3M Earplug Lawsuit Lawyer

Earplugs themselves do not cause damage to hearing on their own. If they are used to protect hearing and they are defective, then that’s a different issue all together.

What earplugs do, and are meant to do, is to dull and filter out noises that are loud enough to cause damage to the fragile inner ear anatomy. They protect the ear so they don’t have to take on more than the allowable amount of noise to cause damage.

Tinnitus is commonly described as a sensation in the ears that could sound like ringing, hissing, clicking, buzzing, or another noise in one or both the ears. People that are affected with this condition hear the sound in their own way, so it tends to be very individual to each person.

What makes tinnitus interesting is that it is not caused by an external sound… other people can’t hear it. The sound comes completely from within one’s own head or ears.

So is it a real sound?

To the person suffering from tinnitus, it is not only very real, but can also be very difficult to live with. And the worst part about tinnitus is that it is permanent. There is no cure at this time, although there are a few tricks available to help mask the sound and offer some relief.

About 10% to 15% of the population have experienced some level of tinnitus. But what causes tinnitus?

Tinnitus can be caused from an underlying condition such as an ear injury, natural aging, or even a circulatory issue.

Tinnitus affects everyone differently. The noise tends to vary from person to person, not only because of what it sounds like, but also in how loud it is. For some, it is constantly present and for others, it comes and goes. Some people would consider tinnitus to be an annoyance, while others would say that it is debilitating.

As a safety device, one would expect that earplugs would always be safe to use. And for the most part, they are. But just like everything else, there are some potential side effects to using them.

If earplugs are used improperly or if they are defective, they can cause more harm to one’s hearing than good.

Unfortunately, earplugs can make tinnitus worse if they are used improperly or over-used. Another possibility is that earplugs can push wax farther into the ear canal, which causes an overabundance of ear wax impacted deep in the ear. This is also a common reason for hearing difficulties, changes, or tinnitus.

For the people that suffer from tinnitus regularly, depending upon the severity, day-to-day can be hugely affected. It can cause sleep issues because the noise doesn’t stop when it is bedtime. It can cause anxiety or concentration issues. At its most severe, tinnitus can even cause depression or suicidal thoughts.

When you think about it, it really does make sense why tinnitus would cause such serious issues. For most people who hear the normal amount of noise, it’s really impossible to understand. But consider this… what if you constantly heard noise in your ears? What if it was an unpleasant noise? Would it bother you?

The 3M Military Dual-Ended Combat Arms Earplugs were found to be too short in design to adequately protect someone from damage to their hearing. This design flaw also contributed to permanent damage to the nerves and hair follicles of the inner ear.

The 3M military lawsuit is hot news right now, and rightfully so. Almost 300,000 United States military personnel are currently in the process of suing 3M over defective earplugs, which caused severe hearing impairment, tinnitus, or even deafness.

The product under fire is the dual-ended 3M Combat Arms earplugs. The lawsuit claims that the earplugs were defective and not sealed adequately to protect a soldier’s hearing. Because of the design flaw, hundreds of thousands of soldiers and personnel were subjected to an unsafe level of noise while working for the government.

As always, compensation depends upon the individual circumstances for the 3M Earplug Lawsuit. At this point in time, the settlement amount will likely be between $5,000 and $250,000, depending upon the unique facts with each case and the severity of the injury.

Having the right lawyer in your corner can make the difference in what kind of compensation you can receive for dealing with severe hearing issues caused by the lack of disclosure. We are available for a 100% free consultation to discuss your case. Give us a call!