Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers is representing firefighters who have developed cancer after being exposed to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in firefighting gear.
Fire fighters who have developed cancer because of PFAS in protective gear may be eligible to file a lawsuit against fire fighter protective gear manufacturers and textile manufacturers seeking compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering and more.
Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers has been representing victims of hazardous substances such as PFAS forever chemicals, paraquat and asbestos since 1990. We have decades of experience in proving that substances like PFAS chemicals are dangerous and that our clients were made sick by them.
We will not charge you any fee to represent you in connection with toxic chemicals in firefighting turnout gear until and unless we recover money for you. You will never owe us any out-of-pocket fee.
If you can’t afford medical treatment, we can get you to doctors who will treat you on a lien, meaning they won’t charge you until your case is over.
Call a firefighter gear lawyer at Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers today for a free consultation if you or a loved one developed cancer after being exposed to PFAS in firefighters’ protective gear. You may qualify for financial compensation.
Firefighters At Higher Cancer Risk
In 2010, researchers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health started to study the cancer incidence and mortality of 29,993 firefighters. The researchers found that not only do firefighters see a higher risk of cancer compared to the general population, but that cancer is actually the leading reason for death in firefighters.
The primary cancers of concern to the researchers were:
- Mesothelioma
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL)
- Multiple myeloma
- Leukemia
In addition, the researchers also expressed concern about:
- Breast cancer
- Testicular cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Rectal cancer
- Intestinal cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Stomach cancer
- Brain cancer
- Lung cancer
One reason for the increased cancer risk that fire service members face is likely exposure to PFAS chemicals in firefighters’ gear and AFFF firefighting foam.
Call us today for a free consultation if you or a loved one developed cancer after being exposed to PFAS chemicals in firefighting bunker gear. You might be eligible for a financial recovery.
What Compensation Is Available In A Firefighting Gear Lawsuit?
If you or a loved one developed cancer after being exposed to PFAS chemicals in firefighting gear, you may qualify for financial compensation for:
Medical Bills
Cancer is a very expensive disease to treat. You are probably already facing medical bills due to your diagnosis. You may also face medical bills in the future due to your diagnosis, perhaps for the rest of your life. You might qualify to be compensated for any past or future medical expenses related to your cancer diagnosis.
Lost Wages
You may have missed time from work due to your cancer. You may have been too sick to work. You might have had to take time off from work to attend cancer treatments. You could qualify for compensation for any wages you were unable to earn because of cancer.
Loss Of Earning Capacity
Your cancer may have caused you to be unable to ever work again, or unable to do the job you used to do. You may be eligible for compensation for any loss or reduction of your earning capacity caused by your cancer.
Pain And Suffering
Cancer can be a very painful disease, both physically and mentally. You might qualify for compensation for any physical pain and mental suffering you experience due to cancer.
Wrongful Death
If you lost a loved one due to cancer caused by PFAS chemicals in firefighter gear, no amount of financial compensation can bring your loved one back. A financial recovery can, however, make sure you don’t have to endure financial hardship because of the loss of your loved one. You might be eligible for compensation for your loved one’s medical bills, pain, suffering, funeral costs and burial costs. You may qualify for compensation for the loss of your loved one’s income, household services, love and companionship.
Firefighting Gear Containing PFAS
Firefighters, when extinguishing fires and during training, wear what is known as turnout gear, which is also known as bunker gear. The components of this gear include hoods, helmets, pants, suspenders, jackets, gloves and boots.
PFAS chemicals are used in this gear to give the gear resistance to water, heat and stains.
A study published in 2020 found that not only does firefighting gear contain high levels of PFAS chemicals, but that these chemicals are shed from the gear when the gear is exposed to heat.
The study found that when turnout gear is exposed to heat, PFAS chemicals break down, off-gas and degrade into toxic, mobile particles and dust. Firefighters can then be exposed to the PFAS chemicals via absorption through the skin, inhalation or ingestion.
Lawsuit Alleges There’s No Reason For PFAS To Be In Firefighting Gear
A lawsuit filed in Norfolk County Superior Court by the International Association of Fire Fighters against the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) alleges that there isn’t even a good reason for PFAS chemicals to be in firefighting gear.
The lawsuit alleges that PFAS substances including PTFE are used in firefighting gear because NFPA Standard 1971, Section No. 8.62 requires the middle moisture barrier layer of turnout gear to satisfy an ultraviolet light degradation test. The lawsuit alleges this protective gear standard is unnecessary because the middle layer of turnout gear is not exposed to ultraviolet light.
The lawsuit claims that this standard was put in place not because of scientific merit but rather because of a deal between the NFPA and manufacturers of PFAS chemicals and firefighter gear.
The lawsuit alleges that PTFE, when it is heated to the temperatures commonly experienced in firefighting, can produce PFOA.
In 1987, 3M found tumors while doing a study on animals and PFOA.
A study done by 3M in 1990 linked PFOA with testicular cancer.
In 1992, a scientist who used to work for 3M discovered a higher risk of death from prostate cancer in workers who were exposed to PFOA.
In 1997, DuPont found that workers in a plant where PFOA was used saw elevated rates of cancer.
The C8 Science Panel, in 2012, concluded that a probable link exists between PFOA and kidney cancer and testicular cancer.
How Long Do I Have To File A Lawsuit?
There is a time limit to file a firefighter gear lawsuit in California. That time limit is known as a statute of limitations.
In California, if you are injured by a defective product, you have two years from the date that you became aware of your injury and you became aware that the defective product caused your injury.
This means that you have two years to file a lawsuit from the date you became aware that firefighter gear caused you to develop cancer.
However, it is important that you call a firefighting gear lawyer at Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers today if you’ve developed cancer after being exposed to PFAS chemicals in firefighting gear. It can take a long time to build a convincing products liability case. Calling us today gives us the best chance to build a convincing case for you and make sure any necessary paperwork is filed on time.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire A Firefighter Gear Attorney?
The firefighter gear lawyers at Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers will not charge you any fee until and unless we obtain financial compensation for you. In other words, we will not charge you a fee until and unless we win your case. We will never charge you an upfront fee to represent you. We will never charge you any money out of your own pocket to represent you.
What Conditions Can I Recover Compensation For?
Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers is helping firefighters recover financial compensation for the following conditions caused by exposure to PFAS chemicals in firefighting gear:
- Testicular cancer
- Liver cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Thyroid cancer
- Ulcerative colitis
- Thyroid disease
Experienced Lawyers With A Track Record Of Success
We believe that firefighting gear containing PFAS chemicals is defective because it is unreasonably dangerous when it is used as intended.
Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers has been representing those injured by defective products for over 30 years. We have recovered over $750,000,000 for our clients. We have obtained countless settlements and awards for victims of defective products, including:
- $14,250,000 for a girl who developed Stevens-Johnson syndrome after she took Children’s Motrin
- $5,000,000 for a user of Fen-Phen who developed primary pulmonary hypertension
- $3,000,000 for someone who developed a viral infection after a surgery using a heater-cooler device
Our experience in handling defective product cases means we have the know-how to prove that your cancer was caused by defective firefighting gear.
Call us today for a free consultation or text us from this page if you or a loved one developed cancer after exposure to PFAS chemicals in firefighter gear. You might be able to recover money compensating you for your medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering and more.
