Georgia 3M Hearing Loss Lawyer
Members of the Army, Navy, and Air Force are exposed to potentially deafening noises such as explosions and aircraft. To protect their ears and prevent hearing loss, they wear combat earplugs. One maker of these items is 3M whose earplugs were used in the military from 2003 to 2015. Unfortunately, it has now become clear that one model of 3M earplugs, the Combat Arms Earplugs, Version 2 or CAEv2, suffered from a design defect that left many users exposed to severe harm.
A Georgia 3M hearing loss lawyer could help you if you believe that your hearing loss or tinnitus resulted from a faulty 3M earplug. The defects in these products are well known and military personnel who suffered the effects have the right to demand compensation. A passionate defective products lawyer could help you collect payments to cover medical bills, make up for lost earnings, and provide recompense for lost hearing.
What the Recent 3M Lawsuit Means
The CAEv2 were meant to help protect the hearing of military personnel in Afghanistan and Iraq. Sadly, it is now known that the 3M earplug fails in this essential function. The earplug tends to not form a proper seal in the user’s ear that allows damaging sounds to affect the eardrum.
The problem became so common and damaging that the United States Attorney General’s office filed a complaint against 3M alleging a violation of The False Claims Act. 3M recently settled this claim for a value of $9.1 million to avoid admitting fault. However, affected consumers still have the right to pursue a related civil lawsuit against 3M on their own.
Determining Fault for Military Hearing Loss in Georgia
Manufacturers in Georgia must be sure that their product will not cause any foreseeable harm. It appears that 3M has violated this duty. Problems involving the earplug forming of an improper seal in the ear canal formed the basis for the US government’s allegations of fraud. Affected veterans and active duty servicemembers may be able to make similar accusations to demand compensation.
Product liability cases in Georgia usually allege manufacturer fault under a theory of strict liability. This means that if a product causes an injury, the defendant is at fault. To prevail in these claims, a plaintiff must prove:
- The defendant made the product
- The product was defective when leaving the control of the maker
- The defective condition caused the injury
A Georgia 3M hearing loss lawyer could work to connect a person’s hearing loss to the use of the defective earplugs. They can then demand compensation to pay for medical bills, any lost work ability, and any permanent effects of the hearing damage.
A Georgia 3M Hearing Loss Attorney Could Be an Advocate
It is reasonable to expect that an earplug will protect your hearing. After all, this is their stated purpose and what they are designed to do. Sadly, we now know that 3M’s model CAEv2 fails to perform this duty.
If you suffered hearing loss as a member of the military, you may have the right to compensation. A Georgia 3M hearing loss lawyer could help you to gather evidence of your hearing loss and how it affects your life. They could then work to pursue 3M for damages and demand compensation. Contact a lawyer today to discuss your options moving forward.
