AFFF Settlements: What Can Victims Expect?

Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) is a type of firefighting foam used on military bases, airports, and industrial sites. While the Department of Defense (DoD) has committed to stopping the AFFF usage, it won’t phase out until 2024.

Thousands of people exposed to these toxins have sued the companies, Tyco Fire Products, 3M Company, and others that made the foam used in the firefighting foam. These lawsuits allege that the manufacturers failed to disclose the full health risks of their AFFF products. The chemicals in these products are carcinogens and can cause kidney, liver, and brain damage.

The manufacturers have spent millions of dollars in settlements with people who have filed lawsuits over their exposure to AFFF. These settlements will pay for medical bills related to resulting cancer diagnoses and other illnesses. AFFF lawsuit payout varies from case to case, but generally, victims can expect to receive compensation for their injuries. Fortunately, they can enlist legal representation to help them recover compensation for their injuries.

AFFF Lawsuit Loans

Those exposed to this chemical should consider applying for an AFFF lawsuit loan that Verum funding offers. This company specializes in litigation funding and offers services for those suffering from serious health issues due to their AFFF exposure, which makes it difficult for them to get by financially. By taking out an AFFF lawsuit loan, you can get the money you need to get back on your feet as soon as possible.

Also, AFFF lawsuit loans are non-recourse. If you lose your case, you will not owe anything. Verum Funding will take the risk and get paid if your case is successful.

How Can an AFFF Lawsuit Loans Help?

AFFF lawsuit loans are a great way to help with the financial burden of a lawsuit. The loan helps with different needs, including:

  • Mortgage payments
  • Medical bills
  • Utilities
  • Car payments
  • Rent 
  • Groceries
  • Legal bills

The best part about AFFF Lawsuit Loans is that they are easy to obtain; you only need to fill out a simple application online. There are no credit checks or employment verification, unlike with banks. Once they approve you for the lawsuit cash advance, you can expect your money shortly—usually less time than what conventional lending institutions offer.

Once you receive your lawsuit loan, you can use it to pay off an existing debt or bills. The beauty of pre-settlement loans is that they are available to anyone who has a legitimate claim against another party. If you are looking for assistance with your lawsuit funding needs, check out the Verum funding website. 

AFFF Lawsuit Loans and Verum Funding, Can They Work with My Attorney?

Verum Funding has worked with thousands of law firms across the country, helping with everything from real estate litigation to consumer litigation financing.

The Verum Funding networks with law firms across the country that provide legal services to people who need help with cases such as:

In addition to providing litigation finance for clients in need, Verum Funding offers lawyer and plaintiff funding. They have helped hundreds of clients across the country get access to cash for their lawsuits. Many of these clients have been injured by asbestos, mesothelioma, lead paint, defective drugs, and medical devices.

How Much Compensation Will I Get if I Was Exposed to AFFF?

You may be entitled to recover compensation based on the circumstances of your case. The most important factor in determining how much compensation you will receive is the level of exposure you had to AFFF.

If your exposure was minimal and did not cause any significant health issues, then you may receive less compensation than someone constantly who was exposed and developed serious complications.

Other factors that affect your AFFF lawsuit payout include:

The Long-Term Prognosis and Seriousness of Your Injuries

This aspect includes whether you will have long-term effects on your quality of life. For example, if your ailment developed into infections that required multiple surgeries over time, that would affect how much compensation you could receive. Care for these complications would be more costly than just treating simple injuries, so you could claim more damages in your lawsuit.

Also, medical professionals determine the long-term prognosis based on symptoms and conditions. If your condition is permanent, significant compensation may be available. If there is no long-term prognosis or it is unclear whether there will be long-term problems from AFFF exposure, you may be entitled to recover fewer damages.

The Intensity of Pain and Suffering

Does your injury, illness, or treatment cause intense pain? If so, you can account for pain and suffering in your lawsuit, because pain can take away from the quality of life and make it difficult to perform daily tasks like driving or cooking. 

If Your Exposure to AFFF Incapacitated You

Suppose you have suffered permanent damage and are unable to work as a result. Then, you could receive more money than someone who is still able to work, even if they also suffered damage due to their exposure.

Potential AFFF Settlements in Firefighting Foam Cancer Cases

In any AFFF lawsuit, there is a lot at stake, including your health and finances. If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another cancer from exposure to AFFF, it’s important to understand how these lawsuits are progressing and what you can expect.

Firefighting foam manufacturers may have to pay millions of dollars if AFFF settlements proceed. The health effects of these toxic chemicals have been debated for decades, but recently, the EPA has linked them to human health problems, including cancer. As a result, people who served as firefighters or drank contaminated water are suing the manufacturers of AFFF foam for damages, including medical bills and lost wages.

Recent lawsuits have resulted in multi-million dollar settlements.

DuPont and Chemours Co.

DuPont and Chemours Co. settled a class-action lawsuit over the chemical perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) contamination of the local water supply with 3,550 plaintiffs for $671 million.

The settlement is one of the largest environmental settlements in U.S. history. The plaintiffs alleged that PFOA—an ingredient used in AFFF—had contaminated their drinking water. This chemical has since been linked to health problems, including testicular cancer, kidney cancer, thyroid disease, and preeclampsia.

The settlement follows a ruling where a Southern District Court of Ohio denied DuPont’s motion to dismiss the case based on preemption grounds. As such, federal law preempts state tort claims against manufacturers who produce products regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

3M Company

The aforementioned settlement comes several years before another large settlement involving AFFF. In 2018, 3M Company agreed to pay $850 million in connection with claims that its AFFF products were responsible for causing cancer to victims who used water from the Mississippi river in Minnesota.

What to Know Before You File a Lawsuit

People have filed thousands of lawsuits against the AFFF manufacturer and other parties involved. Many of these lawsuits seek damages for loss of income, medical bills, and other financial burdens caused by the chemical. You should know several things before filing a lawsuit over an AFFF settlement. 

First, it is important to understand that other people have already filed claims against the same defendant. If this is the case, you need to make sure that your claim is different enough from theirs that the law of res judicata will not bar it. In other words, if your facts are too similar to another person’s case, then your case could get thrown out.

Second, before filing a lawsuit, you should ensure that you are eligible to sue in federal court. For example, if you live in Texas and would like to file a federal suit against DuPont over their actions related to PFOS contamination in drinking water in West Virginia, then there are certain rules that apply regarding venue and jurisdiction. If you do not follow these rules accordingly, your case could get dismissed right away, and you would lose your right to compensation.

Thirdly, there is no guarantee for compensation for your injuries any time soon. When companies become aware of potential lawsuits, they often try to settle out of court as quickly as possible. They may offer an “early settlement” option that allows those who agree not to wait until the conclusion of their case to receive compensation. However, this can lead to delays and leave people waiting for the AFFF lawsuit payout for many years.

Lastly, you may not have much choice regarding how much money you receive from the responsible company, as many factors, such as the extent of health complications and levels of exposure, come to play. Also, the final settlement is divided among the plaintiffs, so you may get less than what you had anticipated.

What Is a Contingency Fee?

A contingency fee is a legal fee that an attorney or law firm agrees to take in exchange for representing you. In a typical contingency fee arrangement, the attorney only gets paid if you win or settle your case. You don’t have to pay anything unless there’s a successful recovery.

The Statute of Limitations for AFFF Lawsuits

The statute of limitations is the time limit within which you must file a lawsuit, and it varies by state. If you wait too long to file, you may miss out on compensation. However, this deadline can sometimes be extended in cases where the victims didn’t discover their injuries until later. 

Compensation for AFFF-Related Loss or Suffering

You can receive compensation for AFFF-related loss or suffering for:

  • Medical monitoring and care. The plaintiff may be entitled to recover reimbursement for medical monitoring and treatment related to the exposure, as well as compensation for future medical monitoring and treatment.
  • Loss of income, support, or other benefits. If the plaintiff’s injury or illness resulted from the exposure, they may be entitled to recover compensation for loss of income, support, or other benefits they would have received if not for the exposure.
  • Pain and suffering damages. Your physical injuries are only part of what you’ve been through because of your exposure to AFFF. You may have suffered emotional trauma from the accident or worrying about whether further damage would occur. You might also have had trouble sleeping or concentrating due to pain levels.

All these losses may be compensable under your state’s laws. 

Choosing an AFFF Lawsuit Attorney 

If you are looking for a lawyer to represent you in an AFFF lawsuit, there are some things you should consider. 

See if the lawyer has previously worked with victims of similar chemical exposures before. This factor helps you determine if they have experience handling cases like yours and how much they know about the specific claims made against the military-grade foam manufacturer. Ask questions about their experience representing clients with specific injuries or illnesses due to exposure to chemicals from AFFF firefighting foam. 

Next, the reputation of a lawyer’s firm matters because it reflects on their level of skill, knowledge, and trustworthiness within the legal community. You should ask people who have used the services of an attorney before whether they would recommend them to others seeking legal representation in cases involving AFFF systems or other defective products that caused injuries. An attorney with many satisfied clients is more likely to provide top-notch service.

Let Us Help With Your AFFF Lawsuit 

If a firefighting foam product injured you or a loved one, you might be eligible to file a lawsuit, so it is important to consult an AFFF lawsuit attorney as soon as possible. We have a network of lawyers who can analyze your case and determine whether or not you have a case. An AFFF lawyer will explain the legal process and answer any questions about filing a lawsuit and AFFF lawsuit payout, among others.

Fill out our contact form today and let a lawyer help with your AFFF lawsuit.