3M Combat Earplug Class Action Lawsuit
If you are a military veteran, you may have already heard about the lawsuits occurring in PA against 3M Company due to their defective combat earplug product. Thousands of service members have suffered terrible hearing injuries due to having worn the dual-ended Combat Arms earplugs while deployed overseas. Though 3M Company has since settled with the U.S. Justice Department after paying a $9.1 million settlement, veterans will not receive funds from the manufacturer without directly pursuing litigation against them. If you would like to know more about the 3M combat earplug lawsuits in PA and if filing a lawsuit may be in your interests, contact us here at Wieand Law Firm, LLC
History of False Representation of 3M Combat Earplugs
Aearo Technologies, Inc. was the original equipment manufacturer of the Combat Arms earplugs. In 2000 they tested the earplugs and recognized that they were defective and did not perform as they had hoped or how they later advertised. However, they did not reveal the known issues with the military. In fact, in 2003 they won the exclusive contract to supply the American military with earplugs. Aero certified that their earplugs were in compliance with military requirements, including an acceptable noise reduction rating. The basis of 3M combat earplug lawsuits in PA against the manufacturer is that they offered little to no protection at all to the wearer.
Later, in 2008, 3M Company acquired Aearo Technologies, Inc. and continued to sell the earplugs. 3M became aware of the defects but like original manufacturer, did not reveal this information to the military or to the public. Wieand Law Firm, LLC represents victims who wish to pursue 3M combat earplug lawsuits in PA.
Veterans Are at Higher Risk for Suffering Severe Hearing Impairment
Military veterans are 30% more at risk for suffering from severe hearing impairment than nonveterans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And those who served post-2001 are four times more likely to sustain hearing injuries than nonveterans. Military personnel are exposed to potentially harmful noises, and when their hearing is unprotected, they can suffer debilitating and often permanent damage. The plaintiffs of 3M combat earplug lawsuits in PA are those military veterans who may have been injured when exposed to any or all of the following while in the armed forces:
- Gunfire
- Jet engines
- Heavy equipment engine noise (tanks, armored cars, etc.)
- Roadside bombs while inside or outside of a vehicle
- Explosions
Damages from 3M Combat Earplugs
As those who have suffered from noise-induced hearing loss know, it can be a devastating injury and affect not just the service veteran but also their loved ones. The sad fact is that hearing loss is a disability that lasts for the rest of the person’s life. Unfortunately, there is not currently a cure. However, surgery may improve their condition and hearing aids can bridge some of the gap. Because damages from the use of earplugs would have been avoidable but for the negligence of 3M, veterans who have suffered as a result deserve justice. Talk to us at Wieand Law Firm, LLC to learn more about 3M combat earplug lawsuits in PA.
