Types of 3M Earplug Injuries

Jed Dietrich, Esq., One of the Top 3 Personal Injury Lawyers in Buffalo 2020 and New York Super Lawyer, Will Fight for the Best Result Possible for Members of the U.S. Armed Forces and Veterans Who Suffered Serious Hearing Complications After Using 3M’s Defective Military Earplugs.

Some military service members are regularly subjected to deafening noises in training and combat missions. These brave men and women need earplugs to protect their hearing. Nevertheless, for current service members and veterans that served between 2003 and 2015, the hearing protection provided to our troops via 3M’s Combat Arms Earplugs was defective. The faulty earplugs’ symmetrical shape made them too short to fit properly and protect troops from loud explosions, aircraft and machine gun fire. As a result, countless military personnel suffered life-altering injuries such as total hearing loss, chronic tinnitus and other health problems. After the federal government uncovered disturbing evidence proving that the 3M Corporation knew that their earplugs were defective, but chose to conceal the truth, the company paid a $9.1 million settlement. If you, or a loved one, were adversely impacted by 3M’s defective earplugs, you may be eligible to seek compensation for your resulting injuries and other damages suffered.

Since 1999, Jed Dietrich, Esq., a member of the Elite Lawyers of America and Million Dollar Advocates Forum, has fought to obtain over $175 Million in verdicts and settlements for people who were seriously injured in Buffalo, New York and beyond. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C.’s team of highly experienced and top rated Buffalo, New York defective military earplug product injury lawyers will strive to obtain the best possible result for victims who suffered adverse health complications caused by 3M’s faulty military earplugs. Our honorable commitment to exceeding your expectations and delivering an excellent outcome is what sets us apart from the competition. Call us today at 716-839-3939 to find out how we can help you! We can be reached 24 hours per day and 7 days per week.

Service members already face a heightened risk of hearing damage. These troops trusted their military-issued earplugs to protect their hearing. However, instead of protecting their hearing, 3M’s defective earplugs only compounded levels of hearing damage. The types of injuries that were caused by the faulty earplugs include:

1. Hearing loss: Hearing loss occurs when a victim suffers a reduction in their ability to hear. Hearing loss can be partial, full or permanent. The condition may affect a individual’s entire life, making it difficult to understand conversations, participate in social interactions or hear every day sounds. The 3 basic types of hearing loss include conductive, sensorineural and mixed hearing loss.
2. Tinnitus: Tinnitus is a neurological and auditory disorder characterized by a buzzing, ringing, and/or hissing sound in the person’s ears, even when no external sounds exist. The condition often results from either continuous sound exposure or a single impulse sound and makes it difficult to hear ordinary conversations from just a few feet away. According to the American Tinnitus Association, the number one service-related disability for veterans is tinnitus. In 2012 alone, there were almost 1 million Veterans Administration claims for tinnitus.
3. Mental health issues: Hearing impairment can have adverse impacts on the mental health and overall wellbeing of sufferers. According to the Hearing Health Foundation, among veterans suffering from tinnitus, 72 percent suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other anxiety issues, 60 percent had severe depression and 58 percent experienced both conditions.

Unfortunately, no cure exists for hearing loss or tinnitus. Hearing loss can be temporary or permanent, but is more likely to become permanent in cases where vital parts of the ear have sustained irreparable damage. While treatment greatly depends on the severity of your hearing loss, hearing aids, cochlear implants, surgical procedures and removing wax blockage are some common remedies.

Since tinnitus can be caused by various factors, such as hearing loss, medical experts may not be able to determine how long the condition will last. For some, tinnitus only gets worse and never goes away, while the condition only lasts a few days in other people. Doctors typically try to identify any underlying conditions that may be connected with your symptoms. Treatment may also involve using electronic devices such as white noise machines, masking devices and tinnitus retraining, to suppress the noise. Although medication cannot cure tinnitus, in some cases tricyclic antidepressants and/or alprazolam are prescribed to reduce the severity of symptoms.

If you, or a loved one, served in the U.S. military between 2003 and 2015 and suffered from hearing problems after using military issued earplugs, you should contact Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his top rated team of Buffalo, New York defective military earplug product injury lawyers at the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. to learn more about your legal rights. You may have a legal right to compensation for the hearing impairments and other health problems that you have suffered. We are dedicated and determined to get you the best possible result after your injuries in Buffalo, New York and throughout New York State. We can be reached 24 hours per day and 7 days per week at 716-839-3939. Call us today!

Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 716-839-3939 so that our aggressive, tenacious and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Buffalo, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!