the hearing of soldiers from 2003 to 2015 were defective and failed to serve their purpose. This led to thousands of soldiers suffering hearing loss following training or active combat. 3M settled the claim for $9.1 million to avoid admitting liability. However, veterans and servicemembers who used these defective earplugs may still have a civil case for damages.
Learn More From a Tennessee 3M Hearing Loss Attorney
Manufacturers such as 3M have a duty to produce a product that is reasonably safe to use. If a plaintiff can prove that a manufacturing or design error led to their injuries, they may make claims for the costs of medical bills, for emotional trauma, and even lost wages. A Tennessee 3M hearing lawyer could help you if a defective earplug has led to hearing loss. Take a step to provide for your future. Contact a lawyer today to discuss your case.