El Paso 3M Defective Earplug Lawyers

The dual-ended combat earplugs were designed to be worn in two ways. When worn “open,” the earplugs were supposed to protect troops from the loud noises of combat, such as explosions and gunfire. However, troops could still hear quieter noises, such as talking and whispers from fellow servicemen and women. When worn “closed,” the earplugs were meant to block out all noise.

Unfortunately, there was a defect in the design of the earplugs. They would gradually become loose without the wearer knowing. This left troops exposed to loud noises, leading to damage to their hearing. Today, as a result, many American veterans are experiencing tinnitus or other irreversible damage to their hearing.

In 2018, 3M settled a lawsuit filed under the False Claims Act with the United States government for $9.1 million. The government claimed in its lawsuit that 3M knew about the defect and continued to sell the earplugs to the military. Although this lawsuit compensates the military for its purchase of the earplugs and the wrongdoing by 3M, it does not compensate the people who are actually suffering damages from the defect.

Today, hundreds of veterans have filed lawsuits against the manufacturer. Many of these lawsuits have already been successful, but going up against a giant manufacturer such as 3M is not easy. If you want to take legal action, you need to speak to an El Paso 3M earplug attorney who has the experience and resources to handle your case.

Contact the Law Offices of Michael J. Gopin, PLLC now to learn how we can help you demand full and fair compensation from 3M.

Filing a lawsuit against 3M allows you to claim any damages, or losses, you have sustained. Some of the most common types of damages in these cases include:

Although these damages cannot fully restore the losses you have suffered related to your hearing, they can help with the financial burden of your injury. A personal injury claim also sends a message to Corporate America that these large companies cannot sacrifice the health of the American people for their own profit, particularly those who have dedicated their lives to serving our country.

If you wish to hold 3M accountable for your hearing loss, you should speak to an experienced El Paso personal injury attorney right away. In Texas, there is a two-year time limit, or statute of limitations, on all personal injury claims, so it is important to act quickly. If you file your claim after the statute of limitations has expired, you will likely be barred from receiving any compensation.

There are some exceptions to this time limit, however. For example, hearing loss is not always detected right away. It may be something that develops over time, particularly if you wore these earplugs regularly as part of your time in service. As such, you may have two years from the date you discovered the damage to your hearing to file a claim for compensation.

When you contact the Law Offices of Michael J. Gopin, PLLC, our attorneys can review your case and quickly get to work on your claim.

If you think you have suffered hearing damage due to defective earplugs, there are several symptoms you should talk to your doctor about. The common symptoms include:

Tinnitus is a condition in which a person hears noise when there is no external force producing the sound. Symptoms of the condition include:

If you believe you have developed tinnitus or suffered other hearing loss after using 3M earplugs in the military, it’s important that you speak with our El Paso 3M earplug lawyer right away.