Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) has been in use since the 1960s. Firefighters and the U.S. Navy have made use of this product over the years. Sadly, the polyfluoroalkyl and perfluoroalkyl chemical substances found in this product are toxic and can cause cancer.
Individuals who have been exposed to PFAs for a long time run the risk of having illnesses, including:
- Kidney cancer
- Testicular cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Breast cancer
- Leukemia
- Rectal cancer
- Fertility issues
- Ulcerative colitis
- Thyroid cancer
- Colorectal cancer
If you are a victim of AFFF exposure, you can get compensation for your suffering and injuries by filing an AFFF lawsuit. To file an AFFF lawsuit, you’ll need to contact an experienced lawyer. These individuals are trained to deal with this kind of case. So, they can support you throughout the process.
First of all, they can help you determine if you have a case or not. Secondly, they’ll identify the liable parties. The manufacturers of these products are the defendants in most cases. Below is a non-exhaustive list of AFFF manufacturers that might be liable for the suffering you are going through:
- 3M Company
- Buckeye Fire Equipment
- Chemguard
- Chubb Fire
- Dupont
- Kidde Fire Fighting
- The Chemours Company
- Tyco Fire Products
The particular defendant that you will file a lawsuit against is the manufacturer that produced the product you used. Sometimes, you might have to file a claim against multiple manufacturers if you made use of different brand products over the years. As you work with your attorney, you’ll be able to identify all the liable parties.
Most people refuse to begin the lawsuit process because they are concerned about the fee the lawyer will charge. If you’re thinking like this, allow us to put your mind at ease. First of all, you won’t be charged for the first consultation.
If the lawyer determines your case to be worth pursuing, they will then begin the process. You don’t have to pay the fee immediately because lawyers work on a contingency fee arrangement. This arrangement allows the victim to get the necessary legal representation they need without having to worry about the legal fee.
Proving Your AFFF Lawsuit’s Validity
The law is all about proof and evidence. Even if your claim is true and you can’t prove it with evidence, you’ll lose the case. This is why you need the support of an AFFF lawyer.
Your attorney will explain to you what your rights are. They’ll also tell you the evidence you need to prove the case and even go ahead and assist you in securing it. So, what is the evidence required to prove an AFFF lawsuit’s validity?
Medical Records
A crucial piece of evidence that can sway the court’s judgment in your favor is your medical records. These records will reveal your diagnosis, the date you got diagnosed, the doctor’s notes on the symptoms’ severity, and how the illness has affected you. Furthermore, the records will reveal the treatments you’ve gone through over the years.
Medical Bills
You cannot do without presenting this, as it will help determine the amount of compensation you will receive. Therefore, you need to gather all the medical bills that pertain to the cancer diagnosis. This includes bills for tests, doctor visits, treatments, and procedures performed.
AFFF Exposure Evidence
You must be able to prove that you were exposed to AFFF over a long period of time. This might be during your time as a navy officer, working in airports, or the common case of being a firefighter. Your AFFF lawyer should be able to assist you in gathering this evidence as well as detailing the frequency of your exposure to these chemicals.