Georgia Defective 3M Earplugs Injury Lawyers

Are you a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marines who has suffered damage to your ears or lost hearing due to defective earplugs? If so, contact The Embry Law Firm. Our Georgia defective 3M earplug injury lawyers are currently accepting cases related to failed 3M earplugs. If you are a serviceman or woman who has been injured due to defective earplugs, you may be entitled to compensation.

Defective 3M Earplugs

Members of the U.S. Military are exposed to loud noises on a routine basis. These noises come from aircraft, explosions, firearms, vehicles, and various machinery and equipment. To protect their ears, servicemen and women wear earplugs. From 2003 to 2015, one of the most highly recommended earplug brands was 3M Combat Arms Earplugs Version 2, or CAEv2.

The CAEv2 was supposedly manufactured to designated government standards. A government contract was issued between the U.S. Military and 3M. Later, it was discovered that testing of the earplugs was subpar and indicated that the earplugs would not protect servicemen and women as discussed. Testing showed that the earplugs had a noise reduction rating (NRR) of 10.9 – much lower than the required standard of 22.

In addition to having a lower NRR, the earplug design was also defective. The earbud portion was too short and could not be adequately inserted into the ear canal. As a result, the earplugs could become loose or fall out.

Defective 3M Earplugs Cause Serious Injuries

Unfortunately, numerous servicemen and women suffered damage to their ears due to the defects in the earplugs. The earplugs did not form a proper seal in the ear canal, resulting in numerous users suffering from hearing damage or hearing loss.

There were so many injuries, in fact, that the United States Attorney General’s office filed a complaint against 3M in 2018. The complaint alleged that 3M violated the False Claims Act. That complaint has been settled for more than $9 million. The complaint indicates that 3M knew about the defect and lower NRR rating as early as 2000, but the earplugs were still used in conflicts, such as:

• The Iraq War
• Operation Ocean Shield
• War in Afghanistan
• War in Somalia
• Yemeni Civil War
• American interventions in Libya, Iraq, and Syria

Consumers who have been affected by the defective earplugs can still file individual lawsuits against 3M. Consumers can claim that the defective earplugs caused them harm resulting in physical or financial losses.

Georgia Product Liability Cases

Manufacturers must make sure that their products will not cause harm to consumers. It can be argued that 3M violated that duty by providing countless people with defective earplugs. In Georgia, product manufacturers can be held legally liable for injuries that their products cause. These cases generally fall under strict liability rules, meaning that the manufacturer is at fault for a product that causes injury.

In order to win a Georgia product liability case, you as the plaintiff have the burden of proving the following:

• That the defendant named in the lawsuit is the manufacturer of the product.
• That the product was defective as it left the control of the manufacturer.
• That the defect or malfunction directly caused your injury.
• That the injury caused you physical and/or financial harm.

The best way to prove these elements is to work with a skilled Georgia product liability lawyer. At The Embry Law Firm, we can help you connect your ear injury or hearing loss to defective earplugs. We can also help you build a strong case and demand compensation for your injuries.

Do I Qualify for a 3M Defective Earplug Lawsuit?

You may qualify to file a 3M defective earplug lawsuit if you meet the following requirements:

• You served in the U.S. Military between 2003 and 2015
• You used 3M Combat Arms Earplugs during your service
• You have been diagnosed with unilateral or bilateral hearing loss
• You do NOT suffer from any of the following:
  • Alport syndrome
  • Branchiootorenal syndrome
  • Meniere’s disease
  • Pendred syndrome
  • Otosclerosis
  • Stickler syndrome
  • Waardenburg syndrome

If you meet these requirements, contact The Embry Law Firm to find out more about your legal rights and options. For a free injury consultation, call us at (844) 443-6279. You can also request more information by completing our online contact form.