If you served in the military, our law firm thanks you for your service. We want to help if you are now suffering from hearing loss, or tinnitus after being issued earplugs to block the noise of combat in recent theaters, including Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, Yemen, and Syria. If you served between 2003 and 2015, you might be owed compensation.
During that time frame, 3M Combat Arms Earplugs Version 2, or CAEv2, were standard issue to military personnel. 3M had secured a contract to manufacture them for the U.S. government, but there were problems with the design and noise reduction capabilities. If you were a member of the U.S. military and suffered hearing problems while deployed, talk to dedicated product liability lawyer about filing a 3M military earplug lawsuits.
WHO MAY QUALIFY FOR COMPENSATION IN A 3M LAWSUIT?
When collecting compensation in similar cases, plaintiffs must prove that negligence led to a defective product. Since 3M was found guilty of selling the federal government defective earplugs and not disclosing the defects they knew about, the element of “defective as purchased” is met. However, there are some other elements that plaintiffs must demonstrate, including:
- They were in military service at any time between 2003 and 2015
- They wore 3M Dual-Ended Combat Arms Earplugs Version 2 (CAEv2)
- They did not alter or tamper with the earplugs
- They sustained hearing loss, the third most common medical issue for military members, or tinnitus, a constant ringing or buzzing in the ears
- The injuries were a direct result of using the defective product
Military personnel who meet these criteria should contact an attorney to discuss a plan to seek compensation from the manufacturer of these defective military earbuds.
What Made 3M Earplugs Defective?
The CAEv2 was designed with dual tips in two different colors for quick reference under pressure. One side was used for completely blocking all noise and the other to block loud explosions and gunfire, letting commands and speech filter through.
However, the dual-tipped plugs were too short to stay inserted in the ear. This meant that as the earplugs loosened, they allowed damaging noises to filter into the ear. Anyone who experienced this in the field could benefit from a conversation with our seasoned legal representatives.
WHAT COMPENSATION MIGHT BE AVAILABLE?
After suffering either hearing loss or tinnitus from defective earplugs, military members and veterans deserve compensation. Thankfully, through a carefully compiled claim, plaintiffs can usually collect both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages include repayment for losses with price tags, such as medical care, ongoing treatment, transportation costs incurred to seek treatment, and lost wages. Meanwhile, non-economic damages refer to reimbursement for more subjective setbacks. In the case of defective earplugs, examples might include compensation for future wages and the suffering a veteran may deal with for a lifetime. For instance, veterans who are deaf will never hear their children speak.
While some states cap non-economic damages for defective product lawsuits, Texas does not. A detail-oriented lawyer could determine the potential compensation available in a 3M military earplugs claim.
CALL OUR ATTORNEYS ABOUT 3M MILITARY EARPLUGS LAWSUITS
When serving in the military, troops should be able to trust in the equipment they use. If hearing loss happened because a product issued by the government was defective, veterans should be compensated.
You may face this scenario if you served in the military between 2003 and 2015, when 3M manufactured and sold CAEv2 earplugs the company knew were harmful. If you experienced service-related hearing loss and were issued 3M earplugs, an attorney on our team wants to
speak with you. We may be able to get you compensation through a 3M military earplugs lawsuit.