Firefighters perform an essential service to communities all over the country every day. Firefighters often use aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) to fight and extinguish liquid or fuel-based fires. While effective for controlling fires, it puts firefighters at risk by exposing them to perfluoroalkyl, polyfluoroalkyl, and other dangerous chemicals. If you or a firefighter you love had an adverse health diagnosis related to firefighting foam pollution, you could be entitled to compensation.
At Ben Crump Law, PLLC, our compassionate team works hard toward justice and compensation for injured firefighters and their families. We hold the foam’s manufacturer responsible for the damage to your health caused by their product. You can recover the costs of your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and more. In addition, we will review your case at no cost or obligation and explain your options for financial recovery.
What You Need to Know About Firefighting Foam Pollution
Firefighters, their families, and others faced possible health setbacks not only from firefighting foam but also from possible groundwater contamination. AFFF contains hydrocarbon foaming agents and fluorinated surfactants that combine with water to extinguish fires and prevent them from reigniting.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), firefighting foam consists of the following:
- Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
- Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
- Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS)
- Hexafluoropropylene Oxide Dimer Acid (GenX)
CDC research suggests a connection between PFAS exposure and adverse health conditions, including:
- Increased cholesterol
- Damaged immune systems
- Several forms of cancer
AFFF Groundwater Contamination
PFAS and other AFFF components are water-soluble and persistent. As a result, these chemicals—also known as forever chemicals because of their durability—build up in the systems of humans and animals.
Unfortunately, firefighters suffer exposure via foam use. In addition, non-firefighters can face exposure via groundwater from:
- Drinking water
- Supply wells
- Surface water
When you seek compensation for exposure and resulting damaged health, our legal team will establish your source of exposure. From there, we will review your medical records and consult experts to document the toll the exposure has taken on your health and life. Finally, we aim to connect your exposure and diagnosis and build a compelling case for compensation.
Ben Crump Law, PLLC, Will Document Negligence and Liability
When you seek compensation for firefighting foam exposure, you must prove the negligence that caused your damaged health. The elements of negligence we document to substantiate your case include:
- Duty of care: The responsibility to take reasonable steps to protect you from harm
- Breach of duty: The failure to meet the required standard of care and maintain your safety
- Causation: Exposure to firefighting foam caused your current medical condition or your loved one’s death
- Damages: Your injuries led to substantial monetary and emotional consequences
Our legal team will explain your options. You can file an individual lawsuit — we will explain the process and what it entails. However, you could also start or join a class action lawsuit among additional plaintiffs suing the same manufacturer. Every client we represent gets individualized legal care and support. We will listen to the details of your case and explain the best option for you.
Get Justice and Compensation from AFFF Manufacturers
At Ben Crump Law, PLLC, we are passionate about pursuing justice for people injured by negligence. We are equally passionate about helping you recover compensation that ensures you get the physical and mental health care and support you need.
When we handle your case, our law firm will:
- Calculate an accurate monetary value
- Stop at nothing to build the strongest case possible for you
- Explain the manufacturer’s responsibilities and your rights
- Protect your rights every step of the way
- Clarify personal injury law and how it applies to your case
You could hold the manufacturer responsible if exposure to firefighting foam pollution damaged your health. In addition, our legal team will fight for a favorable settlement. However, a statute of limitations covers your case, so we will also ensure your case can go to court if a settlement is not forthcoming.
Compensation You Can Recover for Firefighting Foam Exposure
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, the dangerous chemicals in AFFF can accumulate in your body and increase your risk of thyroid disease. It can also lead to various cancers, including testicular, kidney, and bladder.
These conditions can lead to immediate and ongoing medical bills—costs you can recover from the product’s manufacturer. In addition to medical care, we also request recovery of the following expenses and losses:
- Past and future lost income
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental and emotional trauma
We also fight to recover wrongful death damages if someone you love did not survive the damage to their health. Finally, whenever possible, we fight for punitive damages. While rarely awarded, they may be available in your case. Our legal team will inform you if your family qualifies for this additional form of compensation.
Avoid a Potentially Costly Delay in Seeking Compensation
Concern over the costs of pursuing a claim should not prevent you from getting legal support to take on the manufacturer of firefighting foam. Our law firm will represent you on a contingency fee basis. This fee structure means we will absorb all upfront costs of your case.
You pay no fees or costs unless your case resolves in your favor. Then, we will accept a percentage of your financial award as compensation. However, if you do not receive a settlement or verdict, you owe us nothing.
Call Our Case Review Team Today About Your Firefighting Foam Pollution Claim
Are you a firefighter or a surviving family member of a firefighter whose health suffered from the adverse effects caused by firefighting foam pollution? Ben Crump Law, PLLC, helps injured clients and their families pursue financial compensation from the foam’s manufacturer. Find out how you can recover compensation by contacting our case review team today.
