Over the decades, millions of people have used hair relaxers to straighten their hair. However, emerging research shows that many hair relaxers contain dangerous chemicals that can cause cancer. In recent years, many people have started stepping forward with harrowing stories of the negative health effects of using hair relaxers, as well as taking legal action to hold the companies that make these dangerous products accountable.
The products liability lawyers at Marks & Harrison have joined the fight for justice and accountability. If you believe you developed cancer or another serious illness as a result of using hair relaxers, our legal team is ready to help you pursue the full and fair compensation you deserve. For over a century, our firm has advocated for the rights of injury victims throughout Virginia and beyond. Let us put our decades of experience to work for you.
Contact us today to discuss your legal rights and options in a free, no-obligation consultation with an experienced products liability attorney in Virginia. Read on to learn more about emerging research and lawsuits regarding cancerous hair relaxers.
What Are the Risks of Using Hair Relaxers?
A growing body of research shows that hair relaxers and similar products can be seriously detrimental to consumer health. The negative health effects associated with these products are most prevalent among women, especially women of color.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently published a study examining possible links between using hair relaxers and an increased risk of developing uterine cancer. Over 33,000 individuals aged 35-74 participated in the study. Further, about 60 percent were self-identified black women.
The report concluded that only 1.64 percent of women who never use hair straighteners develop uterine cancer by age 70. By contrast, an estimated 4.05 percent of women who frequently use hair relaxers develop uterine cancer by the same age. In other words, repetitive use of hair relaxers more than doubles the risk of developing uterine cancer.
Sadly, uterine cancer is not the only negative consequence of repetitively applying relaxers to your hair and scalp. Recent research also shows an increased risk of breast cancer among women who use hair relaxers containing lye. Another study found that chemicals used in many hair relaxers can also be corrosive to the skin.
Can I Sue for Products Liability If I Was Harmed by Hair Relaxers?
Yes. When manufactures and distributors put dangerous products on the market without adequate warning, injured consumers can bring a products liability lawsuit seeking compensation for the harm they suffer as a result. Because so many women appear to have developed cancer and other illnesses from using hair relaxers, their cases are often filed as class actions, allowing multiple plaintiffs to sue one defendant.
Further, in many cases, multiple defendants are simultaneously sued. For example, one plaintiff sued L’Oréal (the largest cosmetics company in the world), SoftSheen Carson, Strength of Nature, Dabur, and Namaste Laboratories for distributing dangerous hair relaxers. She alleges that “the companies knew, or should have known, that their products increased the risk of cancer but manufactured and distributed them anyway, while giving no warning to consumers that they carried such risks.”
No matter how your case is filed, the ensuing litigation is likely to be very complex, and it is essential that you work with a skilled legal team equipped to tackle powerful defendants. At Marks & Harrison, we have been defending the rights of injury victims since 1911. In that time, we have built up the experience and resources to take on even the most complex cases and combative defendants. We are ready to fight for you.
What Companies and Products are Involved in the New Hair Relaxer Lawsuits?
Many major cosmetics companies have been named as defendants in hair relaxer lawsuits in recent years. As time goes by, more names and products will likely be added to the list. Currently, some of the specific products named in lawsuits include:
- Optimum by L’Oréal
- Dark and Lovely by L’Oréal
- Olive Oil Girls by Namaste Laboratories
- Organic Root Stimulator by Namaste Laboratories
- Soft & Beautiful by Strength of Nature
- Motions by Strength of Nature
- TCB Naturals by Strength of Nature
- Just For Me by Strength of Nature
How Do I Know If I Qualify for a Hair Relaxer Lawsuit?
To bring a solid hair relaxer lawsuit, you must have regularly used hair straightening chemicals for several years or longer. Further, you must have been diagnosed with uterine cancer, breast cancer, uterine fibroids, or another severe illness that can be linked to the product.
Both the medical and legal details of these cases can be extremely complex and require the attention of a skilled attorney. Even if you are unsure about your case, do not hesitate to consult with an experienced products liability lawyer. Contact us today to discuss the possibility of filing a lawsuit on your behalf.
Is There a Deadline for Filing a Products Liability Lawsuit in Virginia?
Yes. In Virginia, injured victims normally have two years from the date of injury to file a products liability lawsuit. Importantly in cases involving “latent” illnesses that only appear over time, such as uterine cancer caused by hair relaxers, the countdown may be paused until the negative health consequences were or should have been discovered.
However, because failure to file before the strictly enforced deadline nearly always results in your case being dismissed in court, it is essential that you consult with an attorney as soon as possible. It will take time to investigate your case and build a solid claim. Therefore, the sooner you speak to an attorney, the sooner they can get you started on the road to compensation.
Contact a Virginia Hair Relaxer Lawsuit Lawyer Today
In recent years, new research has emerged linking hair relaxers to various serious health consequences, including uterine cancer. Impacted individuals may be able to recover significant compensation from the manufacturers and distributors of these dangerous products. However, their path toward compensation will likely be filled with obstacles, and it is essential that they work with a skilled legal team with the resources and experience necessary to handle these complicated cases.
At Marks & Harrison, we have been fighting for the rights of injury victims for over a century. We are ready to handle even the most complicated products liability cases from start to finish. Do not wait to contact us today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with an experienced products liability attorney near you. We are here to help.
