People exposed to the paraquat pesticide should ask their lawyer about the existing lawsuits and the possibility of getting compensation. If you or a loved one has experienced any of the side effects of paraquat, you may be eligible to demand damages.
The first step is to ensure you have the medical attention your condition needs. But equally important is to contact a paraquat lawsuit lawyer at Zanes Law. Let us show you some of the most important aspects of a paraquat lawsuit and why it is better to get legal assistance soon.
Paraquat: What Is It, and Why Is It Alarming?
Paraquat is an agrochemical developed to eliminate particularly resistant weeds. And while it can be very efficient at what it does, it also has been proved to have some very harmful consequences for humans.
Because of all that, it has already been banned from more than 32 countries worldwide. However, it is still legal to use in the United States. It is mostly used in western states where crops are grown that require significant weed control, including Arizona.
Paraquat is not available for domestic use. Since it is a restricted chemical, it can only be bought by commercially licensed users. Due to crop weeds developing resistance to common herbicides, many farmers have used paraquat-based ones for the last 20 years.
Paraquat Health and Safety Concerns
While it is one of the most effective weed killers today, paraquat has also proved extremely toxic and dangerous for humans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), long-term effects of paraquat exposure can include:
- Long-term lung damage and scarring
- Kidney failure
- Heart failure
- Esophageal strictures, making it hard to swallow
Paraquat exposure has been linked to numerous health concerns, most notably Parkinson’s disease. This particular condition of the nervous system can have a major impact on anyone who suffers from it. Paraquat exposure can also cause death.
Latest Updates on the Paraquat Parkinson’s Disease Exposure Lawsuit
In recent years, many people have developed Parkinson’s disease in the United States. And many of those cases relate to paraquat exposure, particularly in agricultural areas. News outlets and the general population have shown concern about the exposure to this agrochemical.
For instance, in Southern Illinois, a judge advanced most of the paraquat claims against Syngenta and Chevron since they were found responsible for negligence, product liability, breach of implied warranty, and many other consumer protection law violations. This can be particularly unsettling due to the number of farmers using paraquat-based products.
Who Is Being Sued for Paraquat Exposure?
There are more than 300 paraquat lawsuits already filed against Syngenta and Chevron-Phillips due to the harm caused by their products to the population.
If you or a loved one lives close to an agricultural area and have developed Parkinson’s disease symptoms, you need to talk to a paraquat lawsuit attorney. Your condition may be related to paraquat exposure; if that is the case, you can fight for monetary compensation. Learn more: PARAGARD CLASS ACTION UPDATES
Products and Brands That Contain Paraquat
Paraquat is a powerful herbicide often used to control weeds around fruit and vegetable crops, although it is also used for other crops like cotton. Farmers tend to apply it on particularly stronger weeds, and often do so during pre-harvest. In the U.S., farmers currently use more than eight million pounds annually. Learn more: WHAT PRODUCTS CONTAIN PARAQUAT?
Fruits, Vegetables and Other Crops Containing Paraquat
Some of the most common crops paraquat is used for are:
- Wheat
- Oranges and another citrus
- Corn
- Almonds
- Peanuts
- Soy
- Strawberries
- Potatoes
- Pears
- Cotton
Also, illegal and regulated marijuana crops in Mexico and the U.S. tend to be treated with paraquat products.
Even though paraquat is restricted and unavailable for households, it has been widely used on American soil for over 20 years.
Brands Developing Paraquat Herbicides
Paraquat is contained in many agricultural products used in the crops we consume every day. Gramoxone is one of the most famous brands; this herbicide is developed by Syngenta, one of the bigger agrochemical producers worldwide.
Other corporations like Growmark and Chevron also develop their version of the paraquat herbicide, but they are not the only ones. These are some of the herbicide brands that contain paraquat. Together all these names sell more than $600 million every year:
- Blanco
- Parazone
- Bonedry
- Helmquat 3SL
- Bonfire
- Firestorm
- Cyclone SL 2.0
- Para-SHOT 3.0
- Quick-Quat
- Ortho-Paraquat
- Helmquat
- Devour
If you need more information regarding the companies producing it or the type of crops affected by this component, here are some of the products and brands containing paraquat.
Paraquat Agricultural Use
Many farmers use paraquat-based products in the U.S. It is mainly used to prevent unwanted weeds from appearing near crops, and it is applied to a wide variety of plantations. American farmers of all sizes have been using it for about 20 years.
Its toxicity is beyond question since it is already considered a restricted chemical that only commercially licensed buyers can acquire. It is not available for homeowners.
Its weed-killer properties have been used even by the DEA during the ’70s and ’80s while targeting illegal marijuana plantations.
How Is Paraquat Toxic?
Paraquat is a potent herbicide that works by breaking the oxygen molecules within the cells of the weed plants. That is a process that is also found in nature and is called oxidation—just like the metal oxidation in an old car.
Oxidation effects can be extremely damaging for humans and lead to all types of health conditions, depending on the amount and type. The oxidation that paraquat produces is fatal for the weeds and still very toxic for other life forms, humans included.
Effects of Paraquat on Humans
Humans can have all types of side effects after being exposed to paraquat. According to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, paraquat increases the risk of Parkinson’s disease, among many other health issues. It can be absorbed through the air or transferred onto clothing and later into the home furniture, presenting a risk for entire families.
Studies have shown that teens and adults exposed to paraquat have a higher risk of getting Parkinson’s disease—up to 600% more—than people who have never been exposed.
Paraquat and the Risk of Parkinson’s Disease
The Agricultural Health Study developed by the National Institutes of Health found a correlation between the use of pesticides (paraquat among them) and the development of several health conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease.
But that is not the only side effect of paraquat exposure. Fatalities have been reported after ingestion, inhalation, or other forms of direct contact.
The chemicals contained within the paraquat formula can cause damage to the neurons and the dopaminergic system, altering the production of that specific neurochemical in the brain. Alteration in the normal dopamine levels can lead to Parkinson’s disease and impair fine motor skills.
While high concentrations can cause evident and immediate symptoms, long-term exposure to small amounts can develop chronic conditions such as PD (Parkinson’s disease).
Learning to Detect Early Parkinson’s Disease Symptoms
With Parkinson’s disease, as with many other health conditions, the sooner you receive attention, the better. In many cases, the appropriate treatment can give people back a portion of their previous health and life quality. So learning to detect its symptoms is important.
Parkinson’s disease usually develops in five stages, which can vary for everyone. However, early signals can come in two main categories:
- Motor symptoms: Involuntary body movements that can be very subtle, like a small hand movement, stiffness, or slowness on everyday tasks, or completely evident, such as loss of facial expression, difficulty standing up, or small shakings and tremors.
- Non-motor symptoms: These symptoms can include loss of smell, sleep disorders, fatigue, dizziness, depression, and anxiety.
If you know someone exposed to paraquat and experienced any of the symptoms mentioned before, they need to see a neurologist soon. And if a trace of Parkinson’s disease is found, they also need to get in contact with the paraquat lawsuit lawyers at Zanes Law.
Paraquat and Parkinson’s Disease Stages
Conditions such as Parkinson’s disease can cause progressive damage to the central nervous system, and symptoms tend to grow worse gradually over time. Although treatments can give some mobility back to patients, there is no cure yet.
PD develops over time, generally in five stages, each with different symptoms and consequences on the nervous system.
- PD stage one: It usually starts with subtle symptoms such as slight tremors, mood and posture changes, or difficulty walking. Many patients also experience facial rigidity, sometimes only on one side of the face.
- PD stage two: During this stage, patients experience similar symptoms to stage one but worsen. Tremors, shakings, and posture problems become more evident, just as walking difficulties. During this phase, many patients usually start to pay attention to how difficult life is getting.
- PD stage three: Patients who experience this stage are constantly bothered by more violent, involuntary body movements, loss of the ability to maintain balance, and severe difficulties in everyday activities, such as cleaning or taking a shower.
- PD stage four:At this stage, patients go through more severe body movements, to the point of being unable to do most of their regular activities. Many people at this stage require some assisted living.
- PD stage five: The most severe stage of Parkinson’s disease. Patients in this stage suffer not only the severity of their physical symptoms but also tend to suffer mental health issues that can go from severe depression and anxiety to hallucinations.
Who Is at Risk of Paraquat Exposure
Individuals exposed to the paraquat substance can be at risk of developing various health conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease. That tends to be more common for farmers and their families since many use it on their crops.
Other persons at a high risk of paraquat exposure are employees at places that sell chemicals, manufacturing plants, paraquat applicators, or people who live near farms that use it on their crops.
Any person in contact with paraquat should look for the appropriate medical attention first. But right after that, they need to talk to a product liability lawyer.
Aspects to Consider When Filing a Paraquat Lawsuit
Depending on the severity of exposure, people can present all types of symptoms from any stage of Parkinson’s disease. And in any of those cases, medical bills will grow accordingly.
But expensive medical bills are not the only financial consequence of a condition such as Parkinson’s. Victims of neurological diseases often cannot return to work, and family members also need to quit their respective jobs to take care of them.
All of that must be considered when filing a lawsuit against any paraquat manufacturers. And an experienced paraquat lawsuit attorney is the best way to ensure you get a fair settlement or compensation.
How Much Money Can Someone Get From a Paraquat Settlement?
Paraquat has been proved to be a toxic agent with alarming consequences. And its effects can become devastating for farmers, producers, sellers, and the general population, particularly in agricultural areas.
However, the amount of money someone can get from a paraquat lawsuit depends on the type of exposure and the severity of the symptoms. Because of that, it is complicated to put a price on your claim without having the details.
That is another good reason to get an experienced lawyer first. They can evaluate your case and help you get a fair settlement from the manufacturing company. And if a settlement is off the table, your attorney can make them accountable for your damages in court.
If a loved one has died due to extreme exposure to paraquat, your settlement value can change dramatically. While financial compensation can’t bring a loved one back, a wrongful death lawyer can help you secure the appropriate damages to manage your loss. Learn more: PARAGARD LAWSUIT SETTLEMENT AMOUNTS
Statute of Limitations to Present a Paraquat Lawsuit
People who have been exposed to any pesticide containing paraquat need to consult an attorney. That is the best way to determine how much time they have to file a lawsuit.
The statute of limitations can vary widely depending on your state. For instance, people affected by the agrochemical in Missouri have up to five years to file a claim, while residents of Louisiana barely have one year to do it.
Here in Arizona, victims have two years to file a product liability claim. However, there is also a 12-year statute of repose, which begins on the date of sale for the product. The best way to know your deadline is by talking to a paraquat lawsuit lawyer who can explain it in more detail.
Finding the Right Paraquat Lawsuit Attorney for Your Claim
Paraquat-related diseases can be devastating for entire families, and finding the right lawyer to trust your claim should not be taken lightly. Zanes Law Injury Lawyers has helped many victims face paraquat producers and manufacturing companies.
Our paraquat lawsuit lawyers are ready to fight for a fair settlement or to take the responsible parties to court. Contact us today, and let us help you get the compensation you and your family deserve.