Tennessee Hair Relaxer Cancer Lawyers

In recent years, a connection between chemical hair relaxers and certain types of cancer, such as ovarian and uterine cancer, has been found. The purpose of hair relaxers is to straighten extremely curly hair. However, the use of these products may lead to severe health complications due to the chemicals found within them.

If you used a chemical hair relaxer and later developed ovarian or uterine cancer, you may be eligible to seek compensation for your injury. At Hughes & Coleman Injury Lawyers, our team of experienced attorneys can assist you in holding the manufacturers of these products financially liable for the harm they caused you. Fill out our questionnaire to determine your eligibility and to learn more about how our Tennessee hair relaxer cancer attorneys can help.

What Are Chemical Hair Relaxers?

Chemical hair relaxers are products designed to straighten curly or coiled hair by breaking down the bonds in the hair. After the hair is straightened, the bonds reform, holding the hair in its straightened state.

While chemical hair relaxers have been around for decades, the potential dangers of exposure to the chemicals within them only recently came to light. Many of the ingredients found in hair relaxers are strong enough to cause lasting damage to your hair and scalp, and now there’s evidence pointing to a link between these chemicals and various types of cancer.

Chemical Hair Relaxers Linked to Cancers

The long-term use of chemical hair relaxers can lead to increased risks of certain cancers and other conditions, raising significant concerns about their safety. Some of the conditions linked to hair relaxers include:

Uterine Cancer – As the chemicals are absorbed through the scalp, they enter the bloodstream and can cause increased risks of cancer in the uterus. Women who use hair relaxers regularly are at higher risk than those who use them occasionally.
Ovarian Cancer – These chemicals can also cause cancer in the ovaries, which may be difficult to detect in the early stages. Because it can be hard to detect, ovarian cancer is the fifth most deadly cancer in women.
Uterine Fibroids – In addition to cancer, chemical relaxers may increase the risk of uterine fibroids, which are noncancerous growths in the uterus. These growths can cause severe pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, and other complications that can significantly impact a woman’s quality of life.

Defective Hair Relaxer Product Lawsuits

Consumers harmed by chemical hair relaxers may be eligible to file a mass tort defective product lawsuit against the manufacturers. In defective product lawsuits, you must prove that there was a defect in the design, manufacturing, or warning labels of a product that led to your injury:

Design Defects

These are fundamental flaws in the product’s design that make it dangerous to use. Hair relaxers that contain hazardous chemicals may fall under this element of a defective product lawsuit because the chemicals in the product are there by design.

Manufacturing Defects

These are flaws introduced into the product during manufacturing that make it dangerous to use. While not applicable to most hair relaxer lawsuits, an example of a manufacturing defect may be makeup that gets moldy due to moisture getting into the container during manufacturing.

Warning Defects

These defects occur when the manufacturer fails to warn users of the product’s hazards or how to use it safely. If hair relaxer manufacturers knew that the chemicals in their products could cause cancer, failing to warn consumers of this fact could make them liable due to a warning defect.

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Compensation Available to Hair Relaxer Injury Victims

If you developed cancer or another serious illness caused by the use of hair relaxers, you may be able to seek compensation for various losses, such as:

Medical Expenses – This compensation is for your past, present, and future medical bills related to your cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Lost Wages – This compensation is for the wages you lost because you could not work and the wages you will lose in the future to treat your condition.
Pain and Suffering – This compensation is for the physical pain and emotional suffering you experience due to your cancer diagnosis.
Permanent Disability – This compensation is for any permanent disability you suffered due to your injury, such as if you had to have a hysterectomy and can no longer have children.
Loss of Consortium – This compensation goes to your spouse and is for your injury’s impact on their romantic or sexual relationship with you.

How to Establish Eligibility for a Hair Relaxer Mass Tort Lawsuit

If you believe your use of hair relaxers caused you to suffer a health condition, you may be eligible to file a mass tort injury lawsuit against the manufacturers. To establish eligibility to file a hair relaxer lawsuit in Tennessee, you will need the following evidence:

Documented Use of Hair Relaxers

You must have proof that you used a hair relaxer, which can come in the form of receipts, photographs, or witness statements showing your use of the product. The more detailed your documentation, the better.

Cancer Diagnosis

You must have an official diagnosis of a related condition, such as ovarian or uterine cancer. This may come from your medical records.

Cancer Treatment Records

You must have records of your treatment for your condition, which can also come from your medical records or statements from your treating doctor.

Financial Records

You must have evidence that your condition or injury caused a financial loss. This means that you have medical bills related to treatment or lost wages due to your condition impacting your ability to work.

If you believe you are eligible to file a lawsuit for compensation for your condition, fill out our questionnaire to learn more about how the Hughes & Coleman team can assist you.

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