What is Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF)?
Aqueous Film Forming Foam, often called AFFF or firefighting foam, is a type of special foam used to extinguish liquid-based fires. It has been used by civilian firefighters since the 1960s and by the Department of Defense since the 1970s. It is commonly used in training and emergency response events at airports, shipyards, military bases, chemical plants, and refineries because of its ability to effectively smother jet fuel and petroleum fires.
Though effective, AFFF contains dangerous chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that have been linked to harmful health effects, including various cancers.
According to the CDC, most people in the U.S. are exposed to some PFAS, as it can be found in a range of consumer products and in our water, soil, air, and food. However, some people may be at higher risk for experiencing health effects due to the level of their exposure and other factors. This includes people who work with PFAS-based firefighting foam or live near facilities that make AFFF, such as:
- Private and public firefighters
- Firefighters and emergency response workers stationed at airports
- Military servicemembers and military firefighters
- Industrial and chemical manufacturing workers
- Individuals who live near facilities that manufacture or test PFAS-based firefighting foam
While firefighter foam lawsuits are commonly brought by firefighters and chemical manufacturing workers who regularly used or produced PFAS-based firefighting foam, many claims have also been brought by individuals exposed to AFFF through other means.
Most commonly, these include military servicemembers who used firefighting foams in training and active duty, airport workers, and civilians who lived near military bases, airports, and industrial sites where AFFF products were used.
Health Conditions Linked to AFFF
Current research has shown that exposure to PFAS chemicals found in firefighting foams may lead to various adverse health outcomes. Some examples include:
- Reproductive harm, decreased fertility, high blood pressure in pregnant women
- Development delays in children, including low birth weight and behavioral changes
- Increased risks of cancers, including prostate, kidney, and testicular cancer
- Weakened immune systems, increased susceptibility to infections
- Thyroid disease, increased cholesterol, and risks of obesity
- Ulcerative colitis
Firefighters, industrial workers, and others regularly exposed to PFAS-based firefighting foam have reported many different types of cancers and illnesses, including:
- Kidney cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Testicular cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Bladder cancer
- Liver cancer
- Thyroid cancer and disease
- Ulcerative colitis
- Uterine or endometrial cancer
AFFF Litigation
As more information about the risks associated with AFFF exposure have come to light, a growing number of victims and families across the country have stepped forward to file lawsuits against companies like DuPont and 3M, the largest manufacturers of these products.
Many of these claims have been consolidated into multi-district litigation (MDL), a special court process in which many claims involving the same issue are consolidated before a single court. MDLs help expedite the processing of lawsuits and, unlike class actions, allow plaintiffs to retain their individual claims and recover compensation commensurate with their damages.
Our team at Briggle & Polan, PLLC can help you understand your options when it comes to filing a firefighting foam lawsuit and how we can guide you through the process.
Do I Have a Firefighting Foam Cancer Claim?
You may have grounds to pursue a civil AFFF lawsuit if:
- You were exposed to PFAS-based firefighting foam as a firefighter, industrial or chemical manufacturing worker, military servicemember, or through other ways; and
- You were diagnosed with cancer or experienced another adverse health condition. or
- You’re loved one died from cancer or another health condition caused by AFFF exposure.
At Briggle & Polan, PLLC, we focus exclusively on representing victims and families in personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits. Because your ability to file a claim for cancer or other conditions caused by AFFF exposure depends on specific facts and circumstances, we can help you learn more about your eligibility after reviewing your situation.
How Briggle & Polan, PLLC Can Help With Your Firefighter Foam Lawsuit
Briggle & Polan, PLLC is a nationally recognized trial practice that has recovered millions of dollars in compensation for victims across Texas and the U.S. Backed by award-winning attorneys, we have the experience and resources to help firefighters, industrial workers, and their families fight back against powerful corporations and position themselves for the maximum recovery possible.
When you work with Briggle & Polan, PLLC, you’ll have experienced support through every step of the process, including help with:
- Evaluating your eligibility to file an AFFF lawsuit
- Evidence gathering to prove your exposure to PFAS-based foam
- Collaborating with medical experts who can provide testimony about your condition
- Timely filing of claims and any necessary legal documents
- Settlement negotiations or, when necessary, litigation at trial
While firefighter foam lawsuits are complex claims, our team has what it takes to help victims in the fight for justice. If you have questions about a potential case or how we can help, we encourage you to reach out to our team for a FREE consultation.
Recoverable Damages in AFFF Injury Lawsuits
If you were diagnosed with cancer or another condition because of exposure to PFAS-based firefighting foam, a civil lawsuit can help you recover financial compensation for your damages. This can include:
- Past medical expenses
- Future medical needs and treatments
- Past and future lost income
- Pain and suffering
- Other economic and non-economic losses
In cases where families have lost a loved one to cancers caused by AFFF exposure, wrongful death and survival actions can provide compensation for other types of losses, including:
- Medical expenses incurred prior to death
- Lost income prior to death
- Pain and suffering of the decedent
- Emotional losses suffered by family members
- Loss of consortium
- Lost financial support
- Funeral and burial expenses
Our attorneys understand the devastating consequences of cancer diagnoses and other serious health conditions linked to AFFF exposure. That’s why we leverage our experience and professional connections with medical experts, financial experts, and other expert witnesses to fight for the maximum compensation possible.
