AFFF Lawsuits in North Carolina
Firefighters, military service members, and others may have been exposed to cancer-causing chemicals contained in a common firefighting substance
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Firefighters or military members exposed to AFFF — aqueous film-forming foam — and diagnosed with cancer should contact our Raleigh lawyers for legal help. Holding the manufacturers of these frequently used firefighting substances accountable is a priority for our law firm.
What Is AFFF?
AFFF stands for Aqueous Film-Forming Foam, a fire suppressant used on flammable liquid fires. These foams work by cooling the fire and blocking oxygen from the flammable liquids, effectively smothering the flames.
AFFF was developed by 3M in the 1960s. It became widely adopted when the U.S. Navy began requiring ships to carry it after a catastrophic fuel fire onboard the U.S.S. Forrestal that killed 134 sailors and injured 161. AFFF has been widely used throughout the military and at commercial airports (where it was required by the FAA), as well as in civilian fire departments.
What Makes AFFF Toxic?
AFFF uses fluorinated surfactants to create a film that stifles the fire, and these compounds are part of a highly toxic class of chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS.
PFAS come with strong heat-resistant properties that are useful in a wide variety of everyday applications, from nonstick cookware to water-resistant fabrics. However, PFAS are “forever chemicals,” meaning they do not degrade over time. Consequently, they have become ubiquitous in our lives; according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), nearly all people have some level of PFAS in their blood.
The low levels of PFAS found in the average human body are not likely to be dangerous. However, firefighters, military service members, and those who worked with AFFF have experienced much higher levels of exposure.
Manufacturers of PFAS have known about the dangers for decades and deliberately ignored them. Concerns emerged as early as the 1970s when Navy researchers worried about the impact of AFFF on the environment. In the early 2000s, the EPA warned that one chemical in the PFAS category “pose[s] a serious concern for potential future risk for humans and wildlife.” The agency later extended that warning to all PFAS chemicals.
3M, DuPont, Chemours, and other AFFF manufacturers have already been forced to pay billions to compensate affected people and municipalities for the effects of PFAS, on human beings and on the environment.
What Are the Risks?
PFAS chemicals accumulate in the body, resulting in wide-ranging health problems. Most of those manifest as blood, liver, kidney, and other types of cancer. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the American Cancer Society, and others have all acknowledged links between exposure to specific chemicals and cancer in firefighters. The Veterans Administration has added AFFF to its list of toxic military exposures. Scientific research has established associations between AFFF exposure and numerous diseases:
If you were exposed to AFFF as a firefighter, soldier, sailor, or marine and you have any of these conditions, you may be able to seek compensation from the suppressant manufacturers.
What Is the AFFF Lawsuit About?
Thousands of plaintiffs — both individuals and public water providers — have sued manufacturers of AFFF over its effects on human beings and the environment. Those lawsuits have all been consolidated in the federal district court for South Carolina. The court will oversee the pre-trial process (including discovery) for all cases to expedite the timeline and conserve resources. Many high-volume cases, including the AFFF lawsuits we represent in North Carolina, are settled as a group during this consolidated process. Manufacturers have already settled with municipal water providers, leaving only cases filed by individual plaintiffs alleging personal injury or wrongful death.
If the cases don’t settle as a group or if individual plaintiffs reject the settlement offers, the cases return to the federal courts in their home states for trial.
I Have Cancer and I Am in One of the Eligible Categories. What Should I Do?
If you have been diagnosed with cancer after exposure to AFFF, you have the right to hold manufacturers accountable for the harm they caused you and receive compensation for your injuries.
We Will Help You Get the Compensation You Deserve
The dedicated, experienced AFFF cancer lawyers at Miller Law Group in Raleigh can guide any eligible person through the litigation process. However, you must act soon. Statutes of limitations and other legal issues could affect your ability to recover if you delay.
Listen to this Raleigh law firm discuss what qualifies for wrongful death claims and how these attorneys can help you recover.
My Family Member Was a Firefighter Who Died of Cancer. Can I Recover on Their Behalf?
Close family members can sue on behalf of a related firefighter who has already died from their injuries from AFFF exposure. The legal term for this is a wrongful death suit. These lawsuits are governed by detailed laws that vary by state. You can be sure that the attorneys at Miller Law Group are knowledgeable about the requirements and limitations of firefighter foam lawsuits in North Carolina and can help you seek compensation for your loss. Contact us today to learn more about your rights.
