Baltimore 3M Defective Earplug Attorney

Baltimore Attorneys Pursuing Nationwide Lawsuits

As a member of the armed forces, loud noises from combat and vehicles around your service area were a part of your daily life. You may have worn earplugs to protect your hearing from these noises.  But if you used 3M’s Dual-Ended Combat Arms Earplugs, you may not have been properly protected.  Recent lawsuits have revealed that 3M knew that its dual-ended earplugs were defective and would not protect service members from hearing damage or tinnitus.

If you have sustained tinnitus or irreparable hearing loss after using these earplugs, you may also be entitled to seek compensation from 3M. Contact our office today to schedule a free consultation with our experienced attorney team to learn if you have a case.

Why Choose Murphy, Falcon & Murphy to Represent you?

You will need a personal injury attorney to assist you with your 3M defective earplug lawsuit, whether you reside locally in Baltimore or across the country.  Choose Murphy, Falcon, & Murphy. We are deeply involved in this litigation and can help you file your lawsuit and obtain just compensation.

At Murphy, Falcon, & Murphy, our clients value our unwavering commitment to their cases and our decades of experience in personal injury and products liability litigation.

  • At Murphy, Falcon, & Murphy, our attorneys are completely dedicated to our clients’ cases and needs. We will focus on helping you achieve the recovery you need, from your initial consultation to your final settlement.
  • Our firm operates on a contingency fee basis for maximum affordability. We understand that legal fees can be very expensive – that is why if we do not secure a recovery on your behalf, you do not pay any costs or fees.
  • We have assisted clients in Baltimore, the greater DC area, and all over the nation with their personal injury claims and lawsuits for over 70 years. Murphy, Falcon, & Murphy does not and will not hesitate to take on large corporations in the courtroom, including 3M.

Veterans Against 3M’s Defective Dual-Ended Earplugs

In 2019, hundreds of veterans began filing a wave of lawsuits against the manufacturing giant 3M over their patented Dual-Ended Combat Arms Earplugs. For over a decade, the company sold these earplugs—the only dual-ended earplugs used in the armed forces—for use by active duty members of the United States military. These earplugs were dangerous and defective products that have caused permanent injury to millions of service members and veterans.

3M marketed these earplugs as a way for military members to avoid carrying two sets of earplugs.  Worn in the closed position (olive or black end), the earplug was supposed to offer protection from all noise.  Worn in the open position (yellow end), the earplugs were supposed to significantly reduce loud impulse noises like gunfire or battlefield explosions, while still allowing the wearer to hear voice commands for footsteps.  The military believed that these earplugs would be valuable and convenient in the battlefield, and 3M supplied many troops with these products.

Defective Earplugs

However, the earplugs were defectively designed.  They could not fit deeply enough into the wearer’s ear canal to maintain a tight enough seal within service members’ ears.  This meant that the earplugs loosened with wear and let in the damaging sounds they were supposed to keep out.   Earplug wearers could not detect this loosening—instead, they reasonably believed that they were properly protected.

As a result of these earplugs’ defects and ineffectiveness, service members have suffered hearing loss, tinnitus, and a loss of balance. These consequences are likely permanent and will affect these service members for the rest of their lives.

Lawsuits Underway

Hundreds of service members are bringing lawsuits against 3M for its manufacture and sale of these defective earplugs so that they can obtain fair compensation for their injuries. These lawsuits allege that 3M designed the earplugs in a defective manner and failed to warn military members of the defect and provide proper instructions for use. According to the United States Department of Justice, 3M already agreed to pay the federal government $9.1 million to settle allegations that it sold these earplugs without disclosing the defects the product contained.

If you used 3M’s trademarked, Dual-Ended Combat Arms Earplugs between 2003 and 2015, you may be eligible for financial compensation. You can hold 3M accountable for your injuries and collect the compensation you deserve.

Who Can File a 3M Defective Dual-Ended Earplug Lawsuit?

If you have been diagnosed with tinnitus or hearing loss and used the Dual-Ended Combat Arms Earplugs while you were serving in the armed forces at any time from 2003-2015, you can file a 3M earplug lawsuit. If you are a family member of a person who served in the armed forces and suffered hearing loss, you may also be eligible to file a claim on behalf of your family member.

In particular, service members who were involved in conflict areas, experienced loud engine noises, or were around acute and sudden high-impact noises from explosions and weaponry are likely to have suffered tinnitus or hearing loss as a result of the defective 3M dual-ended earplugs.

Proving Your Claims in a 3M Defective Dual-Ended Earplug Lawsuit

When you and your attorney file a 3M defective earplug lawsuit, you will have to prove that 3M acted negligently and failed to provide a safe product. You can file a lawsuit for your losses based on one of three theories of recovery to prove your claim.

  • First, you can sue the company for negligence. You will have to prove that 3M failed to manufacture the earplugs in the same way that another reasonably prudent manufacturer would have. In addition, you will have to prove that 3M failed to use reasonable manufacturing measures or include reasonable warnings on its products to warn of certain dangers, such as hearing loss.
  • Next, you can sue 3M based on a breach of warranty. With the purchase of the earplugs, 3M provided certain express and implied warranties to the United States government that ensured the earplugs’ safety and quality. You will have to prove that 3M breached these express and implied warranties due to the unsafe nature of the earplugs.
  • Finally, you can file a lawsuit against 3M on the basis of strict liability. You will have to prove that the product was defective, and you do not necessarily have to prove that 3M acted negligently. You will need to prove that the earplugs were defective when they left the manufacturer and the earplugs were unreasonably dangerous. You will then have to prove that the earplugs’ defect led to your injuries and no one substantially changed the earplugs before you used them in the line of duty.

You can choose one or more of these theories of recovery to prove that 3M led to your injuries. You will have to prove evidence of the damages you suffered so you can receive compensation. Your attorney at Murphy, Falcon, & Murphy can assist you with collecting the pieces of evidence necessary to prove your 3M defective dual-ended earplug claim.

What Damages Can You Receive in a 3M Defective Dual-Ended Earplugs Lawsuit?

If you suffered injuries and any other losses as a result of the 3M Dual-Ended Combat Arms Earplugs, you can claim compensatory damages to help you recover from these injuries. You can claim both economic and noneconomic damages for your injuries, allowing you to compensate for both your out-of-pocket costs and pain and suffering.

In terms of economic damages, you can claim compensation for past and future medical expenses related to your hearing loss injuries. These expenses can include hospitalizations, surgeries, routine doctor’s appointments, hearing equipment, medication, and therapies. You can also receive compensation for the future cost of caring for your tinnitus and/or hearing loss.

Additional Damages You May Claim

Another unintended consequence of hearing loss is a diminished ability to work. If you lost wages because of your tinnitus or hearing loss, you can receive damages to make up for these lost wages. Your hearing loss may also diminish your future earning capacity and your ability to obtain employment – in these situations, you can claim compensation to recover your loss of future earning potential.

The emotional consequences of tinnitus and hearing loss may have a deep impact on your life moving forward, and you can claim compensation for these damages as well, including damages for emotional distress, mental anguish, and loss of quality of life.

Why Do You Need an Attorney for Your 3M Defective Dual-Ended Earplug Lawsuit?

If you suffer from tinnitus or hearing loss as a result of using 3M’s Dual-Ended Combat Arms Earplugs, you need an attorney on your side to assist you with your lawsuit.  Our attorneys have a wealth of resources and professional experts ready to assist with your case.

We will conduct a comprehensive investigation into your claim to craft a compelling case in your favor. In addition, we have decades of experience in personal injury and products liability litigation – our attorneys know how to effectively establish the necessary claims to secure a settlement on your behalf.

Choose Murphy, Falcon, & Murphy for Your 3M Defective Dual-Ended Earplug Lawsuit

Are you looking to join the litigation against 3M for their defective dual-ended earplugs? Have you suffered injuries and losses as a result of this defective product? Murphy, Falcon, & Murphy can assist you with your product liability lawsuit so you can receive compensatory damages to recover from your injuries. Our attorneys will gladly assist you throughout every step of your 3M lawsuit.

Schedule a Free Consultation Today

If you are ready to begin your 3M defective earplug claim, Murphy, Falcon, & Murphy headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland can help. Contact our office to schedule your free consultation. Even if you are not currently located in the Baltimore or Maryland area, we can help you. Murphy, Falcon & Murphy is pursuing nationwide lawsuits for victims. Call (410) 983-6266 today or complete a contact form online and someone from our firm will be in touch with you/