3M Earplugs

3M Earplug Lawyers in Washington, DC

SEEKING JUSTICE FOR DEFECTIVE 3M EARPLUG HEARING DAMAGE

A company called 3M, formerly known as Aearo Technologies Inc., has been in the news for some time because of the earplug lawsuits involving the U.S. Department of Justice, lawsuits which continue to be filed by injured consumers to this day. In 2018, 3M and the Department of Justice settled a case that was pending in court involving their 3M Combat Arms Earplugs Version 2 (CAEv2), which were alleged to be faulty from 2003 to 2015. Because all branches of the U.S. military were using the earplugs in Afghanistan during this time, it became a major issue.

Between the years 2003-2015, thousands of men and women in the Army, Navy, and Air Force used these earplugs, only to find that something was incredibly wrong – veterans started to come forward claiming that they were experiencing hearing loss and tinnitus since returning from the Iraq War. Doctors started realizing that these cases had one thing in common: the 3M earplugs.

After a settlement was reached in 2018, many veterans figured that they had missed the opportunity to file and would no longer be eligible to receive compensation for their hearing loss and tinnitus caused by the 3M earplugs, but this is not the case. Anyone who has experienced hearing loss that they believe was caused by the use of 3M earplugs has a right to speak with a skilled and knowledgeable personal injury lawyer to find out if you have the right to pursue a claim for your injuries and losses.

Over time, various lawsuits alleged that 3M failed to take action to inform the U.S. government about the defects in their earplugs. Because of this failure to inform, countless military service members continued to use the product and now suffer from partial or complete hearing loss.

The attorneys at the Fay Law Group in Washington, D.C. can help you determine if you have the right to compensation for your injuries and damages. We strive to thoroughly investigate all of our client’s claims to ensure that they receive full and fair compensation for their injuries and losses. Our lawyers are specialized in 3M earplug lawsuits and have experience in many aspects of product liability law. Let us assist you in your time of need. Call us today.


To get started, give us a call at (202) 804-9898 or contact us online. Your consultation is free and private.


Are You Eligible to Join Our 3M Earplug Lawsuit?

Did you serve in the United States military between the years of 2003 and 2015? Did you use 3M earplugs during that time? The Fay Law Group is currently investigating claims that may make you eligible to compensation.

When soldiers are in a combat zone, it is essential that they have their hearing properly protected. Between 2003 and 2015 active military personnel were given Combat Arms Earplugs (Version 2 – CAEv2) made by 3M. These earplugs were designed to protect soldiers ears while they were in combat. The earplugs were specifically designed so that soldiers would be able to hear life-saving orders while still blocking out the sounds of gunshots, explosions, and dangerously loud blasts.

In recent years, we have discovered that some of the 3M earplugs worn by the active service members during this time period were defective. Because the soldiers hearing was not properly protected by earplugs that were functional, the soldiers and servicemen and women who wore the ineffective 3M earplugs have claimed to have suffered from subsequent major damage to their hearing.

The 3M company failed to inform the U.S. government of the defects. The inefficient earplugs may have caused partial or complete hearing loss to the military personnel who wore the defective plugs. These men and women were led to believe their ears and hearing would be protected and safe while they served their country in combat.

We understand how important it is to investigate all of these claims so that those that have been affected by this faulty product can get the compensation that they are entitled to for their injuries and losses. It is our belief that it is important to investigate these claims and move forward with doing what we can now to protect and compensate those affected by these serious events. The veterans and active duty military personnel deserved better then and now deserve compensation for their hearing loss.

What Made the 3M Earplugs Faulty?

The 3M earplugs were intended to be used as a way to offer the user protection for their ears. They were intended to block loud noises caused by gunshots, explosions, aircraft, tanks, and bombs that servicemen and women would be subjected to in Afghanistan and other military situations.

One end of the 3M earplug was designed to sit inside the ear canal, to block out noise and the other end of the earplug was designed to sit outside the ear canal so that noise could not enter. According to the investigative reports, the portion that was made to fit inside the ear canal was not made long enough. The 3M earplug would loosen and become ineffective after being in the ear for only a short time period. That means that the service member was being subjected to the loud noises that the earplugs were supposed to block out for extended periods of time. This resulted in the partial or complete loss of hearing. The type of damage caused may not be reversible.

Degrees of Hearing Loss Caused by 3M Earplugs

The CDC has reported that approximately 22 million American workers are exposed to dangerous noise levels on the job. In just a few hours or days, hearing loss can take place that can impact workers on many different levels. Here are the different degrees of hearing loss:

Mild Hearing Loss: This degree of hearing loss is one of the less problematic hearing impairments that one can be faced with. At this degree, you might be able to engage in one-on-one conversations, but it can be difficult to catch everything a person is saying, especially when there is background noise. Mild hearing loss can be defined as a loss of 20-39 dB (decibels). A person with mild hearing loss should seek the assistance of hearing aids to help them amplify softer sounds.

Moderate Hearing Loss: If left untreated, a moderate hearing loss can and often does affect a person’s daily lifestyle. A person with a moderate hearing loss will find it difficult to hear normal conversations or may not hear the telephone ring. When having conversations, especially those on the phone, you may find yourself asking people to repeat themselves quite a bit. A person with moderate hearing loss is unable to hear sounds that are softer than 40-70 dB. This type of hearing loss may require the purchase of stronger and more powerful hearing aids, bone conduction implants, or middle ear implants.

Severe Hearing Loss: Severe hearing loss will definitely affect someone’s daily life. This type of severe hearing loss means that the person will not be able to hear conversations, even those that are loud and will not be able to hear things like traffic noise. People suffering from severe hearing loss, cannot hear sounds softer than 70-90 dB. Sometimes, even the strongest hearing aids will not have any effect. This type of hearing loss may require middle ear implants or may even require cochlear implants. It is nearly impossible to engage in conversations of any kind unless you have a hearing aid to assist you.

Profound Hearing Loss: Profound hearing loss is the most significant level of hearing loss that one can experience. A person with profound hearing loss will be unable to hear sounds softer than 90-120 dB. What that means is that the hearing impaired person is not able to hear extremely loud sounds, such as a fire alarm, large jet engine, or a gunshot. A person who is suffering from profound hearing loss will find that hearing aids are not effective at all. The cochlear implant may be the only choice that will have any effect on the hearing of the affected person.

It is important that you work with a product liability attorney on your claim so that you can get the fair and full compensation that you deserve for your injuries and losses. At the Fay Law Group, our trial attorneys are here to assist you during one of the most challenging times in your life. We understand that your health and life are important and we take our responsibility seriously. Contact us at (202) 804-9898 for more information on how we can assist you and help you gain proven results.  

Types of Damages in Your Product Liability Claim

If you have sustained a hearing loss, tinnitus, or another hearing-related disorder due to the 3M earplugs, you have rights to compensation under the law if you can show that there was a direct correlation between the earplugs and the harm you have endured. You might be able to receive a variety of damages for your losses, as these types of cases can have a huge physical and emotional impact on somebody.

There are two types of damages that are awarded in a personal injury claim: compensatory and punitive.

Compensatory Damages: These damages are defined as the monetary value that is paid to an injured person for non-monetary damages that the person incurred as a result of the injury.

Punitive Damages: These types of damages are only awarded in a small number of cases. Punitive damages are not connected to the injury that was suffered but is meant to punish the person who is responsible for the wrongdoing. They are awarded based on the reckless and despicable behavior that was exhibited that caused the accident to occur.

Types of Compensatory Damages

Compensatory damages are the most common damages that are awarded in a product liability case. These damages are meant to restore you back to the condition that you were prior to using the product that caused your injury. In the case of the 3M earplug lawsuits, this means returning to a position before your hearing was taken from you due to a defective product. There are two types of damages: economic and non-economic.

Special Compensatory Damages: Economic losses, also known as special damages, refer to the money and property that a plaintiff has lost due to their injury. For instance, if somebody is a member of the military service and is no longer able to hear, it is safe to assume that they will not be able to do their job to the best of their ability. They might not be able to return to any type of position that they have held in the past, leaving a huge impact on their life. Here are a few of the most common economic losses:

  • Medical Expenses
  • Disability
  • Lost wages

General Compensatory Damages: These are considered non-economic losses, also known as general damages, which compensate plaintiffs for aspects that are not always as easy to quantify, such as pain and suffering and loss of consortium.

Pain and Suffering: If you have suffered from pain and loss of enjoyment of your life due to your serious injury, you might be eligible for pain and suffering damages. If your hearing loss has kept you away from your job and the activities you love doing, as well as communicating easily with loved ones, you might experience these damages. Attaching dollar amounts to these damages is not always easy to do because the loss feels like it is immeasurable.

Loss of Consortium: Lastly, loss of consortium damages can have a negative impact on the way that you live your life and the relationship that you hold with those you love. Your spouse might have a claim for compensation if your relationship has been permanently impacted by your injuries.

How You Can Join Our 3M Earplug Lawsuit

You may be eligible to join our 3M earplug lawsuit to get compensated for your injury. There are two requirements to be considered as a potential plaintiff.

First, you or your family member must have served and been actively deployed in the service between 2003 and 2015.

Second, you must have in order to join our 3M earplug lawsuit is a diagnosis of tinnitus from a physician or you had to have been diagnosed with hearing loss resulting in an impairment rating with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Your hearing damage diagnosis must have been made at or around the time you were discharged from the military.

If you or a loved one meet these requirements, you may be entitled to compensation. Please contact us as soon as possible to discuss your legal options.

At Fay Law Group, we are here to hold a liable party accountable for their actions and help our clients gain proven case results in their claims. We have over 50 years of experience assisting clients throughout the Washington, D.C. area successfully triumph in their cases. There are no upfront fees or costs if we are able to represent you or your loved one. We work on a contingency basis, so we do not receive fees or costs unless we help you obtain monetary compensation from a settlement or litigation. 


Please reach out to us at (202) 804-9898 for more information on how we can assist you.


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