Paraquat Lawyer

Research has linked some of the chemicals in paraquat herbicide with severe side effects, including Parkinson’s disease. If you are a farmer or agricultural worker and have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s or other serious side effects after exposure to paraquat, you should consider talking to an experienced attorney. Hundreds of lawsuits have been filed against the manufacturers claiming negligence and seeking damages, and you could be eligible to take part in a paraquat herbicide lawsuit yourself.

The Phoenix-based defective product lawyers at Phillips Law Group are ready to meet with you to discuss a potential paraquat herbicide lawsuit. The initial consultation is free of charge and you are not obligated to hire our firm if we validate your claim. There are no fees for taking your case or while we work on your case.

What Are the Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease Caused by Paraquat Exposure?

Parkinson’s disease primarily affects the central nervous system, and it typically starts out producing fairly minor symptoms before progressing into a life-altering and potentially life-threatening illness. Medical professionals recognize five stages of Parkinson’s development, which may produce the following symptoms:

• Stage 1: Involuntary tremors or stiffness in the hands, usually on just one side of the body
• Stage 2: Increased tremors and difficulty moving in both sides of the body, as well as increased likelihood of symptoms such as difficulty balancing, softening of vocal tone, changes in posture, and difficulty writing by hand
• Stage 3: Severe difficulty balancing to the point that accidental falls are common, along with slowed movement and tremors severe enough to interfere with eating and drinking
• Stage 4: Inability to move around without assistance from a walker or another person and significant difficulty performing day-to-day tasks without assistance
• Stage 5: Total inability to walk, stand, or perform self-care without around-the-clock assistance, sometimes paired with confusion and hallucinations

Early identification of Parkinson’s can be crucial to mitigating the more severe symptoms of the disease, but unfortunately, there is no cure for Parkinson’s at this time. A lawyer can help an individual obtain compensation if their Parkinson’s symptoms are the result of paraquat exposure.

Who Is Eligible To File a Paraquat Lawsuit?

The two primary criteria for filing a paraquat lawsuit are a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease issued by a qualified medical professional and a demonstrable history of close contact with or exposure to paraquat over a prolonged period of time. Most people with valid grounds to file suit over paraquat exposure are current or former agricultural workers who used paraquat as an herbicide for several years in the course of performing farm work. Individuals who lived in farming communities or in close physical proximity to major farms may also have grounds to file suit over paraquat-related Parkinson’s diagnoses. A paraquat attorney can help determine if someone falls into one of these categories. 

What Evidence Is Needed To Support a Paraquat Exposure Claim?

Comprehensive medical records will be needed to establish that a qualified physician has diagnosed a prospective plaintiff with Parkinson’s disease. These records can also be used to establish when symptoms of the disease first manifested, what treatment(s) the plaintiff has received for that disease, and what effects the disease is likely to have on their working capacity and overall quality of life in the long term. 

Proving past exposure to paraquat can be a more complex endeavor, especially if it has been many years since that exposure actually occurred. That said, documents such as pay stubs and tax forms for time spent working on farms that used paraquat, deeds or lease agreements for housing near farms that used paraquat, and testimony from coworkers or farm owners can all serve as key evidence in this sort of claim. An attorney who is familiar with paraquat lawsuits can explain what evidence is needed to win a case.

What Types of Compensation Are Available in Paraquat Lawsuits?

Individuals with valid grounds to file suit over a Parkinson’s disease diagnosis connected to long-term paraquat exposure can demand compensation for both past and future losses that they can trace directly back to that diagnosis. On the economic side of things, this can include both short-term and long-term medical expenses, loss of working capacity and earnings, and disability-related expenses for things such as wheelchairs and in-home assistance.

Non-economic damages typically center around physical pain and suffering, but a claim like this can also account for various forms of emotional and psychological trauma as well as lost overall quality and enjoyment of life. A lawyer from Phillips Law Group can discuss what damages should be factored into a particular paraquat claim during a free, no-obligation consultation.

Work With a Phillips Law Group Attorney on a Paraquat Lawsuit

Your choice of an attorney is one of the most important decisions during this difficult time. The attorneys at Phillips Law Group have been assisting injury victims and securing compensation for nearly 30 years. Our firm has recovered more than $1 billion in compensation, including a recovery of $23 million in a defective product case.

We are prepared to manage the legal process on your behalf, with the goal of recovering maximum compensation.