Can I Still Join The 3M Lawsuit?

You can still join the 3M lawsuit if you meet specific criteria, but you should contact a personal injury attorney to confirm any legal deadlines you will need to meet. If you miss those deadlines, you could lose your right to seek compensation in your case. Today, many veterans are taking legal action against 3M Company, which designed and distributed the Combat Arms Earplugs, Version 2 (CAEV2). The earplugs may have caused hearing loss and other issues for many individuals.

If you experienced such issues and believe they’re attributed to using the Combat Arms earplugs, you may want to join the lawsuit. You can connect with us if you believe you may be eligible for the lawsuit. We can help determine your eligibility and join your fellow veterans in taking legal action for their losses. The sooner you reach out for legal help, the sooner a mass tort lawsuit attorney can review your situation and advise you of your legal options and next steps.

How to Qualify for a 3M Lawsuit?

The 3M Combat Arms earplugs are supposed to allow service members to hear communications while blocking out loud and potentially hazardous noises. Thousands of service members relied on this product to protect their hearing. For instance, the product is supposed to help protect against the noises of artillery fire. However, according to lawsuits filed against 3M Company, the earplugs did not seal properly or come with instructions for proper use. Because of this, some say the earplugs caused hearing problems.

Today, a 3M lawsuit is ongoing for service members who suffered hearing problems and related issues. You may be eligible to join the 3M Combat Arms earplugs lawsuit if you meet the following criteria:

You served in any branch of the military at any time between 2003 and 2015
You used the military-distributed version of the Combat Arms earplugs that were black and yellow and dual-sided
You now suffer from hearing loss, tinnitus (ear ringing), difficulty balancing, and/or other related symptoms/injuries

An attorney in our network can help you determine your eligibility for the lawsuit at no cost to you. Your initial consultation with us will be free of charge, so you have nothing to lose.

It Can Be Difficult to Determine Eligibility on Your Own

Your attorney can help to confirm whether you used the earplugs that are involved in the lawsuit. They can also help to confirm whether your symptoms are a result of the earplug’s defectiveness. To make these determinations, it may be necessary for the attorney to refer to experts who can weigh in with a professional opinion that supports your claims. The first step for you to take is to have a free consultation with a lawyer who can explain how the process works from that point on.

How Do I Join a 3M Lawsuit?

To join the 3M lawsuit, you may need a diagnosis from a doctor from around the time of your discharge. This diagnosis should include whether you’ve suffered hearing loss, tinnitus, or other conditions related to your 3M earplug use. You may also need an impairment rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Once you have these things, and if you meet the criteria we’ve mentioned, you can likely join the lawsuit. A lawyer in our network may be able to help you acquire the items for the lawsuit and join the lawsuit.

Your lawyer will do everything they can to help you join the lawsuit. Our team wants to support you and your efforts to recover the damages you’re owed.

How Much Is the 3M Lawsuit Worth?

In 2018, 3M Company settled the lawsuit with the U.S. Department of Justice for $9.1 million. However, the company did not admit to any fault or liability, and individual plaintiff lawsuits are continuing to this day.

Today, thousands of veterans who suffered hearing issues are filing 3M lawsuits to collect damages. The veterans allege that the company was negligent in distributing faulty earplugs and that its negligence caused their hearing-related issues. Another allegation is that the 3M Company knew its product would not protect service members from hearing damage, but the company distributed the product anyway.

Any victims in this lawsuit deserve to be compensated for their symptoms and injuries. If you believe you’re a victim, you should pursue damages and join the lawsuit.

Has Anyone Gotten a Settlement from 3M?

Since early 2022, there have been multiple 3M earplug verdicts. In January 2022, the lawsuit continues, and we expect to see more verdicts. For instance, in January 2022, a Florida jury awarded two U.S. Army veterans $110 million for hearing damage they suffered after using 3M’s headphones, as The New York Times reports. Ronald Sloan and William Wayman were the plaintiffs in the case, and they were each awarded $15 million in compensatory damages and $40 million in punitive damages.

According to the newspaper, five more 3M trials are scheduled to take place in 2022. It also reports that nearly 300,000 U.S. service members and civilians are pursuing earplug litigation, making 3M litigation one of the largest mass torts in the nation’s history.

Other Settlement Awards in 3M Earplug Cases

In December 2021, there was a $22.5 million verdict in a trial in Tallahassee, Florida, Reuters reports. The jury awarded the money to a U.S. Army veteran who claimed the earplugs caused him to suffer hearing loss and tinnitus. The veteran was awarded $7.5 million in compensatory damages and $15 million in punitive damages. The verdict was the biggest one yet, surpassing a verdict of $13 million in November 2021. The December verdict was a major victory for the plaintiff and possibly for other plaintiffs in the future.

What Is the Average Settlement for a 3M Earplug Lawsuit?

The January 2022 trial was the latest to reach a verdict, but not all cases end in a favorable outcome, so the average 3M verdict settlement amount can change. According to The New York Times article, nine of the 14 plaintiffs in 3M earplug cases were awarded between $1.7 million and $22.5 million each. The verdicts consider the many different damages the plaintiffs suffered. Your verdict and settlement could take into account your compensatory damages and other damages. You may be able to pursue compensatory damages like:

Any hearing loss (generalized hearing impairment unrelated to tinnitus) you’ve experienced as a result of negligence
Any tinnitus (persistent ringing in your ears that affects your hearing) you must live with because of negligence
Auditory processing disorder (the inability to correctly process and interpret sounds)
Any difficulty you have with balancing and/or walking
Other symptoms related to exposure to loud/repetitive noises
Medical care you had to receive because of your symptoms/injuries
Any hearing aids you had to buy for yourself
Related costs that your veteran’s benefits do not cover

You may be eligible to recover pain and suffering damages and other damages, too. For example, you may be able to receive damages for mental anguish if your symptoms/injuries have caused you significant distress or anxiety. If your symptoms/injuries have affected your ability to work, this may also be considered in your case. Other non-economic damages can include loss of life enjoyment, loss of companionship, and other losses. Each case’s losses are unique to the plaintiff’s situation. A personal injury lawyer in our network can help you determine which damages you’re eligible for.

You May Be Eligible for Punitive Damages

In the December 2021 case, the plaintiff was awarded $7.5 million in compensatory damages and $15 million in punitive damages. In other cases, the plaintiffs have also been awarded punitive damages. These damages are typically awarded when a jury wants to punish a defendant due to the defendant’s extremely harmful behavior.

You may be eligible for punitive damages if the product in question caused you to experience damages and if you and a lawyer can show how 3M caused you considerable harm. For instance, punitive damages may be possible in your case if you and your lawyer can convince a jury that your symptoms/injuries were due to 3M’s negligence and that it knew its product was ineffective or defective but distributed it anyway.

Is the 3M Earplug Lawsuit Worth It?

In recent 3M lawsuit cases, some juries have ruled in favor of the service members over 3M company and awarded punitive damages. A 3M lawsuit could be worth it in your case. With the help of a lawyer in our network, if you can convince a jury that 3M owes you compensatory damages, you could be awarded a great deal of money.

A lawyer can also give you perspective about what you’re up against as you start your legal action. Having realistic expectations can give some clarity as to whether your case is worth it. You also could recover punitive damages if you can convince the jury that 3M caused you a great deal of harm. Still, punitive damages are also unique to each case and can be rare to recover. A lawyer can fight to protect your rights and hold 3M accountable if it is at fault in your case. They also can advise you on what to expect when it comes to punitive damages.

Could I Really Qualify for the 3M lawsuit?

Potential plaintiffs for the lawsuit may be gunners, pilots, aircraft support personnel, infantry, engineers, mechanics, and other service members. If you were regularly exposed to loud noise as a part of your duties and relied on the 3M Combat Arms earplugs to protect you, but they failed to do so, you could seek to qualify for a lawsuit against the company.

A consultation with most personal injury lawyers is free. Your consultation will include a free case evaluation, so you’ll find out quickly whether you’re eligible for the lawsuit. Any evidence you have to support your claims should be presented to your 3m Earplug Lawsuit attorney. This includes any photos, video footage, medical records, receipts and invoices for injury-related items, and more.

How Long Will the 3M Earplug Lawsuit Take?

It may take some time before a global settlement is reached. The 3M earplug lawsuit is a mass tort product liability case, so it can take several years for it to be resolved. It may be important for you to join the 3M Combat Arms earplugs lawsuit right away. Since it may take some time to resolve, the sooner you join, the sooner a lawyer can get to work on your case.

It can take time for your lawyer to collect and review your evidence, talk to witnesses, and other tasks as they build your case. The more time they have to work with, the stronger the case they can make for you. Also, there is a deadline (a statute of limitations) to file a 3M earplug lawsuit. The deadline to file your lawsuit can depend on which state you live in, but you should confirm with your lawyer if you can still join the 3M lawsuit. A lawyer can help you determine which deadline applies in your case.

By hiring a lawyer soon, you give them the chance to meet the deadline that applies to you, and you also give them the chance to start determining your eligibility for the lawsuit right away.

Consult a 3M Lawsuit Attorney

Take your next step today and fill out our contact form for help with your 3M earplug case or to learn more about your next steps.