Have You Developed Cancer after Exposure to Fire Fighting Foam? Here’s What to Do Next
If you are a firefighter who has/had developed any form of cancer, during or after your service years, there is a high likelihood that it is/was a result of PFAS exposure, found in firefighting foam. If that is indeed the unfortunate truth, it might be possible for you to receive heavy compensation for the harm caused to your health by cancer, in addition to receiving complete coverage for all medical bills. We will discuss how to proceed with getting what you deserve next.
Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer
There are various types of personal injury lawyers, but they are not all equally experienced or equipped to handle firefighting foam cancer lawsuits, unlike Richard Harris Personal Injury Law Firm. The best law firms have successfully represented victims for decades, winning billions for their clients in the process. They have both the experience and the resources to help you along every step of the way. So, look for a personal injury firm with years of relevant experience and a good reputation near your location for legal guidance.
Get to Know the Connection
Your lawyer will explain the connection to you, but you should at least know the relationship in between aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) and cancer. By 2010, AFFF cancers had already afflicted so many firefighters that the CDC decided to take note of the situation. According to their published survey and test results so far, which includes data from more than 30,000 firefighters across the country spanning an entire decade, it was found that:
- Firefighters do indeed suffer from an abnormally and alarmingly high rate of cancers, as compared to the general population.
- In a majority of these instances, a link to long-term per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure was found.
- Cancers of the skin, testes, prostate, ovaries, bladder, pancreas, liver, colon, rectum, blood (leukemia), lymph nodes (lymphoma & non-Hodgkins lymphoma), breast, and thyroid are the most common.
- Aside from various types of cancer, PFAS has also been linked to reproductive failure, liver damage, kidney damage, and thyroid disorders.
Are You Eligible to File the Lawsuit?
Only a personal injury lawyer with expertise in firefighting cancer lawsuits can provide you with an assuredly correct answer. Nevertheless, if you were or still are a civil/military/airport firefighter with cancer, there is a high chance that you are eligible to sue for compensation. Additionally, employees related to the fire department, such as the workers who decontaminate and clean firefighting equipment are also at risk of developing PFAS induced cancers. They too can be eligible for compensations in light of the harm caused to them after being exposed to the carcinogens without protection.
In case you are wondering which party is to be sued, that may vary and only a lawyer can tell you, depending on the case’s particulars. In most cases though, it would be one or more manufacturer(s) of the firefighting foam that your fire department was issuing to its firefighters.
Boris Dzhingarov graduated UNWE with a major in marketing. He is the founder of ESBO ltd a brand mentioning company. He is also passionate about meditation and healthy living. You can find articles on such topics at his spiritual blog Dzhingarov.com.