Aqueous Film Forming Foam Lawyer
Aqueous film forming foam, or AFFF, is also known as firefighting foam. For more than 50 years, firefighters have relied on this type of foam to extinguish and suppress fires. Despite its effectiveness, there are serious health risks linked to exposure to this foam.
In recent years, firefighters exposed to this foam have reported an array of health issues, including cancer. The consequences of AFFF exposure extend even beyond firefighters, to individuals who are exposed to the chemicals through groundwater.
If you are dealing with the health consequences of AFFF exposure, a skilled mass torts attorney might be able to help. During a consultation with an aqueous film forming foam lawyer, you could learn about your legal options and your chances at financial recovery.
What is Aqueous Film Forming Foam?
AFFF is an expanding foam that is used to suppress fires. It contains an array of chemicals, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). These substances are known as “forever chemicals” because they can last in the environment or within the human body for long periods of time.
Exposure to AFFF is tied to high levels of these forever chemicals within the human body, particularly among firefighters. Given the lifespan of these chemicals, other individuals can come into contact with them weeks or months later at the scene of a fire, or even from contaminated groundwater. This contamination is also common on military bases given the use of this foam in combatting fire as well as during training exercises.
Health Risks with AFFF
The concentrated buildup of forever chemicals within AFFF can result in a multitude of dangerous health risks. These include different forms of cancer as well as thyroid disease. The health hazards tied to AFFF exposure include:
- Leukemia
- Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Mesothelioma
- Prostate cancer
- Testicular cancer
- Kidney disease
- Thyroid effects
- Cholesterol changes
For more information on the possible hazards associated with this substance, speak with a seasoned AFFF attorney.
Pursuing Legal Action Against AFFF Manufacturers
Those who are suffering from health complications from exposure to AFFF have the right to seek legal action. By filing a lawsuit against the manufacturer, they could recover compensation for their medical injuries.
A successful claim requires evidence and these cases are complex, requiring a range of expert testimony. This expert testimony can relate to the plaintiff’s health or the dangerous nature of AFFF. An experienced AFFF attorney could have connections with the type of expert witness needed to prove a plaintiff’s claim.
In addition to expert testimony, documentary evidence also frequently plays an important role in these cases. A plaintiff’s medical records are often the basic building block for an AFFF lawsuit. These records can identify the health consequences the plaintiff faces. Additional documentation could include scientific analysis of the foam that the plaintiff was exposed to.
If successful, these lawsuits could provide for a wide range of financial compensation. Examples of potential compensation include damages for medical bills, lost wages, loss of consortium, or pain and suffering, to name a few.
Contact an Aqueous Film Forming Foam Attorney as Soon as Possible
Learning that you face serious health consequences due to your exposure to firefighting foam can be difficult to comprehend. The same applies to those exposed to AFFF chemicals indirectly. Anyone dealing with these health consequences could be entitled to financial compensation.
Let an aqueous film forming foam lawyer review your case and guide you through the litigation process. To learn more, reach out to schedule a confidential evaluation right away.
