A Paraquat lawsuit may be an option for people who were exposed to paraquat herbicide and suffered complications, including Parkinson’s disease, as a result. Widely used as an herbicide for weed and grass control, paraquat is one of the most commonly used herbicides in the world.
Studies suggest that exposure to certain chemicals in paraquat may be linked to the development of serious health complications, including Parkinson’s disease, one of the most common neurological disorders affecting humans. People who have been adversely affected by paraquat, and the families of those who have died, may be able to pursue a claim and recover compensation with the help of a product liability attorney.
If you or a loved one were exposed to paraquat herbicide and suffered complications, including Parkinson’s disease, contact the Johnson Firm for more information about your options. We offer free, no obligation consultations. We can help answer your questions, and if you choose to pursue a claim we can connect you with an affiliated attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
Have You Seen a Paraquat Lawsuit Commercial?
You may have seen a paraquat lawsuit commercial on television and wondered whether you or a loved one have been affected by it and similar drugs and, if so, whether you are eligible to pursue a claim against the herbicide manufacturer or distributor. The purpose of this article is to provide you with additional information about lawsuits and other litigation involving dangerous herbicides and similar products so that you have a better understanding of your options.
What is Paraquat?
Paraquat dichloride (commonly known as paraquat) is a highly toxic chemical primarily used to control weeds and grass as well as a defoliant on crops prior to harvest. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), paraquat is one of the most widely used herbicides registered in the United States.
First produced for commercial purposes in 1961, paraquat is available for use only by commercially licensed users. In the United States, paraquat is available in liquid form with a blue dye so that it is not confused with beverages and other liquid consumables.
Paraquat Exposure
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people can be exposed to paraquat in a variety of ways, including:
- Ingestion or swallowing (most likely exposure route)
- Mixed easily with food, water, or other beverages – If some type of safeguard additive is not used (such as dye, odor, or vomiting agent), people might not know that the substance is contaminated.
- Skin exposure – Poisoning is more likely to occur if the skin exposure lasts for a long time, involves a concentrated version of paraquat, or occurs through skin that is not intact (skin that has sores, cuts, or a severe rash).
- Inhalation – Paraquat could cause poisoning leading to lung damage
Licensed applicators are most at risk for exposure to paraquat. Nearly two dozen deaths have been linked to the accidental ingestion and exposure to paraquat since 2000. In 2016, the EPA decided to take certain steps to prevent poisoning caused by the ingestion and exposure to the herbicide.
Paraquat Herbicide Risks and Side Effects
When a person ingests a large amount of paraquat, he or she is most likely to immediately experience pain and swelling of the mouth and throat. Other signs of illness following ingestion may include gastrointestinal (digestive tract) symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea (which may become bloody).
Severe gastrointestinal symptoms may lead to dehydration, electrolyte abnormalities and low blood pressure.
Ingestion of small to medium amounts of paraquat may lead to the development of adverse health effects within several days to several weeks, including heart failure, kidney failure, liver failure and lung scarring.
Within a few hours to a few days, people who have ingested of large amounts of paraquat may experience other signs and symptoms including:
- Acute Kidney failure
- Confusion
- Coma
- Fast heart rate
- Injury to the heart
- Liver failure
- Lung scarring (evolves more quickly than when small to medium amounts have been ingested)
- Muscle weakness
- Pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs)
- Respiratory (breathing) failure, possibly leading to death
- Seizures
Showing these signs and symptoms does not necessarily mean that a person has been exposed to paraquat.
Paraquat and Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder in which brain cells progressively die. Symptoms of the disease include tremors, rigidity, extreme slowness of movement and impaired balance. Other symptoms such as swallowing and speaking difficulties may be common, and people who are affected may experience non-motor symptoms as well.
Researchers have suggested a possible link between pesticide and herbicide exposure with an increased risk for the development of Parkinson’s disease. According to a report published by Scientific American, research indicates the possible neurological effects of pesticides and herbicides — including paraquat — as well as other ways pesticides might contribute to the development of Parkinson’s disease.
Although the role of agricultural chemicals and their association with Parkinson’s disease continues to be studied, epidemiological studies have concluded a potential relationship between the exposure to paraquat and Parkinson’s. While the results of these studies may have their limitations, researchers are continuing to investigate the possible adverse health effects of paraquat on individuals who have been exposed to paraquat.
Paraquat Lawsuit Claims
A paraquat lawsuit was filed in October 2017 on behalf of farmers and other agricultural workers who were exposed to the herbicide and allegedly developed Parkinson’s disease. Plaintiffs claim that they were unaware of the serious health risks associated with the herbicide manufactured by Syngenta and Growmark.
Have There Been Any Paraquat Lawsuit Settlements?
Some product liability lawsuits may settle early in the claims process. However, it cannot be determined that there will be any paraquat lawsuit settlements at this time or in the near future. Instead, paraquat lawsuits could be consolidated in federal court through an MDL. Paraquat lawsuit attorneys note that the outcome of any case is never guaranteed, and past results are not necessarily predictive of future outcomes.
How a Paraquat Lawsuit Attorney Can Help
Makers of herbicides and other chemicals have a duty to provide safe products that are free from defects and that are not unreasonably dangerous. If there are risks of harm associated with a particular product, the manufacturer must also provide adequate warnings.
If the manufacturer fails to fulfill this duty, it could be legally responsible for injuries caused by the herbicide.
People injured by Paraquat herbicide may be eligible to recover money for:
- Medical Expenses
- Lost Wages
- Pain and Suffering
The families of those who have died may be eligible to recover money for funeral expenses and the pain that comes with losing a loved one.
The Time You Have to Pursue a Claim is Limited. Contact Us Today.
If you have questions about a paraquat lawsuit, or if you want to speak with an attorney, contact the Johnson Firm today. You can contact us by filling out the form on this page, calling us at 501-777-7777, or emailing us at info@johnsonfirm.law.
After you contact us, an attorney will follow up with you to get more information about your case. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and all of the information you provide is confidential.
Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim or file a lawsuit for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
