If you are exposed to AFFF and suffer an illness, you could qualify for compensation. The party that is responsible for not disclosing the precarious state of AFFF will be responsible for compensating you for the damage. Firefighting foams have been in use since the 1960s. However, they contain dangerous chemicals that cause various health complications. Therefore, if you believe that exposure to AFFF is the cause of cancer or any other illness you may have acquired, it is vital to know the proper steps to take to ensure you are compensated.
In many cases, firefighting foam victims don’t know the compensation they are eligible for. We hope this article will help you understand the payment you can get if exposed to AFFF. Continue reading to learn more.
*This is a collaborative post. Image Source.Â
*This is a collaborative post. Understanding Firefighting Foam
Aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), commonly known as firefighting foam, is utilized by firefighters to put out fires. This foam has been used for many years because of its effectiveness in extinguishing fires. Unfortunately, this foam contains dangerous chemicals that cause health issues to anyone exposed to them.
Chemicals, such as perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), have been the leading cause of complications. In that case, any firefighter exposed to AFFF and diagnosed with illnesses such as cancer is eligible for compensation. However, payment will depend on various things. It is crucial to ensure you have an advocate who will help you pursue compensation if you have been exposed to AFFF. The following are the types of payments you might be eligible for.
Types of Compensation in an AFFF Lawsuit
As mentioned earlier, the compensation you get will depend on various things. Therefore, depending on your case circumstances, you may be eligible for the following compensation.
- Economic Damages
If you are pursuing a firefighting foam class action lawsuit, you will likely recover economic damages. There is no cap to the economic damages. However, you need strong proof of liability to get compensated. It is crucial to have an attorney to help you calculate economic damages. They will include medical expenses and all other expenses you have incurred due to the contamination. Such include medical appointments, medication, diagnostic tests, chemotherapy, surgery, lab tests, etc. the compensation will also cover future medical and hospital expenses related to the illness.
The damages also cover loss of employment if you could not return to work after the exposure, lost wages, and income. You will also get compensation for vocational rehabilitation if it applies. However, you must know that proof is vital to get compensation. You will need medical records, a doctor’s statement, a copy of your medical bills, transportation cost, etc. These copies will serve as proof of your claim.
- Non-Economic Damages
It is also possible to recover non-economic damages, although they are not easy to assign an exact amount. Therefore, you will need an expert like an AFFF attorney to help you calculate non-economic damages. Such damages are also complicated when it comes to proving them in court. Furthermore, you might not get the compensation you deserve.
Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and emotional agony. The physical pain you suffer can ruin your quality of life, making it eligible for compensation. If your spousal relationship has also been ruined such that you can no longer receive affection, support, sexual relation, or companionship, you can also pursue compensation for loss of consortium. You may also suffer depression, PTSD, or anxiety following everything that happens after the exposure. In that case, you might get compensation for emotional suffering.
- Punitive Damages
You can be awarded punitive damages if the person at fault acted with negligence and malice and intentionally hurt you. Punitive damages recovery is meant to punish the person at fault to serve as an example and discourage others from such actions in the future. Therefore, if you can prove that your exposure was due to another person’s negligence, it is possible to get compensation for punitive damages.
AFFF exposure cases are different. Therefore, it is impossible to put a cap on the compensation you are worth. However, some factors like the severity of the illness, financial loss, and extent of exposure to chemicals will help you calculate the value. It is imperative to hire an experienced AFFF lawyer to help you file the documents and ensure you are fairly compensated. If you cannot reach a settlement, the attorney will help you through the court process and provide all the proof you need. So, don’t jeopardize your chance to get fair compensation. Work with a lawyer to recover the damages.
*Disclaimer – This is a collaborative post. This post has been pre-written.
