By Adam W. Pittman on January 20, 2024
Paraquat, also called paraquat dichloride, is a common herbicide in the United States. Each year, farms use millions of pounds on commercial crops. While the product is effective in killing weeds, many studies released in recent years show that paraquat exposure is dangerous.
One of the diseases that has affected people exposed to paraquat is Parkinson’s disease. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s, learn more about paraquat lawsuits below. You could be entitled to compensation if you can prove that paraquat exposure caused your Parkinson’s. Consult a experienced paraquat lawsuit attorney for legal assistance in your case.
How Our Paraquat Lawsuit Law Firm Could Help You
If you were diagnosed with Parkinson’s after possibleparaquat exposure, you can file a lawsuit for damages against the company that made the product.
Some of the things that our law firm can do in your case is show:
- That the manufacturer or retailer did not sufficiently research the connection between paraquat and Parkinson’s
- That the company did not warn the public about the Parkinson’s risks associated with paraquat exposure
- That the company needed to ensure that farmers had enough protection from paraquat exposure
- That the company did not consider the long-term health effects of people exposed to paraquat
Your paraquat lawsuit attorney may also try to prove that paraquat’s safety was misrepresented for many years and that entities disregarded possible health risks of the herbicide.
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What Is Paraquat?
Paraquat is a type of weed pesticide only available for commercial use because it is highly toxic. Agricultural workers and farmers are at the highest risk of exposure. This herbicide has been linked to negative health effects, one of which is Parkinson’s disease.
The United Parkinson’s Advocacy Council states that there is strong evidence that long-term exposure to paraquat can boost your chances of contracting Parkinson’s disease by 200 percent to 400 percent. At this time, paraquat use is unlawful in dozens of countries across the globe, including China and the European Union. But it has still not been banned in the US.
Paraquat use in the United States is only rising. The EPA reports that paraquat is still one of the U.S.’s most commonly used weed killers, with 11 million pounds sprayed on crops annually.
Many herbicides in the US may contain paraquat including:
- Devour
- Blanco
- Gramoxone
- Firestorm
- Bonedry
- Para-Shot
- Ortho-Paraquat
While paraquat is an effective herbicide, it is very toxic and dangerous. The American Council on Science and Health reports that a deadly dose of paraquat can be just 2.5 grams!
How Can Paraquat Exposure Boost the Risk of Parkinson’s?
Research suggests that the herbicide causes harm to the neurons that make dopamine in our brains. If you lose dopamine, you can have Parkinson’s symptoms, such as fine motor skill impairment.
Unfortunately, any small exposure to paraquat can increase your chances of getting Parkinson’s. This may be through inhaling the herbicide or being sprayed as a bystander. In 2018, a university study found that being exposed to paraquat can increase Parkinson’s risk by 250 percent.
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What Are Early Symptoms and Signs of Parkinson’s?
Unfortunately, Parkinson’s symptoms get worse over time. The disease has five stages that can vary by patient, but the symptoms are motor and non-motor. Motor symptoms may be slowness and stiffness, while non-motor symptoms can affect your moods and ability to sleep.
In the initial stages of the disease, non-motor signs can appear first, then subtle motor symptoms.
Some of the early non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s may be:
- Losing smell
- Constipation
- Trouble sleeping
- Anxiety and depression
- Dizziness, fainting, and fatigue
Some of the motor symptoms in the early stages of Parkinson’s may be:
- A slight shaking or tremor in a hand or other area
- Smaller handwriting than earlier in life, known as micrographia
- Stiffness when trying to walk
- Difficulty standing up straight
If you notice any of the above signs, you should talk to a neurologist immediately. Also, talk to a paraquat exposure attorney to learn if you have a possible case.
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What Are the Stages of Parkinson’s?
Parkinson’s slowly causes the breakdown of the central nervous system. Symptoms usually start gradually and get worse over the years. There are five stages to Parkinson’s.
As soon as you think you or a loved one have this disease, you should see a doctor:
- Stage 1: In the mildest stage of the disease, you can have small tremors, posture changes, minor walking difficulties, and facial expression changes. These symptoms might affect only one side but don’t interfere with life.
- Stage 2: Symptoms get worse in this stage. You can have tremors, a rigid body, and conditions that affect both sides. You also may have more severe walking and posture troubles. Stage 2 of the disease interferes with regular life, and you may find it takes longer to do things.
- Stage 3: During this stage, you will see worse symptoms, including slower movements and balance problems. You can be more likely to fall. While you can still complete some tasks, you may need help with eating and other life activities.
- Stage 4: The symptoms are severe, and you will be limited in your daily activities. You may need a walker and a caregiver to help you live.
- Stage 5: This is the worst stage of Parkinson’s. Patients can be very stiff in their legs and find it impossible to walk. Live-in care may be necessary, and you can have mental symptoms, including hallucinations.
Who Qualifies to File a Paraquat Lawsuit?
If you have medical records confirming a Parkinson’s diagnosis and proof of exposure to paraquat, you can qualify to file a paraquat lawsuit through your personal injury attorney.
You also should have records of your prognosis and treatment from your doctor. But even if you lack paraquat exposure proof, the attorney you choose can gather important evidence.
Some of the people who can qualify for filing a paraquat lawsuit are:
- Pickers
- Landscapers
- Growers
- Farmers
- Licensed applicators
- Agricultural workers
- Anyone who handles or bottles paraquat while it is being manufactured
- Anyone who is often around commercial weed killers and herbicides
Financial Compensation You Could Deserve
If you develop Parkinson’s disease, you may need care for your condition for the rest of your life. Sadly, Parkinson’s can be highly debilitating physically and mentally. While there are treatments that help with symptoms, there is no cure for this disease today.
You can receive medical treatments and therapy to treat your symptoms. Lifestyle changes also help so you can continue working and enjoy some of your regular activities.
However, managing your Parkinson’s disease will be difficult and expensive. If you got Parkinson’s potentially from paraquat exposure, you can benefit from hiring one of our paraquat attorneys to file a lawsuit.
Our attorneys may obtain compensation in a personal injury claim to cover yourdamages, including long-term treatment costs. Some of the other compensation you can receive may be for your medical bills, mental distress, lost earnings, and lost quality of life.
Many people don’t consider the total costs of living with this disease. For example, did you know your limited mobility can require renovating your home? You also may need medical equipment to live your life, such as a walker or wheelchair.
The Family May Recover Wrongful Death Compensation for Parkinson’s Caused by Paraquat
If you have lost a loved one because of Parkinson’s, you also should receive financial justice. No amount of compensation will replace someone that you lost, but if paraquat exposure caused the death, you should receive compensation for this great injustice.
Some of the wrongful death damages our attorneys can help with include:
- The medical bills incurred by your loved one
- Your lost earnings if you stopped work to care for them
- Your relative’s pain and suffering
- The income your loved one would have earned if they had lived
- Loss of companionship
- Funeral and burial expenses
What Are Grounds for a Parkinson’s Disease and Paraquat Lawsuit?
There are several things that your attorney will attempt to prove with a paraquat lawsuit.
They are:
- The entity or people who made and sold the herbicide knew or should have known the product was dangerous.
- Those parties knew or should have known that the product exposure can lead to Parkinson’s disease.
- Those parties did not warn the public about the risk of getting Parkinson’s from paraquat exposure.
Courts consolidated Parkinson’s and paraquat lawsuits in 2021, creating multidistrict litigation (MDL). According to the latest information, at least 5,000 lawsuits over paraquat exposure are pending.
What Is Negligence in Paraquat Filings?
The parties who made and marketed paraquat had a duty of care to ensure the herbicide was safe, which should have included extensive product testing. The parties should have known the risks of product exposure and warned people about potential paraquat exposure dangers.
Your attorney can file a paraquat lawsuit against the manufacturer for negligence in one of several ways:
- Negligence in that they failed to exercise reasonable care to reduce the harm caused by exposure.
- Negligence in that they failed to do what a ‘reasonable manufacturer’ would have done to reduce harm in the same situation.
- Negligence in that they failed to exercise reasonable care to warn users of the harm caused by exposure.
Your attorney also will need to show that negligence involving paraquat happened, you suffered harm, and that negligence led to your harm.
In the past, our attorneys handling paraquat claims have based the cases on:
- Negligence in that they needed to adequately test how far the herbicide can drift from where agricultural workers sprayed it.
- Negligence in that they needed to adequately test how easy it is for people nearby to absorb the herbicide.
- Negligence in that they did not test for adverse health effects in those exposed to the herbicide.
- Negligence in that they did not research studies that show the product is hazardous.
- Negligence in that they may have ignored studies that showed the herbicide is dangerous.
- Negligence in that they may not have warned the public about certain studies showing paraquat is dangerous.
Is There a Statute of Limitations for Paraquat Lawsuits?
If you think you or a loved one is a paraquat exposure victim, you should act fast by calling a paraquat lawsuit attorney. All product liability claims in the US have a statute of limitations. If you don’t file your claim on time, the court will not hear your case, and you may be unable to obtain the essential compensation needed for your care.
The statute of limitations varies based on your state. For instance, if you reside in California, you must file a claim just two years from your diagnosis. Living in North Carolina means you have three years, while Missouri residents have five years. Assembling a solid case takes a lot of time, so the more time your attorney has, the better.
Speak to a Paraquat and Parkinson’s Disease Attorney Today
Were you or a loved one diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease after being exposed to paraquat? You may be eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit that can provide much-needed compensation for your injuries and other losses.
Learn more about lawsuit options by speaking to one of our paraquat and Parkinson’s disease attorneys today at (205) 328-2200 or by completing our online form. Our personal injury lawyers will carefully review your case and determine if compensation is possible. Remember, you will not have to pay upfront legal fees; our attorneys only receive compensation if your case results in compensation for you and your family.
Call or text 877-562-0000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form