Minnesota industrial giant 3M, one of the world’s largest manufacturing companies, recently admitted to selling defective earplugs for over 10 years. Thousands of veterans and current military service members may be entitled to financial compensation for hearing loss and tinnitus caused by these defective earplugs.
3M’s Combat Arms Earplugs were one of the most popular and widely used protective earplugs on the market, having been sold to all 4 branches of the U.S. military. From 2002 to 2015, the Combat Arms Earplugs were standard issue safety equipment to military servicemen and women. The lawsuits allege the company designed the earplugs in a defective manner and failed to warn users of the defect or to provide proper instructions for their use.
Anyone who served in the U.S. armed forces between 2002-2015 and suffers from tinnitus or hearing damage may be entitled to financial compensation from 3M. To have a valid earplug lawsuit against 3M you will need to meet the following additional requirements:
- You were issued Combat Arms Earplugs (Version 2).
- You were exposed to high noise levels (gun/ordinance fire, aircraft noise, etc.) at some point during your service.
- You used the Combat Arms Earplugs for ear protection.
- If you meet these requirements, you should have a valid claim for compensation against 3M. The amount of financial compensation you may be entitled to will depend on the length and severity of your hearing damage. Damage to the inner ear resulting from 3M’s defective earplugs has been linked to:
- Tinnitus: a persistent ringing in the ears that impairs hearing function.
- Loss of Hearing: generalized impairment of hearing not related to tinnitus.
- Auditory Processing Disorder: a condition in which a person cannot normally process and interpret audible sounds.
If you used 3M’s Combat Arms Earplugs in the military or as a civilian and suffered damage to your hearing you may be entitled to financial compensation for your injury. Because of the statute of limitations, it is important that you reach out to a lawyer as soon as possible. Contact BCCN today for a free consultation to discuss your rights.