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The 3M earplugs are dual-sided earbuds used to protect users against loud noises. While, in theory, these products were meant to offer more protection than other types of common earplugs such as those made of foam, due to their faulty design, the 3M earplugs lead to injury. As a result, many users started developing tinnitus and hearing loss.
Between 2003 and 2016, people serving in the military were given defective earplugs that couldn’t hold tight within the ear as the part that should have been fitted in the ear canal was too short. After a while, the faulty earplugs loosened, thus allowing the loud noise to affect the user’s ear. As a result, some of these people developed a series of hearing issues such as deafness, hearing loss or tinnitus, a condition that manifests itself as a constant ringing or buzzing sound. The affected people hear these sounds continuously or intermittently which can greatly impact their life quality. Additionally, this condition often leads to sleep disorders, fatigue, anxiety, concentration problems or memory problems.
The manufacturer of these earplugs is 3M, a multinational conglomerate founded in 1902. The headquarters of the company are in Maplewood, Minnesota. In 2008, 3M acquired Aearo Technologies, the first manufacturer of these earplugs.
The users of these defective earplugs might have suffered hearing loss, tinnitus and balance loss due to the fact that their hearing was affected by defective earplugs. All these types of injury are detrimental to an individual’s life quality and, to his or her capacity to perform well their duties at work.
If you have been using these earplugs and you have developed the following symptoms, you might qualify for a personal injury claim.
Other symptoms that are correlated to the development of tinnitus include:
We recommend you get in touch with us if you suffer from any of these so that we can analyze your potential claim.
One of the groups that are affected on a large scale by defective 3M earplugs is the military. People working in this field require ear protection during their training which often involves high levels of noise (from gunfires tanks etc). In 2016, a whistleblower lawsuit was filed by Moldex-Metric on behalf of the United States Government against the manufacturer for the fact that it was aware that the Combat Arms dual-sided earplugs they provided to the military were defective. Pursuant to this claim, 3M offered the government a settlement of $9.1 million.
To the present date, almost 3000 veterans from different states including California, Texas, and Minnesota have claimed their right in legal lawsuits. There are more than 1000 lawsuits against this manufacturer. Last year in April, in the Court of Florida, several hundred lawsuits were consolidated in a class action against the manufacturer of 3M earplugs. A settlement or verdict for these personal injury lawsuits is still on its way as we are still at an early stage of the legal process.
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Talking to a lawyer can be intimidating and scary. We help you understand what is involved in a claim and if you potentially qualify before we pass you on to an Attorney. Atraxia Law is the first step to see if you qualify for compensation. We have successfully helped individuals who have been involved with challenging personal injuries that have resulted in a cash payout. Our team will carefully go over your specific situation so we have a clear understanding of your needs and will determine if you meet the preliminary requirements for a claim. This process is a quick and simple phone call with one of our case managers. We look forward to hearing from you.
