AFFF Lawsuit Settlement Amounts: What to Expect in 2025

AFFF Lawsuit Payouts & Settlements

Affected communities and individuals have initiated lawsuits and legal actions against AFFF manufacturers and users. Settlement amounts refer to the monetary compensation awarded to plaintiffs or affected parties. These payouts represent the negotiated or court-determined sum that aims to cover various losses, including cleanup costs, medical expenses, property devaluation, and other damages suffered due to AFFF contamination. For those exposed to PFAS chemicals, as in AFFF cases, payouts can vary significantly, with compensation depending on each case's unique circumstances.

How Much Compensation Will I Get if Exposed to AFFF?

AFFF lawsuits divide compensation into tiers:

• Tier 1 (Higher Compensation): Estimated payouts range from $200,000 to $500,000 for individuals with severe medical conditions due to AFFF exposure.
• Tier 2 (Moderate Compensation): The estimated value for Tier 2 cases likely falls between $150,000 and $280,000. These cases involve individuals who experienced health problems linked to AFFF exposure but may not have suffered as severely as Tier 1 plaintiffs.
• Tier 3 (Lower Compensation): Tier 3 cases involve settlement payouts of $75,000 or less. These cases typically cover individuals with less severe health issues or minor health concerns related to AFFF exposure.

Factors Affecting AFFF Lawsuit Settlement Amounts

Your settlement tier depends on the extent of your illness or injuries from AFFF. Some factors that help determine that include:

• Contamination levels: Health impacts often align with high contamination. Those exposed most to AFFF usually show worse health outcomes.
• Health impacts: Prolonged exposure to the forever chemicals in AFFFs often causes cancer. Other AFFF health conditions include ulcers, immune suppression and high cholesterol.
• Environmental damage: Entities and agencies filing for relief may seek compensation for environmental damage and loss.
• Economic loss: Victims of AFFF may no longer be able to work or incur high medical bills. Compensation from the AFFF class action lawsuits can reimburse these expenses.
• Legal bills: Many attorneys represent victims of chemical exposure on contingency, meaning their fees are a percentage of the victim’s damage award. Settlement negotiations can consider these costs.

What Types of Damages Can I Claim?

Damages refer to the impacts you suffered due to AFFF exposure. They can be economic, like medical expenses or lost wages, or noneconomic, which includes pain and suffering. Attorneys (or their experts) assign a monetary value to damages to pursue settlement negotiations.

Damages include:

• Medical expenses: Costs of all medical treatment, including chemotherapy, surgery, doctor visits, prescription medication, and anything else needed to manage a serious illness.
• Lost wages: Serious illness causes people to stop working. Lawsuits may compensate for these lost wages or earning potential. If the victim dies, settlements can also include future support for family members.
• Pain and suffering: Pain and suffering is a broad term covering all the various emotional or psychological issues associated with AFFF exposure, including depression, the pain or discomfort of surgeries/chemotherapy, and more.
• Loss of enjoyment of life: Many health issues associated with AFFF exposure diminish the quality of your life. For example, pregnancy issues caused by PFAS may leave you unable to achieve your life goal of starting a family.
• Loss of consortium: If you lose a spouse or significant other due to an AFFF illness, you can sue for loss of consortium, which compensates you for your grief and lost companion. 
• Funeral costs: Families pursuing a claim for a dead loved one can request damages that cover burial or cremation.

Health Risks Associated with AFFF Exposure

AFFF contains the dangerous “forever chemicals” per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). If you were exposed to these chemicals, you may experience serious health issues, including cancer and immune system problems.

PFAS in AFFF can accumulate in your blood over time, meaning if you were exposed repeatedly and over a long period at work, your health is more likely to be impacted. According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, repeated exposure to PFAS can cause an increased risk of developing kidney and testicular cancer, thyroid disorders, liver damage and fertility problems.

AFFF contamination may also affect groundwater and drinking water supplies, leading to health risks for those living in affected communities. Symptoms of AFF exposure can include respiratory problems, headaches and skin irritation.

Settlement Amounts for AFFF Firefoam Lawsuits

So far, no settlement amounts are publicly available. Many corporations require victims to sign nondisclosure agreements, so other victims don’t expect the same amount. If a global settlement pays victims by the tiers listed above, there will likely be a public announcement of that amount.

Rising Trends in AFFF Lawsuits Over Time

Over recent years, the number of new AFFF cases has shown a consistent and significant upward trend. In 2022, filings were relatively low but peaked mid-year before dropping toward the end. In 2023, there was a noticeable rise, particularly in the first half, with consistent growth through the summer, culminating in a huge number of 959 cases in July.

The most dramatic increase occurred in 2024, with filings reaching record highs during spring and summer. These trends suggest growing public awareness of AFFF risks and stronger legal momentum driving more individuals to pursue claims.

When will AFFF Lawsuits be Settled?

A settlement depends on when you file your case and the court calendar. It can be nearly impossible to guess when a case will settle. However, current developments in the AFFF multi-district litigation (MDL) give some guidance. These lawsuits involved firefights exposed to AFFF. In 2021, they became part of an MDL in the District of South Carolina. Some claims settled out of court, and others remain pending.

A status conference on September 13, 2024, will indicate whether the court schedules a bellwether trial or starts assembling a global settlement. Attorneys for the litigants are optimistic that the manufacturers would settle the claims instead of risking costly trials.

So, it is likely that trials or settlements will arise in 2025, about four years after the MDL started. Developments in the MDL are likely to happen fast, so check lawsuit updates frequently.

AFFF Lawsuit Settlement Timeline and Projections

Cases involving exposure to toxic materials can take years to resolve, as they can involve assessing complex evidence and large-scale national investigations. Projections for AFFF lawsuits suggest that plaintiffs may expect to see the first settlements in 2025, as defendants in such cases typically prefer settlement to drawn-out legal battles.

If your health is affected by AFFF exposure, consulting an attorney now can help you clarify your options and take the necessary steps for pursuing compensation.

Are You Eligible to Bring an AFFF Fire Fighting Lawsuit?

If you are a firefighter or service member, for example in the Navy, who used AFFF and developed cancer, you may have a claim against AFFF manufacturers. You must prove your past employment and exposure to AFFF, then provide medical evidence of your illness or injury.

Fortunately, you do not have to manage this ordeal alone. ConsumerShield has a network of attorneys that can help you file an AFFF. Start with a free case review and enforce your legal rights to just compensation.

Eligibility Criteria for Filing an AFFF Lawsuit

To qualify for an AFFF lawsuit, you must fulfill specific eligibility criteria. Typically, this includes evidence of direct exposure to AFFF, such as through your work as a firefighter or military personnel. In addition, you must have been diagnosed with a related illness or health condition, such as kidney cancer, testicular cancer or another health issue linked to AFFF. Evidence of exposure and a related diagnosis are crucial for qualifying.

Not sure whether you qualify for an AFFF lawsuit? Find out now and take ConsumerShield’s quick eligibility survey. Our easy-to-follow survey helps confirm whether you meet the eligibility criteria to join a lawsuit.