3M Combat Earplug Lawsuit in Texas

What You Need to Know About Combat Earplug Lawsuits

While not every hearing loss is due to defective earplugs, combat earplugs and hearing problems have been closely linked, and you might suspect that your condition stems from the defects of 3M’s products. You should consider filing a 3M Combat Arms Earplugs lawsuit if you…

• Served in the military between 2003 and 2015
• Used 3M combat earplugs to protect your ears
• Now have documented hearing loss or tinnitus (ringing in the ears) after military enlistment or contract
• Had no documented hearing loss or tinnitus at time of (or prior to) military enlistment or contract.

Our combat earplug lawsuit lawyers can help you prove that you deserve compensation by showing…

• You meet the qualifications listed above.
• You’ve been diagnosed with significant hearing loss during or since you used 3M Combat Arms Earplugs.
• You’ve suffered extensive damages because of your hearing loss.

When you work with an experienced firm, you can leave the task of proving the link between hearing loss and combat earplugs to us.

Compensation Our Combat Earplug Attorneys Can Help Recover

How much compensation you are owed for your hearing loss depends on the severity of the damages you’ve experienced. This is different for everyone, but there are factors that all veterans should consider when determining a fair amount.

How much you should be given for your hearing loss depends upon how greatly this condition has affected your life. Chances are you will struggle to generate as much income as you would have without serious hearing deficiencies. You are more likely to feel isolated and depressed.

Hearing impairment presents challenges as varied as having difficulty interpreting speech, an increased risk of dementia, and premature death. You could require ongoing medical care and hearing aids, both of which can quickly become expensive.

When you meet with our team, we will review the many ways your life has been impacted by hearing loss, including both direct and indirect costs you face. Everyone’s experience is different, but most people with hearing loss should consider seeking significant compensation.

In Texas, you may be entitled to compensation for both your economic or monetary losses and your non-economic damages that do not have a specific dollar value but which negatively affect your life. These may include:

• Medical bills
• Ongoing care
• Hearing aids and any other required medical devices
• Loss of future earnings
• Emotional pain and suffering.

As you might guess, these consequences can be severe for someone who suffers from hearing loss, so the damages you seek in a 3M Combat Arms Earplugs lawsuit should match the many challenges you’re experiencing. Our 3M earplug lawyers know that no veteran should handle this process alone; we can help you review your damages and fight for fair compensation.

Contact our team today to schedule a free case evaluation. Not only is the consultation free, you owe us nothing if we don’t win your case. Call us today at (713) 973-8888.

Understanding the 3M Combat Arms Earplugs Lawsuit Process

Manufacturers are supposed to ensure that their products are safe when used correctly, and if the product has some inherent danger, clear warnings should be provided. If they fail to do so and you suffered injury as a result, the manufacturer, designer, distributor, or salesperson of the product can be held liable.

Under Texas law (CPRC Title 4 Chapter 82) there are three kinds of defects:

• Design defects: There is a flaw in the initial design of a product.
• Manufacturing defects: Products may have been designed correctly, but there are defects from poor product construction due to a factory’s assembly process or a component failure.
• Improper labeling or inadequate instructions: Manufacturers must provide clear warning labels and directions to help ensure safe and proper use of their products and warn of foreseeable dangers arising from the normal use of the product.

To win your case, our Terry Bryant combat earplug lawyers must prove that the earplugs were defective and that this led to your injuries. This means showing that . . .

• The product was defective at the time the injury occurred.
• The product was in the same condition as when manufactured.
• You used the product as intended.
• The defect caused you harm.

When you meet with us, we will listen to your story and help you determine whether filing a claim could result in compensation. Our 3M Combat Arms Earplugs lawsuit attorneys will work closely with you to learn all the ways in which your condition has impacted your life, so we can find out how much you have suffered in damages. We will contact 3M and their representatives to demand the compensation you are owed.

In some cases, companies choose to resolve these demands through settlements, in which case your attorney and the company’s attorney will negotiate an amount that meets your needs. If the company fails to offer a fair amount or is unwilling to negotiate, the case can be taken to trial, where both sides will make their arguments in front of a jury. The jury will then decide whether the company was responsible for your injuries and, if so, how much you will be owed in compensation.

These cases take time, and they require a great deal of knowledge about product liability law. Our clients know that they can leave the process to us, so they can focus on what’s important to them – their health, their job, and their family.

About the Defective 3M Combat Arms Earplugs

From 2003 to 2015, 3M sold their dual-ended Combat Arms Earplugs, Version 2 (CAEv2), to our military. 3M claimed it was a safe and effective tool to simultaneously protect users’ hearing while allowing them to hear what was happening in combat situations.

In 2018, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that the federal government had reached a settlement with 3M over allegations that the company sold the defective earplugs to the military without “disclosing defects that hampered the effectiveness of the hearing protection device.” In other words, 3M knew the earplugs were defective, yet continued to sell them anyway.

The lawsuit filed by the government resulted in a $9.1 million settlement with 3M. The company never admitted that their products had caused service members serious harm, which isn’t surprising to those of us familiar with these types of cases.

3M might have settled their lawsuit with the government, but they have not made things right by the veterans who suffered hearing loss because of 3M’s product’s defects. Many veterans are now filing lawsuits against 3M to demand the compensation they deserve.

If you are a veteran who wants to hold 3M accountable, contact Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law today by calling (713) 973-8888 or 1 (800) 444-5000 to schedule a free case assessment.

Combat Earplug Attorneys Answer Questions

If you have suffered hearing loss, you probably have many questions about a potential 3M combat earplug lawsuit. We want to answer your questions as specifically as possible, so it’s best to do so at your free consultation. However, to get started, here are some answers to questions our clients often ask:

Should I speak to the insurance company?

No, the less you say to insurance companies the better. If an insurance representative calls and offers you money, say you will get back to them, and nothing more. Let our combat earplug attorneys handle all communications with the insurance company and use our expertise to calculate the true cost of your injuries and negotiate the best possible deal for you.

Remember that once you’ve accepted an insurance company’s offer, you’ve blown your shot at additional compensation once you realize that their lowball amount will not begin to cover all your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses. Our Terry Bryant attorneys can aggressively negotiate with, and shield you from, insurance companies and their lawyers who will try to pressure you into accepting less money than they are actually prepared to pay.

Are there time limits for filing?

Yes, Texas has statutes of limitation (CPRC Chapter 16, section 16003), which are deadlines for filing lawsuits, According to the law, for personal injury, claims must generally be filed within 2 years after an injury occurred or you became aware of the injury. If you fail to file on time, the courts are unlikely to hear your case, so call Terry Bryant right away to get started.

How long will my combat earplug case take?

The length of time it takes to resolve these cases varies considerably, from months to years, depending on the individual circumstances involved. In general, cases that can be resolved through negotiation take less time than those that go to court, and if a case is relatively simple, it may resolve faster than one that is complicated. It’s always best to take legal action sooner rather than later, and, in some cases, waiting to file a claim can affect your ability to get adequate compensation.

What is the Impact of Hearing Loss on Veterans?

Veterans who trusted 3M’s earplugs are now experiencing significant hearing loss, which can dramatically affect their lives. Many veterans report not only hearing impairment but tinnitus, a condition characterized by a constant hissing, hum, buzz, or whistling in the ears, which can restrict sleep and be a constant source of frustration for sufferers. In many cases, someone with tinnitus will never again experience silence because the high-pitch frequency becomes worse in the absence of other noises. Veterans have used words like “torture” and “maddening” to describe the suffering they experience because of defective 3M Combat Arms Earplugs.

Veterans might face significant financial consequences because of hearing impairment. Hearing tests, medical care, and hearing aids are expensive. Certain jobs are difficult to get with restricted hearing. In addition to the financial burden, they may never enjoy music and or be able to carry on conversations in crowded environments.

How much does it cost to hire a Texas earplug lawyer?

The good news is that it costs nothing up front to hire our Terry Bryant combat earplug injury lawyers.  We offer free consultations where you’ll be able to meet with our team to tell us the details of your situation, and you are under no obligation to move forward. If you do decide to have us represent you, there are no fees to you unless and until we win a settlement for you, and then costs are taken out of the award. With our No Fee Guarantee, we put clients in a position where they have the large, experienced team without the fear of incurring huge legal fees.

At Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law, we will be here for you to answer all your questions and concerns throughout the entire legal process. We will fight for you every step of the way.

Get Help with a 3M Combat Arms Earplugs Lawsuit

The fact that 3M knew about the defect inherent in their products adds insult to injury for our brave men and women who served to protect us. We believe that 3M should be held accountable, and we want to hear from anyone considering filing a claim. When you’ve been injured by a product, one way to get justice is through a product liability claim against that product’s manufacturer. Our team has years of experience handling product liability claims.

We know how high the stakes are for you and your loved ones. As seasoned personal injury attorneys, we have handled thousands of cases in our decades of representing Texas residents. Terry Bryant is a Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer (by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, since 1986) and a former judge in Texas. Our team knows the law, and we know how to get results. If we don’t win your case, you owe us nothing, so let us fight for your rights and the justice you deserve. Call us now at (713) 973-8888 or toll-free 1 (800) 444-5000 to get started.