Finance

Average AFFF Settlement: What Victims Are Receiving

The average AFFF settlement is expected to fall between $20,000 and $600,000, depending on the severity of health conditions and the strength of evidence in each case. Some lawsuits involving aggressive cancers such as kidney or pancreatic cancer may result in payouts as high as $500,000 or more, while smaller claims involving weaker links to AFFF exposure may be valued at under $75,000.

Many victims want to understand the AFFF lawsuit settlement amount, how they are decided, and what progress has been made in ongoing lawsuits. To get clear answers, let’s break this down step by step.

In lawsuits like this, money is meant to cover medical bills, long-term care, loss of wages, property damage, and emotional suffering. These cases are not simple, and no two settlements will be the same.

Lawyers, judges, and juries examine the details of each person’s exposure and health condition before determining a dollar amount.

What Is AFFF and Why Are People Suing?

AFFF stands for aqueous film-forming foam. It has been used since the 1960s to fight fires fueled by gasoline, jet fuel, and other flammable liquids. It works by spreading a film across the fire, smothering it, and preventing it from reigniting.

The problem comes from one of its ingredients: PFAS. PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. These are chemicals often called “forever chemicals” because they do not break down in the environment or the human body. Once PFAS enters water, soil, or the bloodstream, it tends to stay there for decades.

Over the years, PFAS contamination has built up in areas where AFFF was used the most, such as military bases, airports, and firefighter training sites. People exposed to AFFF through direct contact or contaminated drinking water have reported higher risks of serious illnesses.

This connection between AFFF and health issues is the main reason for the thousands of lawsuits filed against manufacturers of firefighting foam.

What Health Problems Are Linked to AFFF Exposure?

Medical research shows that PFAS exposure can cause several health problems. The strongest evidence links it to kidney cancer and testicular cancer, but other conditions have also been reported, including:

Pancreatic cancer
Liver cancer
Thyroid disease
Ulcerative colitis
Immune system problems

The reason these health effects are so concerning is that PFAS chemicals accumulate in the blood and organs over time. Even small exposures, repeated often, can build up and increase the risk of serious disease years later.

For victims, this means proving both exposure and the connection to their illness is key when seeking compensation.

How Much Are Victims Expected to Receive?

Since no final payouts have been made for personal injury claims yet, lawyers and judges rely on projections from past toxic exposure cases. Here’s how the ranges look:

Tier 1 – Higher Compensation

These are the most serious cases, usually involving aggressive cancers like kidney or pancreatic cancer. Settlement amounts are expected to range from $200,000 to $500,000.

Tier 2 – Moderate Compensation

These cases involve victims with health problems such as cancer, but conditions may be somewhat less severe or life-threatening than Tier 1. Settlements are expected between $150,000 and $280,000.

Tier 3 – Lower Compensation

These cases involve less serious or less clearly linked health conditions. For example, a person may have a cancer diagnosis, but medical evidence may not strongly connect it to PFAS. Tier 3 cases may settle for $20,000 to $75,000.

You must keep in mind that these numbers are not guarantees. They are projections based on similar cases, the nature of injuries, and the financial damages claimed.

Actual amounts will be shaped by ongoing bellwether trials in the AFFF multidistrict litigation (MDL).

What Should Victims Expect in the Coming Years?

As of 2025, over 11,000 AFFF lawsuits are pending in federal court. This makes it one of the largest toxic exposure cases in history. Because of the size of the litigation, a global settlement is expected soon, possibly after the first few bellwether trials.

For victims, this means patience is required. It also means hiring an experienced attorney is critical. Lawyers who specialize in AFFF cases know how to gather medical records, exposure history, and expert testimony to build a strong case.

Even though projected settlement amounts give a rough picture, no one can predict exact payouts until bellwether trials conclude and settlement negotiations move forward.