Our law firm is assessing claims from veterans and on-duty personnel who have suffered hearing loss after sporting faulty Model 2 – CAEv2 Combat Arms Earplugs which were made by 3M. If you served the U.S. military between the years 2003 and 2015 and forced use of these 3M earplugs then you may be entitled to get compensation via a Chicago 3M earplug lawsuit.
It supplied the U.S. army with especially designed earplugs that were intended primarily for combat use, to protect the hearing of soldiers. 3M made the earplugs to block out the kinds of deafening sounds and blasts that soldiers could hear in combat or during evaluations on foundations, while allowing soldiers to hear people who were talking to them.
A number of those earplugs that 3M provided into the U.S. government were faulty, and 3M failed to notify the government of this. On account of the issues with the faulty earplugs, users have been in danger of suffering from partial or complete hearing loss throughout their services. Chicago class action lawyers believe that veterans and active-duty personnel can qualify for compensation for the issues they suffer from as a result of supply of faulty earplugs.
When Were DEfective 3M Earplugs Employed?
During the interval between 2003 and 2015, a great deal of military personnel were serving in high conflict areas such as Iraq or Afghanistan. The level of sound that personnel were exposed to in these surroundings could signify that they suffered from partial or full hearing loss or acquired tinnitus. These earplugs were created by a company named Aearo Tech to shield against loud noises as well as the blast sounds out of explosions while still permitting for free communication between soldiers. 3M acquired the design in 2008.
The earplugs have been in use for 10 years before someone warned that there were flaws in the way they were created. After extensive investigations, it was found that 3M paid the federal government $9.1 million to solve any allegations. This was, in effect, an attempt to cover up the issues because 3M supplied the product whenever they were aware of the risk to the hearing of soldiers by the design defects. Fortunately, the use of these earplugs has now been discontinued.
Who’s Eligible to File a Lawsuit Against 3M For Defective Earplugs?
If you would like to file a lawsuit, then you’ll need to have been diagnosed with either full or partial hearing loss, or tinnitus, by a medical professional. You will also need to have already been in active service between 2003 and 2015. Both veterans and now active personnel could qualify for compensation, assuming the important criteria are met.
These earplugs were given to service members between the years 2003 and 2015 and place the people who used them at risk due to a failure at the product design.
Some soldiers reported that the earplugs were too small to correctly fit inside their ears. Poorly fitting earplugs allow sound to reach the inner ear and potentially result in hearing damage.
What Problems Were Caused By These Earplugs?
3M’s Combat Arms earplugs were briefer compared to other earplugs which were also in use. This meant they didn’t efficiently fit into the ear. They became loose over the years and subjected the wearer to hearing loss. Some people suffered from lasting tinnitus or equilibrium issues as a consequence of damage to their ears.
3M claimed that their product offered adequate protection and the wearer could be protected from hearing damage during combat situations or training. They continued to supply the product even after being made aware of the issues with it.
What Is Military Hearing Loss Or Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is just another related illness. Tinnitus triggers a persistent ringing, buzzing, or hissing sounds inside the ears, especially when there is no background sound to conceal it. Some people who suffer from this ailment find it tough to hear somebody who’s talking to them out of 3 ft away.
The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs estimates that as many as 2.7 million veterans are in receipt of disability payments for hearing loss or tinnitus due to the had been in support. The condition is quite common, and lots of men and women who have reported the issue may not bear in mind that it had been caused by improperly fitted earplugs.
Are There Currently Ongoing Lawsuits Regarding Defective Earplugs From 3M?
The supply company for 3M made the authorities aware of its concerns in 2016. A qui tam lawsuit was filed because of the earplugs, together with the litigation alleges that 3M had made deceptive or incorrect claims about the product and that they had not disclosed any flaws associated with the design.
Service members could qualify for compensation should they take legal actions. In 2019 there were several hundred suits filed against 3M for the design of this earplugs.
Let Our Attorneys Handle Your Chicago 3M Earplug Lawsuit
The lawsuit by the government saw the government get compensation from 3M, but not support associates. Users of those 3M earplugs who were at the U.S. military between the years of 2003 and 2015 who’ve been diagnosed with hearing issues might nevertheless be entitled to get compensation.
If you aren’t sure whether your hearing problems were caused by faulty earplugs provided by 3M, contact one a product liability attorneys. Our trained, Chicago -based product liability law team has expertise in addressing this sort of lawsuit. Speak to the legal team at our firm to find out more about your options now.
