AFFF Firefighter Foam Lawsuit Lawyers, Fighting to Ensure Our Heroes Are Properly Compensated
There are over 1.2 million people working and volunteering in America’s fire departments. Those who put on the gear and go out to extinguish blazes understand that they’re putting themselves in harm’s way, and they do this willingly because they recognize the risks and the stakes. Unfortunately, research now shows that a common fire retardant may also place these heroes in harm’s way. Those who suffer related injuries may benefit from an AFFF firefighter foam lawyer.
At Greg Jones Law, our national personal injury law firm has spent years helping victims seek justice. Firefighter foam is supposed to be a useful tool that helps first responders save lives, but it’s becoming more clear that it’s actually placing fire department personnel in danger. In fact, manufacturers of the foam have even made changes in recent years, but it’s possible that such changes were not enough. Contact us today to schedule a free case evaluation and learn more.
Are You Entitled to Compensation for AFFF Firefighter Foam Exposure?
If you’ve worked or trained as a firefighter within the past 50 years, there’s a chance you’ve been exposed to aqueous film forming foam (AFFF). This is a fire-retardant foam used for particularly dangerous fires — typically those involving high-octane fuel or boat engine fires. Even if the substance was never used on a call you responded to, there’s a solid chance you encountered the chemical during training. However, this doesn’t necessarily entitle you to compensation.
That’s because it’s necessary to establish liability in a court of law. To do this, it must be shown that a company violated a duty of care. In this instance, the manufacturers of AFFF likely violated this duty by manufacturing firefighter foam containing perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). While many manufacturers have altered their products to not contain PFOA, there’s a chance that its replacement is equally dangerous.
However, merely violating a duty of care isn’t enough to entitle someone to compensation. That’s because it must be shown that a victim suffered injuries or other damages linked to the violation of duty. This means you will likely only be entitled to financial damages if you developed a health condition linked to your exposure to firefighter foam. It can be difficult to ascertain whether a disease is related, though, so speaking with an AFFF lawsuit lawyer may be in your best interest.
What Conditions Are Linked to Firefighter Foam Exposure?
Research has clearly shown a link between AFFF exposure and negative health outcomes. When reviewing conditions potentially linked to such exposure, though, it’s important to remember that research is an ongoing process. There could very well be links between certain conditions and firefighter foam use that we haven’t yet recognized. That’s why you should reach out to a national personal injury law firm if you’ve developed any condition after AFFF exposure.
However, the following diseases are those which research has already established a linkage between:
Highly Linked to AFFF Exposure
Research indicates that the following health conditions seem highly linked to AFFF exposure:
- Prostate cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Ulcerative colitis
- Testicular cancer
- Liver cancer
- Thyroid cancer
- Thyroid disease
- Pancreatic cancer
- Bladder cancer
Relation Less Clear, But Still Linked
While the link between the following conditions and firefighter foam exposure is not as clear, you may still qualify for an AFFF foam lawsuit if you developed any of these:
- Leukemia
- Ovarian cancer
- Breast cancer
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Colorectal cancer
- Endometrial cancer
The History and Dangers of Firefighter Foam
If you’ve worked as a firefighter, you’re likely wondering whether you were exposed to hazardous AFFF. After all, many manufacturers phased out PFOA usage in their firefighter foams over the past two decades. However, our law firm believes that updated formulations likely have many of the same issues. And since AFFF has been in constant use since at least the early 1970s, there’s a good chance you’ve been exposed if you’ve ever worked as a firefighter.
For many first responders, exposure was limited. Fires serious enough to necessitate foam usage are rare in nature. In some cases, a firefighter could go their whole career and never encounter such a blaze. However, even minimal exposure could lead to harm. This means there are likely injury victims out there who developed serious conditions due to their time training with AFFF foam.
If it’s been a while since you worked or volunteered at the firehouse, you may still be entitled to financial compensation. This could cover medical bills, lost wages, future treatment costs, and even expenses and emotional distress related to losing a loved one. If you think you may qualify for compensation, it’s important to act quickly. Statutes of limitations can vary by state, so hesitation could cost you your chance at financial recovery.
Contact Our AFFF Firefighter Foam Lawsuit Attorneys Today
Firefighters face dangers that most of us will never experience. However, these dangers should not be related to the tools they use in the line of duty. PFOA has been in use for decades, but it’s become clear that the substance is not safe for humans. And while many manufacturers moved away from using the chemical, AFFF foam may still present serious risks. If you’ve developed health conditions after exposure, you need a personal injury lawyer on your side.
At Greg Jones Law, our team of legal professionals has seen what can happen when people are exposed to unsafe commercial products. Many materials have proven dangerous over the years, but few have been linked to as many potential health conditions as firefighter foam. First responders should not have to worry about their safety when not on duty, but negligent AFFF manufacturers have created a substantial danger. Let us help hold them accountable.
Contact us today by calling (855) 566-3752 to schedule your free consultation. Our AFFF firefighter foam lawsuit attorneys will advocate on your behalf.
[00:01:30] It is poor individual people going against some of the biggest companies in the world. At Greg Jones Law, we have the experience. We have the capabilities to pursue these cases. If you think you’ve been exposed to firefighting foam, please call Greg Jones Law. We’ll ask you a simple set of questions to ascertain whether or not you have the requisite exposure, and then from there on, we will try to represent your interest the very best we can.