Manufacturers of chemical hair relaxers have come under fire for a recent study that has unveiled the dangerous effects the consistent use of these products can cause. Women who use hair relaxers at least four times a year can expose themselves to uterine cancer risk due to the carcinogens found in hair relaxers. Those affected by uterine cancer have filed product liability lawsuits to pursue compensation for damages.
If you have uterine cancer due to the use of hair relaxers, you could file a hair relaxer lawsuit to seek compensation for damages like medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Filing a hair relaxer lawsuit as soon as possible can help get the process moving and put you in a position to potentially recover damages as soon as possible. Contact an experienced product liability lawyer to learn about your options for pursuing hair relaxer damages.
Chemical Hair Relaxer Use Connected to Uterine Cancer
The crux of recent hair relaxer lawsuits is a study by the National Institute of Health (NIH) that revealed the connection between consistent hair relaxer use and uterine cancer. The NIH study collected data from a larger study, the Sister Study, to examine the hair care habits of women ages 35-74 and what impact hair care products had on their health. The National Institute of Health researchers discovered that women who used hair relaxers at least four times a year had double the risk of developing uterine cancer than those women who did not.
Their research identified the endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) used in hair relaxers as the potential cause of uterine cancer. These chemicals are carcinogenic and can seep into the body through scalp absorption. The researchers also identified black women as having a higher risk of developing uterine cancer from hair relaxer use because they are the main demographic that uses the products.
What is Uterine Cancer?
Uterine cancer is a form of cancer that begins with the harmful mutation of cells in the uterus. The two most common forms of uterine cancer are endometrial cancer, which develops in the inner lining of the uterus (endometrium), and uterine sarcoma, which develops in the muscle wall of the uterus (myometrium).
Some of the symptoms associated with uterine cancer include abnormal vaginal bleeding, lower abdominal pain, cramping in the pelvis, or thin white or clear vaginal discharge. The disease can cause significant pain and suffering that can negatively alter your quality of life and result in significant medical expenses. This is why many women have filed product liability lawsuits seeking compensation for hair relaxer uterine cancer damages.
When Should You File a Hair Relaxer Lawsuit?
The process of a product liability lawsuit can take a while as you and your lawyer collect evidence, determine your legal counsel plan, negotiate with the at-fault party’s insurer, and possibly go to court. For that reason, you should file your hair relaxer lawsuit as soon as you can. Beginning the process early will allow you to recover compensation for damages earlier, as long as your lawsuit is successful. You also must file your hair relaxer lawsuit in the time frame of your state’s statute of limitations.
The Deadline to File Hair Relaxer Lawsuits
There is no easy answer to the question of how long you may have to file a hair relaxer lawsuit. Each state has its own laws regarding how long you have to file a product liability lawsuit. For example, the statute of limitations for product liability lawsuits in Florida is four years from the state of the injury or two years from the date of wrongful death. Consult a product liability lawyer from your state to determine how long you have to file your hair relaxer lawsuit.
What is the Status of Hair Relaxer Lawsuits?
There has been a motion to have all hair relaxer lawsuits consolidated and litigated before one judge, which would promote consistent discovery and increase the chances of a global settlement. These lawsuits include ones filed against hair relaxer manufacturers like L’Oreal and Softsheen-Carson, whose hair-relaxing products like Dark & Lovely, Just for Me, and Optimum have caused uterine cancer. The Judicial Panel for Multi-District Litigation (JPML) will hear oral arguments on January 26th, 2023, and decide whether hair relaxer lawsuit consolidation will happen.
Damages in a Hair Relaxer Lawsuit
Women who have been diagnosed with uterine cancer from hair relaxer use can experience financial losses and negative effects on their quality of life. They can seek damages to reimburse them for their financial losses in the form of economic damages, such as medical bills, lost wages, and lost earning potential. They can also seek non-economic damages for intangible losses, such as pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and mental anguish, for how your standard of living was affected. A product liability lawyer can help you calculate your hair relaxer lawsuit value.
The following are some of the damages caused by uterine cancer from hair relaxers:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Lost earning potential
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Mental anguish
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of society
How Can a Product Liability Lawyer Help With a Hair Relaxer Lawsuit?
Hiring a product liability lawyer can help with the process of your hair relaxer lawsuit. They will have specific knowledge about what steps to take and how to handle these steps in a way to set you up for success. They will also know what is going on with hair relaxer lawsuit consolidation and will be able to help you get involved should consolidation happen.
The following are some of the other ways a product liability lawyer can help you with your hair relaxer lawsuit:
- Explain your rights
- Calculate your current and future damages
- Determine who the at-fault party is
- Send the demand letter to the at-fault party and their insurer
- Develop a hair relaxer uterine cancer lawsuit legal strategy
- Help find medical providers willing to provide medical treatment for a lien while the lawsuit is underway
- Collect evidence to prove you suffered uterine cancer from hair relaxer use
- Find expert witnesses
- Negotiate with the at-fault party’s insurance company
- Represent your interests if hair relaxer lawsuits are consolidated
Contact Dolman Law Group for Help With Your Hair Relaxer Lawsuit
Dolman Law Group is a personal injury firm that has extensive experience helping victims of unsafe products with seeking compensation through product liability lawsuits. Our product liability lawyers can use their experience to help prove the at-fault party’s liability and put you in a position to recover fair compensation for your current and future damages. Allow our experienced product liability lawyers to help you file a hair relaxer lawsuit and get involved in any future hair relaxer lawsuit consolidation.