If you worked as a firefighter at an airport, on a military base, or anywhere else where hazardous substances were at risk of catching on fire, you likely used some form of foam retardant to suppress flames in dangerous situations. Unfortunately, recent research has shown that firefighting foam contained, and may still contain, carcinogenic compounds that may contribute to serious health problems for firefighters exposed to them.
If you were recently diagnosed with cancer and believe it was related to your work as a firefighter, you may want to consider talking to an Atlanta firefighting foam lawyer. Depending on the available evidence and your exact diagnosis, a products liability attorney may be able to help pursue significant compensation from the manufacturers of the material responsible for your condition.
Certain types of fires—particularly those involving burning oil, gasoline, or chemicals—do not respond well to water, so a substance known as aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) is used instead. This firefighting foam works by cutting off a fire’s source of oxygen so that it can be quickly extinguished, without the risk of spreading the burning material over a wider area that the use of water can entail.
While this foam can be extremely effective when used for its intended purpose, extended exposure can also be extremely dangerous to firefighters. The perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that serve as active components in these foams have been linked with the development of numerous types of cancer by the EPA, the CDC, and the American Cancer Society.
Any firefighter who was recently diagnosed with any of the following forms of cancer should strongly consider speaking with a local firefighting foam attorney about their legal options:
In response to recent discoveries of the immense dangers that PFAS can present to those exposed to them, a number of lawsuits have been filed against the companies that manufactured those companies and sold them to military sites, airports, chemical plants, and various other facilities. These lawsuits generally allege that these manufacturers knew of the potential dangers associated with their product but negligently failed to properly notify you of those risks.
Filing suit successfully against a large chemical manufacturer typically requires multiple plaintiffs working together through class action litigation. By combining legal resources and evidence, all members of a predetermined class who experienced similar harm from the same defendant often have much better chances of recovering compensation. Through such a lawsuit, a firefighting foam attorney in the local area could pursue restitution for medical bills, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment, and more on your behalf.
A number of different companies negligently exposed firefighters, workers and military base personnel, and many other people to cancerous firefighting foam over the past few decades, and the results of their reckless behavior have unfortunately been catastrophic. If you are one of the many people diagnosed with cancer as a direct result of your exposure to the PFAS in aqueous film-forming foam, you may have important legal options at your disposal.
A qualified Atlanta firefighting foam lawyer could discuss your unique circumstances and the possibilities for pursuing compensation during an initial consultation. Call today to schedule yours and get to work on your potential claim
