Paraquat is a common weed-killer made by Syngenta, Chevron, and Growmark, the USA that has been used extensively by homeowners as well as landscapers throughout the years. Although the use of paraquat has now been strictly restricted, those who used the herbicide or were exposed to it could be still in danger of acquiring symptoms and diseases like Parkinson's disease. The risk of getting Parkinson's disease due to being exposed to paraquat has prompted a slew of lawsuits against the manufacturer.

Several of the major claims in most of the cases brought against Paraquat's manufacturers is that they failed to adequately alert users of the product's possible health risks.

If you have been subjected to this hazardous chemical, you could be able to bring a lawsuit against paraquat's manufacturer to get compensation for medical costs, lost earnings, as well as other damages linked to medical ailments you've developed as a consequence of the exposure.

What is Paraquat?

Paraquat, also known as paraquat dichloride, is a herbicide that has been proven to be extremely harmful to humans. Its main application is in the management of grass or weeds in a variety of agricultural and non-agricultural settings.

Ever since the early 1960s, paraquat has been widely employed in agriculture and landscaping, exposing thousands of individuals to its negative effects. Many farmers use paraquat on various crops before harvest. Popular targets for paraquat usage include plants that have already developed resistance to Roundup as well as other glyphosate-based weed herbicides.

How Paraquat Harms the Body

The degree of intoxication and harm caused by paraquat to a human's body is determined by the pathway, quantity, and duration of the exposure. It also relies on the person's health condition at the time of exposure. An individual with an inherent health problem, for instance, could have more acute symptoms than somebody without such a disease.

If swallowed or exposed to high levels of paraquat, the walls of the gut, including the mouth, and stomach, can be severely damaged. It's then circulated all through the body, causing toxicity responses that can harm the kidneys, liver, and lungs.

Why is Paraquat Usage Restricted?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) limited the usage of paraquat in 2016. Its objective was to prevent exposure to personnel who mix, package, and use the herbicide by minimizing accidental ingestions. Among the restrictions were the following:

  • Herbicide safety warnings must be changed to emphasize the toxic effects and dangers linked to paraquat formulations
  • Only licensed pesticide applicators are allowed to use the product. Individuals who are not operating under the guidance of a qualified applicator are likewise forbidden from using it
  • Required special training for approved applicators to underline the importance of not transferring or storing the herbicide in unsuitable containers
  • Proper closed-system packing is required to avoid pesticide transmission or removal other than into appropriate application gear. This guards users against spillage, mixing, transferring the chemicals into other containers, as well as any actions that might expose them to the pesticide

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggested additional regulations to better safeguard human safety as well as the environment from paraquat's dangers. The following are some of these measures:

  • Aerial application of paraquat is prohibited for all purposes except for cotton desiccation
  • Restricting backpack sprayer or high-pressure handgun application techniques on the herbicide's label
  • Reducing the maximum alfalfa application rate
  • Needing PF10 respirators or a closed cab when the region treated with paraquat in the last 24-hour time frame is or lesser than 80 acres
  • Creating a drift barrier in a residential neighborhood as well as a 7-day limited access period for cotton desiccation
  • For all products and applications except for cotton desiccation, a forty-eight-hour limited entry is required
  • Adding compulsory label information for spray drift control

Paraquat Exposure

Paraquat can only be used by licensed, professional applicators, and it's not authorized for home-usage. The majority of persons who are subjected to paraquat either work in or reside near agricultural farms. Exposure can also occur through the skin or by inhalation. Years of working near or with paraquat could lead to Parkinson's disease or some other health issues. This could involve exposure when mixing, spraying, packing, or cleaning.

Persons living near agricultural farms could become exposed due to spray drift or using polluted water. People living or married to licensed paraquat applicators could also be exposed to the chemicals through contaminated clothes or equipment, as well as accompanying them to their workplaces. Paraquat was linked to Parkinson's disease by researchers working on the Agricultural Health Study in 2011.

Effects of Being Exposed to Paraquat

The following are the acute negative effects of being exposed to paraquat:

  • Stomach pains
  • Dehydration
  • Mouth and throat discomfort
  • Low blood pressure
  • Inflammation of the mouth and the throat
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea and vomiting

Assume, however, that you have been exposed to paraquat for a long time. In that event, the following adverse effects may appear several hours or even days after consumption or inhalation:

  • Liver failure
  • The build-up of fluid in the lungs
  • Seizures
  • Scarring of the lungs
  • Failure of the heart and kidneys
  • Confusion and mental distress
  • General weakness
  • Increased heart rate
  • Coma

Persons who have been exposed to paraquat for extended periods are at risk of developing health problems such as:

  • Inadequate immunity
  • Skin inflammation
  • Damage to the kidneys
  • Scarring of the lungs
  • Failure of the liver
  • Breathing problems
  • Impaired mobility
  • Insufficiency of the heart
  • Brain cells that have been damaged
  • Congenital abnormalities
  • Swallowing problems

Paraquat and Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson's disease is a degenerative nervous system condition that impairs mobility. The symptoms begin slowly and worsen with time. People with Parkinson's disease may have difficulties walking and speaking as the condition worsens. They could also have behavioral and mental changes, as well as sleep issues, depression, or memory issues. Parkinson's disease has no cure, however, drugs and, in rare cases, brain surgery might help alleviate symptoms.

Parkinson's disease is triggered by the breakdown and death of neurons, which are neural cells of the brain. Most of the other symptoms linked with the condition are attributed to the death of neurons that generate dopamine messengers. It's not clear why this happens. Parkinson's disease is thought to be caused by genetic abnormalities, environmental variables, and particular alterations inside the brain, according to researchers.

Parkinson's disease is characterized by a variety of symptoms:

  • Tremors in the arms, hands, neck, legs, or jaw
  • Slow movements
  • Legs and trunk stiffness
  • Changes in emotions
  • Depression
  • Sleep difficulties
  • Weak coordination and balance, which places a person at risk of falling
  • Sleep difficulties
  • Issues with the skin
  • Swallowing, chewing, as well as speech difficulties

Paraquat Lawsuits

As more individuals become conscious of the relationship between Parkinson's disease and paraquat, lawsuits against manufacturers of this herbicide have increased. The following are some of the claims in the paraquat lawsuits:

  • Failure to sufficiently research and notify customers about the relationship between Parkinson's disease and paraquat
  • Failure to make sure that workers were adequately protected from paraquat's possible negative effects
  • Misconstrue the toxicity of paraquat for many years
  • Negligently ignoring the possible dangers of paraquat
  • Plaintiffs claim that the pesticide is flawed and extremely harmful and that paraquat exposure triggers neurological damage similar to Parkinson's disease. In several of the complaints, paraquat makers are accused of neglecting to warn consumers about the dangers of the herbicide

Why Should You File a Paraquat Lawsuit?

There are several reasons to launch a claim if you have been subjected to paraquat exposure and got Parkinson's disease. A skilled paraquat attorney can assist you in filing a claim for damages, holding firms accountable for malpractice, and raising awareness about paraquat's risks.

Compensation for Injuries

Parkinson's disease has no cure, and those who suffer from it will need to take medication for their entire lives. Parkinson's disease is a devastating condition.

A claim may be useful in obtaining compensation for high medical costs, loss of wages, as well as other expenditures incurred as a result of previous and future treatments. Remuneration for physiological and mental pain and distress, as well as lost enjoyment of life, could be available.

Holding Companies Accountable

Paraquat lawsuits argue that production companies knew for years that the herbicide was harmful and could induce Parkinson's disease. Regardless, they proceeded to market it and kept this knowledge hidden from claimants and others.

Bringing a lawsuit against a company may result in them being held liable for their actions. Punitive damages are frequently awarded by juries to firms that knowingly endanger the public.

Raise Awareness

Since the 1960s, paraquat has always been utilized in industrial agriculture and farming in the United States. It is used by an increasing number of individuals each year. Some individuals are exposed to it while working, while other people live close to agricultural farms that use the hazardous herbicide.

A lawsuit might make people aware of the hazards of paraquat as well as assist others who could be in danger.

Who is Eligible to File a Paraquat Claim?

Anyone who's been subjected to paraquat exposure and has suffered Parkinson's disease can decide to submit a lawsuit, however, the only means of knowing for sure would be to speak with an attorney. Although certain forms of paraquat exposure could be more challenging to detect than other forms, a skilled lawyer can assist you in proving your case.

The following individuals may be eligible to initiate a paraquat lawsuit:

  • Farmers
  • Certified paraquat applicators
  • Farm cultivators
  • Pickers
  • Landscapers
  • Those living near paraquat-sprayed farms
  • Those dealing with commercial herbicides and pesticides

What Does It Take to be Eligible for a Paraquat Lawsuit?

To be eligible for a paraquat claim, a few crucial elements must be demonstrated. These elements are as follows:

Evidence of Paraquat Exposure

You have to be capable of showing the use of the herbicide or how you were exposed to paraquat to be eligible to file a paraquat claim. Proof of residing close to a farm or establishment that had used paraquat, evidence of your employment at a corporation that used paraquat, or evidence of buying this herbicide are all examples of this.

Parkinson's Disease After Exposure to Paraquat

Another need is confirmation of Parkinson's disease progression following exposure to paraquat or intake. In most circumstances, proving that you have Parkinson's disease as a result of being exposed to or consumption of this substance is sufficient confirmation of the diagnosis.

Proof of a Relationship Between Paraquat Exposure and the Diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease

You need to also show that the paraquat exposure/ ingestion led to or caused the emergence of Parkinson's disease. Medical files and documentation of paraquat exposure or usage can be used to prove this.

When you're not sure whether your claim counts as a claim or if it is solid enough to stand up in court, hire an expert attorney to assist you to figure out whether you have solid evidence to take legal action against the Paraquat producers.

Multidistrict Litigation vs. Class Action Lawsuits

Those who have never trained to become a lawyer or brought a case may find it challenging to navigate the legal system. If you're bringing a paraquat case, you should know what kind of lawsuit you're bringing and why.

This includes knowing the distinction between multidistrict lawsuits and class action suits in the context of paraquat lawsuits.

When a large group of individuals chooses to pursue legal action against another entity for unsafe prescription medication, medical equipment, or any other product, it is known as a class action claim.

Multidistrict litigation is comparable to class action litigation in form however it differs in certain ways. Multidistrict litigation is made up of several people bringing separate cases against the same defendant or entities.

The key distinction between the two kinds of lawsuits is that the class action becomes one case whereby a person or several individuals act as leading plaintiffs while the other plaintiffs are needed to do little or nothing at all. Settlements are split amongst the claimants, with compensation amounts depending on certain variables.

Multidistrict litigations, however, are still treated as a single case. When a large number of people are taking legal action against the same person for the same cause, the lawsuits could be brought together to save the court from being overburdened. This implies that one judge can preside over all aspects of this litigation, from preliminary hearings to compensation decisions, however, the lawsuits will stay separate.

Find a Paraquat Mass Tort Lawsuit Near Me

At Consumer Alert Now, we aim to enlighten the public about unsafe pharmaceuticals and faulty equipment so that they are aware of their legal rights if they get medical issues or suffer damage. We could also assist you with paraquat litigation by connecting you with paraquat attorneys throughout the country. To learn more about your paraquat claim, call 800-511-0747 today.