If you were a firefighter exposed to PFAS, contact Firefighting Foam Lawyer Timothy L. Miles today about a Firefighting Foam Lawsuit
ATTENTION: CURRENT AND/OR FORMER FIREFIGHTERS SEE IF YOU MEET THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR A FIREFIGHTING FOAM LAWSUIT
A number of cancers — including but not limited to breast cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer — have been associated with exposure to the chemicals that make up AFFF. If you or a loved one were diagnosed with cancer after using AFFF Firefighting Foam contact Firefighting Foam Lawyer Timothy L. Miles about a Firefighting Foam Lawsuit as you may be entitled to significant compensation.
What Every Firefighter Needs to Know About an AFFF Firefighting Foam Lawsuit
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of manufactured chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s because of their useful properties. However, these toxic chemicals have long been linked to serious health problems. Lawsuits continue to be filed from individuals developing cancer from firefighting foam and alleging a handful of companies who knowingly sold firefighting foams that contained PFAS.
The plaintiffs argue the chemicals seeped into their bodies after years of wearing protective clothing and using firefighting foam that contained PFAS. The lawsuit blamed PFAS as a "substantial factor and proximate cause of the cancers, serious illnesses and bodily injuries" the firefighters suffered. The firefighters, along with the spouse of one of the firefighters who joined them as a plaintiff, accused 25 companies — including 3M,Carrier and DuPont — for manufacturing, marketing, distributing, selling or using PFAS and PFAS-containing materials in two types of equipment: turnouts, which are a type of coat, and Class B firefighting foam.
Approximately 2,500 victims of Firefighting Foam have filed lawsuits up through September 2022 mainly by firefighters exposes to PFAS. The Judicial Panel on Multi-District Litigation (JPMDL) has ordered that all the Firefighting Foam Lawsuits are to be transferred to the United States Federal Court in the District of South Carolina for coordinated discovery and pretrial proceedings. That would include a firefighting foam class action lawsuit that includes claims by both firefighters alleging firefighting foam caused their cancer and also claims by municipalities claiming that AAAF contaminated water systems. We are offering to speak to firefighters and their families, free of charge, to help determine whether a firefighting foam lawsuit is right for them. If you meet the eligibility for a firefighting foam lawsuit, a successful case could provide compensation for medical bills, physical pain and other damages stemming from exposure to toxic firefighting foam. Begin the process by completing the form below for a Free Case Evaluation today to see if you meet the eligibility for a Firefighting Foam Lawsuit or by calling Firefighting Foam Lawyer Timothy L. Miles today.
Do Firefighters Have a Higher Rate of Cancer than the General Population?
Yes, including which cancers have been linked to firefighters. There have been numerous peer reviewed studies demonstrating that firefighters have a higher rate of cancer than the general population and the risks are significantly higher for certain types of cancer. Firefighters are nine times more likely to be diagnosed with cancer than the general population. In fact, cancer has surpassed heart disease as the leading cause of death among firefighters. Between January 1, 2002, and March 31, 2017, 61 percent of career firefighter line-of-duty deaths were the result of cancer, while only 18 percent from heart disease in the same time frame according to the Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN).
Do Firefighters Have a Higher Chance of Developing Cancer from Exposure to Firefighting Foam?
Yes, every day they go to work, firefighters face a real and substantial risk of developing cancer, which has been linked to firefighting foam, as a result of their long-term exposure to Firefighting Foam, and the toxic PFAS chemicals contained in them. In 2010, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) did a multi-year study to try and better understand the link between firefighting and cancer. The findings of the study suggested that firefighters face a higher risk of developing cancers of the digestive, oral, respiratory and urinary systems as compared to the general population. The study further found that firefighters were at an increased risk due to occupational exposure, for example, being exposed to Firefighting Foam.
Additionally, exposure to PFAS has been linked to adverse reproductive, developmental and immunological effects, and may be related to the development of cancer. Therefore, as these studies suggest there is a direct correlation between the high incidence of cancer among firefighters who suffered long-term exposure to Firefighting Foam.
How Are Firefighters Exposed to PFAS Chemicals?
Firefighters are most commonly exposed to PFAS chemicals, also known as “forever chemicals,” through aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), a type of synthetic firefighting foam used in training and actual fire emergencies. PFAS in AFFF products act as surfactants that distribute foam to cool and suppress a fire. PFAS are used in training and emergency response events at airports, shipyards, military bases, firefighting training facilities, chemical plants, and refineries.
Firefighters may also be exposed to PFAS via their uniforms and gear.
Applying water to flammable liquids poses multiple challenges while foam shows significant advantages in extinguishment time over water, and vapor seals the hazard.
The Foam smothers the fire and removes heat from the liquid and surrounding areas.
The Foam creates a barrier that prevents vapors from flammable liquids from releasing upwards.
Certain types of Foam are able to penetrate deeper than water.
Contact a Firefighting Foam Lawyer if you or a loved one were exposed to firefighting foam
First, it is important to point out that there are two types of firefighting foam: Class A and Class B foams.
Class A foams are typically used to combat wildfires and structural fires, while Class B foams are designed to put out fires involving “flammable and combustible liquids and gases; petroleum greases, tars, oils and gasoline; and solvents and alcohols,” a fact sheet from the Interstate Technology Regulatory Council (ITRC) states.
The “vast majority” of Class B firefighting foam currently in stock or in use in the United States is aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) and all AFFF products contain PFAS chemicals, according to the ITRC. Class A foams do not contain PFAS.
Who Are the Manufactures of Firefighting Foam?
Since it was invented in 1963 there have been several U.S. companies that have been involved in the manufacturing, distribution, marketing, and sale of firefighting foam. The following companies are known to have been involved in the manufacturing and distribution of firefighting foams:
3M Company
Ansul®
Chemguard, Inc.
DuPont™
Dynax Corporation
National Foam
Tyco Fire Products
3M Company, Ansul, and National Foam provided AFFF to the U.S. military.
How Do I Know if I am Eligible for a Firefighting Foam Lawsuit?
If you were one of the firefighters exposed to PFAS and have been diagnosed with one with one of the cancers linked to firefighting foam, you should fill out the free case evaluation below and speak to Firefighting Foam Lawyer Timothy L. Miles today. And while there is still time to file a firefighting foam lawsuit, time is off the essence as the end of statutes of limitations get closer, so submit the form below and Mr. Miles will promptly get back in touch with you.
How Do I Know if I Meet the Firefighting Foam Lawsuit Criteria?
Contact us today to see if you meet the Firefighting Foam Lawsuit Criteria. We are specifically looking to file a Firefighting Foam Lawsuit on behalf of any firefighters who developed any of the following types of cancer:
Kidney cancer
Testicular cancer
Liver cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Leukemia
Lymphoma
Myeloma, including multiple myeloma
We believe firefighters who developed ulcerative colitis and hyperthyroidism may also meet the eligibility for a Firefighting Foam Lawsuit.
What Can I Get Out of a Firefighting Foam Lawsuit?
If you meet the eligibility for a firefighting foam lawsuit, you may be entitled to significant damages. If your Firefighting Foam Lawsuit is successful, you may be able to recover damages for:
Past and future medical bills
Lost wages or loss of earning capacity
Loss of life’s enjoyment
Pain and suffering
Mental anguish
Loss of spousal benefits (comfort, love, sex, etc.)
Funeral expenses
Call today to see if you meet the eligibility for a firefighting foam lawsuit.
What Can a Firefighting Foam Lawyer Do for Me?
First, a firefighting lawyer can determine if you meet the eligibility requirements for a firefighting foam lawsuit. More importantly, because of the complexity of the cases and the need to hire experts, a products liability attorney is the go-to attorney when you have been injured by a product that is defective like firefighting foam. A Firefighting Foam Lawyer, who is an experienced products liability attorney, can help you by putting you in the best possible position to win your firefighting foam lawsuit and recover the most compensation.
How Does a Firefighting Foam Lawsuit Work?
After determining you meet the eligibility for a firefighting foam lawsuit, before your lawsuit is officially filed with the court, your Firefighting Foam Lawyer will fully explain the process and will then need to ask you a few questions about your (or your family member’s) work and medical history. For instance, he or she may need to know names of former employers, length of time with each employer, when and how the diagnosis came about, and how the condition has affected your life.
With the information obtained regarding prior employment, your lawyer will be able to establish the AFFF manufacturers you will be suing. These companies will be known as the defendants.
Your Lawyer will then draft what is known as a complaint. This will be a multi-page document explaining why the defendants are responsible for your injuries and what damages (that is, compensation) you are seeking.
For instance, your complaint may claim that the defendants: (1) Failed to provide sufficient warnings that use of their AFFF products could allow toxic chemicals to accumulate in the blood and lead to serious health problems; (2) Failed to provide adequate instructions to help firefighters lessen their exposure; (3) Failed to use reasonable care in testing, designing and inspecting the products; (4) Could have manufactured a safer alternative to PFAS-containing AFFF, yet failed to do so; (5) Sold defective and unreasonably dangerous products that are not safe for their intended purpose; (6) Intentionally concealed the hazards of their products; and/or (7) Challenged, ignored and tried to discredit research linking firefighting foam to adverse health effects
Once your complaint is filed with the court, your lawsuit officially begins. From here, it will be a lot of back and forth between the attorney(s) for the defendants and your attorney in an attempt to resolve the matter. The attorneys may take review documents, take depositions, issue subpoenas, hire experts, calculate damages, attend hearings, and file motions, briefs, evidence or other documents with the court during the stages of the lawsuit.
If the lawsuit is not dismissed and a settlement cannot be reached, the case will proceed to a jury trial.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Firefighting Foam Lawyer?
It does not cost anything to hire a firefighting foam lawyer. We take all cases on a contingency basis which means we do not get paid unless we win your case. A Firefighting Foam Lawyercan explain the process and answer any questions you may have including whether you are you meet the eligibility requirements for a firefighting foam lawsuit.
What Is the Status of the Firefighting Foam Lawsuits?
The Judicial Panel on Multi-District Litigation (JPML) ordered the transfer of all federal lawsuits to the United States Federal Court in the District of South Carolina for coordinated and pretrial proceedings. The Judge overseeing the MDL, which includes both individual actions and a firefighting foam class action lawsuit, has appointed a mediator to work with the parties in the hopes of a settlement. Settlement talks with the mediator, Layn Phillips, a retired judge, will take place prior to the first bellwether test trial which is set for June of 2023.
On April 25, 2022, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and Representative Dan Kildeee of Maine jointly introduced the PFAS Firefighter Protection Act in the House and Senate. If it passes and becomes law, the PFAS Firefighting Protection Act would ban all firefighting foams that contain "forever chemicals." The Act would also prohibit the manufacture, import and sale of any firefighting foam containing PFAS for use in training and firefighting within two years of its enactment.
“Fire fighters are exposed to PFAS every day. As they put their lives on the line every day to protect us, we must do more to protect them from exposure to these toxins,” stated Senator Gillibrand. Representative Kildee said now is the time to use PFAS alternatives and added, "It is unconscionable that these toxic chemicals are still in use."
Contact Firefighting Foam Lawyer Timothy L. Miles about a Firefighting Foam Lawsuit Today
Contact Firefighting Foam Lawyer Timothy L. Miles about an AFFF firefighting foam lawsuit today
If you or a family member worked as a firefighter and developed cancer, hyperthyroidism or ulcerative colitis, contact Firefighting Foam Lawyer Timothy L. Miles you may be entitled to significant compensation. While there is still time to file a lawsuit, be mindful that these cases are time sensitive, and give us a call today.
For answers to frequently asked question and additional information on the legal process, please visit our consumer Resource Center.
CONTACT US FOR A FREE FIREFIGHTING FOAM LAWSUIT CASE EVALUATION WITH A FIREFIGHTING FOAM LAWYER TO SEE IF YOU MEET THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR A FIREFIGHTING FOAM LAWSUIT
ATTENTION: FIREFIGHTING FOAM LAWSUIT If you or a loved one are a current or former firefighter and were exposed to PFAS in firefighting foam and have been diagnosed with Kidney cancer, Testicular cancer, Liver cancer, Pancreatic cancer, Leukemia, Lymphoma Myeloma, including multiple myeloma, ulcerative colitis or hyperthyroidism, contact Firefighting Foam Lawyer Timothy L. Miles about a Firefighting Foam Lawsuit as you may be entitled to significant compensation.
Firefighting Foam Lawyer 855-Tim-MLaw (855) 846-8529 [email protected] Call Firefighting Foam Lawyer Timothy L. Miles today for a free case evaluation to discuss the eligibility requirements for a Firefighting Foam Lawsuit if you were exposed to PFAS firefighting foam.
FREE FIREFIGHTING FOAM LAWSUIT FREE CASE EVALUATION If you were one of the firefighters exposed to PFAS firefighting foam, call today for a free, no obligation case evaluation with Firefighting Foam Lawyer Timothy L. Miles about your eligibility for a Firefighting Foam Lawsuit.