If you have also used these 3M earplugs while you served at the U.S. military anyplace between 2003 to 2015, you may be eligible to file a Washington DC 3M earplug lawsuit and receive reimbursement.
Minnesota-based 3M Company supplied the United States army with these specially designed earplugs. They were mainly used during combat to protect the hearing of soldiers. 3M made the earplugs to block out blasts, along with other extremely deafening noises when they were running tests on the bases too. However, the earplugs were still supposed to make certain that the soldiers may still hear anyone who spoke to them.
With that said, 3M failed to inform the U.S. authorities a number of those earplugs were faulty. Due to this, users may suffer from partial or complete hearing loss since they functioned in the military. As such, our skilled class action attorneys in Washington DC believe that both veterans and active-duty staff ought to be paid for this disservice.
What 3M Earplug Models Have Lawsuits Against Them?
Military personnel who served in areas of high conflict such as Afghanistan and Iraq used the 3M product in question during the period between 2003 to 2015. As a result, this could have caused complete hearing loss, partial hearing loss, or tinnitus. 3M designed the earplugs to allow free communication between soldiers while protecting against loud noises and explosions. The earplugs were designed by Aearo Tech and were obtained in 2008 by 3M.
It was just after 10 years that someone stepped forward and warned about the flaws of the design. After investigations, it was discovered that 3M paid $9.1 million to the national government so as to solve any allegations. This has been done to pay up even though 3M supplied the product while being fully conscious of design defects. Thankfully, these earplugs are discontinued.
How Do These Earplugs Cause Harm?
The earplugs had an alleged flaw which was based around its symmetrical layout. The fitting instructions supplied could have resulted in the earplugs becoming loosened and readily allowing noise to enter.
If you are considering submitting a lawsuit, you must first be diagnosed with tinnitus with a health professional. You should have also been discharged by the U.S. military or have a loss of hearing handicap rating based on the United States Department of Veteran Affairs. Moreover, you should have also served from 2003 to 2015. Veterans and active personnel could be compensated if they fit the criteria.
What Are The Earplugs Which Have Been Linked To Hearing Issues?
The earplugs in question are the 3M dual-ended Combat Arms Earplugs. These plugs were utilized by service members involving 2003 to 2015 and subjected them to product design collapse. As such, they’d have been subjected to the potential for suffering from partial or complete hearing loss.
Furthermore, soldiers did file reports that indicated that the earplugs were too brief to correctly match inside their ear. This resulted in external noise being able to make its way into the inner ear causing harm.
Why Were 3M Earplugs Used By Military Personnel and How Were They Supposed to Work?
But, 3M earplugs were made to be inserted in two manners. After the earplugs were worn at the first position, they promised to protect the user from loud noises that came from vehicles, heavy equipment, roadside bombs, and gunfire tanks. Once worn in the second place, they claimed to reduce artillery fire and explosions to just a muffle.
The 3M product was provided under contract and maintained that they’d protect the hearing abilities of those who wore them. Later on, several veterans came forward and made complaints which indicated that 3M was not effective in disclosing the flaws and chance of wearers suffering severely from hearing loss.
What Problems Were Reported By Critics?
The combat earplugs supplied by 3M were much briefer. This meant that they could not effectively fit into a human ear. This induced that the earplugs to become very loose with time and subjected everyone to hearing loss. Tinnitus, permanent hearing loss, and balance problems are some of the long-term related issues reported by specialists.
3M made false claims about their products and left everyone to think their product provided sufficient security. They also made them feel that they would be protected from hearing hurts throughout their own training. But this wasn’t the case.
What’s Army Hearing Loss Or Tinnitus?
Hearing loss is often reported by service members. They also occasionally suffer with tinnitus that creates a hissing, buzzing, or ringing sound inside their ears. When they are affected by this condition, it gets quite difficult for them to hear somebody talking from 3 feet away.
The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs has estimated that there are close to 2.7 million veterans that are currently receiving disability for tinnitus or their hearing loss that came from their time functioning. Tinnitus is very common and could have been reported by persons who did not even know they had been wearing the earplugs by the 3M Company.
How Many Earplugs Can 3M Supply below the Contract?
3M provided over 15000 packages that contained 50 pairs of earplugs in each bundle. This was supplied each year from 2006 because they had a contract with the Department of Defense.
In 2016, the distribution company for 3M made claims of its concern to the government. However, a qui tam lawsuit was filed on account of their earplugs. They stated that it had been alleged that 3M made incorrect and deceptive claims for its product. Additionally, they did not disclose any of the defects related to the plan of the earplugs.
In 2018, the Justice Department settled with 3M where they received $9.1 million.
Service members may qualify for compensation by taking their own legal actions. Throughout the year of 2019, there have been hundreds of suits filed from 3M for its faulty earplugs.
Who Can Take Part in A Washington DC 3M Earplug Lawsuit?
The litigation against 3M by the government paid only the government rather than service members. Users of the 3M earplugs who served at the U.S. military anyplace between 2003 to 2015 and diagnosed with hearing loss could be entitled to receive compensation.
If you are wondering whether or not your hearing damages were caused by the faulty 3M earplugs, you need to get in touch with any one of our specially trained product liability attorneys. Our liability lawyers are experienced in dealing with those cases. Contact our law firm to discuss your available options now.
