Firefighters and other people who have worked with or had exposure to aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) may have increased risks of developing cancer or other life-threatening medical conditions due to toxic chemicals. If you’ve suffered an illness or medical condition linked to AFFF exposure, get legal help to pursue financial relief for your harm and loss.
The dedicated AFFF firefighter foam cancer lawsuit lawyers at Lichtenstein Law Group PLC can help you seek the compensation you deserve. With almost 100 years of combined legal experience, our attorneys have the resources and knowledge to stand up for your rights and interests. Contact our office today for a free consultation with a firefighter foam lawyer in Roanoke.
Aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) is a type of firefighting foam typically used to fight fires involving flammable or combustible liquids and substances, such as gasoline or aviation fuel fires. AFFF contains perfluoroalkyl and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), chemical compounds with heat- and water-resistant characteristics. PFAS increase the AFFF’s ability to spread and cool a fire. The foam also creates a barrier between a flammable or combustible liquid and the air, preventing the fire from getting oxygen.
Due to its effectiveness in fighting fires involving flammable or combustible liquids and materials, AFFF is often used to fight vehicle, aviation, maritime, and oil rig or refinery fires. Fire departments stationed at airports and military bases frequently use AFFF because of the risk of airplane or jet fuel fires.
Manufacturers of AFFF have begun replacing PFAS in their products due to the harmful effects of these chemicals. Experts commonly refer to PFAS as “forever chemicals” because they take an extraordinarily long time to break down in the environment. When these chemicals contaminate an area, they can get into water and soil and end up in drinking water or the food supply.
Over time, people who ingest water or food contaminated with PFAS will experience a buildup of these toxic chemicals in their bodies. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this buildup can cause various diseases or health conditions, including cancer. Contact our Roanoke AFFF firefighter foam cancer lawsuit lawyer today.
Firefighters have some of the most significant exposure to AFFF because they directly handle the foam. However, other people may experience dangerous amounts of exposure to AFFF. For example, people who live or work on military bases and airport personnel may get exposed to AFFF because firefighters at airports and military bases frequently use firefighter foam to fight fuel-based fires.
People who live near airports, military bases, or petroleum industry facilities may also get exposed to PFAS from AFFF that leaches into the local environment and contaminates water sources and soils. A Roanoke AFFF firefighter foam cancer lawsuit attorney can help.
The AFFF firefighter foam cancer lawsuit refers to numerous legal actions filed in federal court by individuals who claim to have suffered illnesses or other medical conditions due to their exposure to PFAS in AFFF. Due to the overwhelming number of lawsuits, the federal courts have consolidated all AFFF firefighter foam cancer lawsuits into a multi-district litigation (MDL) in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina.
The federal courts have organized the AFFF firefighter foam cancer lawsuit into a multi-district litigation (MDL). An MDL differs from a class action lawsuit in a few key respects. A class action is a single legal action brought by multiple plaintiffs on behalf of a larger class of people who share similar claims against a defendant. Conversely, an MDL involves a collection of multiple separate lawsuits. While a class action involves one legal proceeding through trial, an MDL only consolidates substantially similar claims for discovery and motion practice. Plaintiffs in multi-district litigation benefit from sharing evidence and information obtained in discovery. And defendants cut costs by not responding to multiple substantially identical discovery requests.
While the result of a class action lawsuit binds every person in the class who did not expressly opt out of the case, each plaintiff in an MDL retains a separate legal case. In an MDL, the court will select several plaintiffs to try their cases in “bellwether” trials to test the strength of each side’s claims. These trials can help facilitate settlements with the other plaintiffs in the MDL.
You may have a viable legal claim if you’ve had exposure to AFFF and have subsequently experienced a disease or health condition linked to PFAS, such as:
In an AFFF firefighter foam cancer lawsuit, you may have the right to recover compensation for various financial and personal losses due to exposure to PFAS in AFFF. Financial recovery in your lawsuit can include money for:
When you choose Lichtenstein Law Group PLC to help you file an AFFF cancer claim, you pay nothing upfront to hire our firm for your case. We believe that everyone injured due to the negligence or fault of others deserves high-quality legal representation regardless of their financial means.
We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you owe us no fee unless we win compensation for you in a settlement or trial. If we win your case, we earn a fee equal to a percentage of the money we recover for you. We also offer free initial case evaluations. That means you have no financial risk in pursuing a legal claim. Get in touch with our Roanoke AFFF firefighter foam cancer lawsuit lawyer now.
If you’ve received a cancer diagnosis linked to your exposure to firefighter foam, you may have the right to pursue compensation for your losses. Contact Lichtenstein Law Group PLC today for a free consultation with our Roanoke AFFF lawyers. We will fight to demand the financial relief you need to pay for your care.