Houston, Texas AFFF Lawsuit Help Center

Firefighters, Service Members, Veterans, and Workers Deserve Clear Answers

Aqueous film-forming foam, which is generally known as AFFF, was used for many years in order to put out hazardous fires involving jet fuel, gasoline, oil, and other flammable liquids. Firefighters, members of the military, airport staff, industrial workers and others who were in or near Houston might have come into contact with the foam during emergencies, training exercises, equipment testing, maintenance and cleaning up.

Some of the older AFFF products contained PFAS chemicals which can stay in the environment and build up in the body over a period of time, and many of the people who handled the foam were never provided with clear information regarding those potential risks.

In the case of having been exposed to AFFF in Houston, in other parts of Texas, or while on military service and a serious illness having since been diagnosed, the situation could justify a legal review.

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AFFF Exposure in Houston and Across Texas

The individuals who used AFFF were usually engaged in tough and hazardous tasks, since they dealt with aircraft crashes, fuel fires, industrial emergencies, shipboard incidents, and training exercises designed for the purpose of protecting colleagues and the general public.

It is not certain that exposure was limited to the case of a big fire; contact might also have taken place when filling foam tanks, when testing the suppression systems, during vehicle maintenance, while cleaning the hangars or decks, when washing equipment, when handling contaminated gear, or when working in areas where AFFF was stored or repeatedly discharged.

It can be upsetting to find out that a product which was used to save lives might have caused some other kind of hazard. The AFFF Lawsuit Help Center offers individuals in Houston and in the rest of Texas clear information and a confidential means of looking into their legal options.

What Is AFFF?

AFFF is a foam formulation used to combat fires involving flammable liquids and works by spreading over the surface of the fuel to form a thin film that cools the fire, prevents oxygen from reaching it, suppresses the flammable vapors, and reduces the likelihood of the fire rekindling.

Some types of AFFF in the past included per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, which are known as PFAS. These man-made chemicals have the property of resisting heat, water, oil and natural degradation. The fact that they are so durable meant that they were useful in firefighting foam, but it has also caused many PFAS to remain in the environment and to stay in the human body for long periods.

PFOA and PFOS are the two PFAS that have been most extensively studied in relation to traditional AFFF. Although all foam products contain the same chemicals, their compositions have changed over time, and during a legal assessment, factors such as the type of product, the period for which it was used, the location of the work, and the individual's exposure history can all be important.

Where AFFF Exposure May Have Occurred Near Houston

Potential exposure locations in the Houston area may include:

· Municipal, county, and volunteer fire departments

· Fire academies and firefighter training grounds

· Commercial and general-aviation airports

· Aircraft rescue and firefighting facilities

· Military bases and National Guard installations

· Naval stations, ports, shipyards, and Coast Guard facilities

· Aircraft hangars and fuel-storage areas

· Refineries, fuel terminals, tank farms, and pipeline facilities

· Chemical plants and industrial properties

· Emergency-response and crash-response sites

· Areas with groundwater or drinking water affected by historical AFFF releases

Which People May Be Eligible for a Review of an AFFF Lawsuit in Houston?

A legal review may be appropriate for people who:

· Mixed, sprayed, handled, or cleaned up AFFF

· Participated in fuel-fire or aircraft-crash training exercises

· Responded to fires or spills involving fuel, oil, or other flammable liquids

· Tested, maintained, filled, drained, or repaired foam-delivery systems

· Worked around AFFF trucks, pumps, tanks, hoses, hangars, or fire-suppression equipment

· Cleaned foam residue from vehicles, protective gear, floors, flight decks, or hangar bays

· Experienced spills, leaks, or repeated discharges of AFFF in the workplace

· Drank water potentially affected by releases from a fire-training site, airport, military installation, or industrial property

· Later developed a serious medical condition being evaluated in AFFF litigation

The quantity, length, frequency, route taken, and timing can all make a difference; moreover, the individual's diagnosis, medical history, work history, military service, residence, and the relevant state law may also influence their potential eligibility.

Municipal and Volunteer Firefighters

Firefighters, both those on paid retainer and those who work voluntarily, in Houston and in nearby communities have probably come across AFFF as a result of emergencies, drills, equipment testing, foam-tank filling, vehicle maintenance, and cleaning operations.

Military Firefighters, Service Members, and Veterans

People currently serving in the military, members of the reserve forces, National Guard personnel, veterans, civilian firefighters with the Department of Defense, aviation crews, and crash-response team members may have worked with AFFF at military bases in Texas or elsewhere.

Airport and Aviation Workers

People such as aircraft rescue firefighters, airport staff, mechanics, contractors, fuel handlers, and training crews might have worked near foam trucks, hangar systems, storage tanks, or AFFF training areas.

Industrial, Refinery, and Petrochemical Workers

People and contract workers at refineries, fuel terminals, chemical plants, tank farms, manufacturing sites, and other such establishments might have come across AFFF systems designed for use in liquid-fuel fires.

Residents Exposed Through Contaminated Water

Individuals who resided or worked in areas where AFFF had in the past been used could have become exposed should PFAS have entered a local groundwater supply, a private well, or a public drinking-water supply. To determine whether contamination exists and its origin, reliable environmental and water-testing records must be used.

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There is no charge when asking for a review and you are under no obligation to file or to proceed.

Medical Conditions Being Evaluated in AFFF Claims

Research into the effects of PFAS on human health is still progressing. Federal health authorities have stated that there is evidence of an association between exposure to certain PFAS and some health effects, although they add that an association does not prove what caused an individual person's illness.

Medical conditions currently alleged in federal AFFF personal-injury proceedings include:

Kidney Cancer

There is evidence from federal health information of an association between exposure to PFOA and kidney cancer, and a legal review could take into account the individual's exposure history, diagnosis, treatment, the timing of events, and other possible risk factors.

Testicular Cancer

Testicular cancer has been looked at in connection with exposure to PFOA and is one of the injuries claimed in the AFFF lawsuits. The evidence and the legal proof needed must each be assessed individually. Certain plaintiffs who have sued over exposure to PFAS claim to have thyroid cancer. While a diagnosis by itself does not establish causation, it might justify a review if there is a significant exposure history.l exposure history.

 

What kind of compensation may be obtained?

When supported by the facts and the law, an AFFF personal-injury claim may seek compensation for:

· Medical bills and related out-of-pocket expenses

· Surgery, hospitalization, medication, rehabilitation, and ongoing care

· Future medical treatment reasonably connected to the claimed injury

· Lost income and reduced earning ability

· Pain, suffering, and emotional distress

· Diminished quality of life

· A spouse's loss of companionship or support

· Funeral expenses and other wrongful-death damages

The amount of damages available under your state law will vary depending on the particular circumstances. It is impossible to promise any outcome, settlement, ruling, or sum of compensation.