
Our team employs a full-time nurse with over 30 years of experience to serve as a medical consultant for your injury.
Get Started With an EvaluationA popular alternative to Roundup, paraquat is a toxic chemical that is often used as an herbicide (plant killer) to control weeds and grass. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies paraquat as “restricted use,” meaning it can only be used by licensed applicators. One sip of paraquat could kill you, however, federal agencies and manufacturers have not banned the poisonous herbicide yet.
Although studies show an increased risk of Parkinson's disease in individuals who had applied Paraquat, it continues to be one of the most popular herbicides in the US. That being said, agricultural workers and farm owners who have Parkinson’s disease and applied or were otherwise exposed to paraquat have been filing lawsuits against manufacturers since 2017. If you or a loved one was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease after being exposed to this herbicide, call our Paraquat attorneys to learn if you may have a claim. If we determine that you do, we can fight for maximum financial compensation on your behalf!
Get in touch with us online or at (304) 605-2040 today!
Now that you have an idea of the dangers of paraquat exposure, you may be asking yourself, “Where is paraquat found?” It is found in various herbicides used only by commercially licensed users. Paraquat goes by a variety of trade names, such as:
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) lists various indicators to help determine whether or not you were exposed to paraquat. See the list below to learn if you may be at risk of exposure or have already been exposed to paraquat:
The impact of paraquat poisoning depends on the quantity, route, and duration of exposure and the person’s health condition at the time of exposure. Thus, an older person may be at a higher risk of danger than a younger person, but a younger person who is constantly exposed to paraquat may be at a higher risk than an older person who is rarely exposed.
Once a person is exposed, paraquat causes direct damage when it contacts the lining of a person’s mouth, stomach, or intestines. Once it enters the body, it spreads throughout, meaning paraquat can cause toxic chemical reactions in areas like the lungs, liver, and kidneys.
According to the CDC, you can experience immediate health effects after being exposed to paraquat. Immediate short-term effects of paraquat include:
The short-term side effects of paraquat can be life-threatening, but a person who survives these short-term effects will likely face long-term side effects of paraquat exposure, including:
Although the CDC doesn’t list Parkinson’s disease as a long-term side effect of paraquat exposure, research from the National Institute of Health reveals that people who used paraquat and have a specific genetic pattern were 11 times more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease, suggesting that some people have a higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease after being exposed to paraquat.
Even if you were diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and used or were otherwise exposed to paraquat, you are not guaranteed a favorable outcome in your lawsuit. Your attorney must first review the facts, records, and circumstances involved in your situation to determine whether you can sue and how high your chances are of achieving a high settlement.
We encourage you to contact our Charleston Paraquat lawyers online or at (304) 605-2040 so we can evaluate your situation and determine who is responsible. From there, we may be able to help you file a claim and champion your best interests!
With over 44 years of experience, Robert V. Berthold, Jr. is a dedicated and compassionate trial lawyer. His focus is mainly in medical malpractice cases, including cases concerning birth injury and brain injury. Attorney Profile
Holly DiCocco has been a litigation attorney since 2000. Prior to joining the Berthold Law Firm, PLLC in 2011, Holly’s practice focused upon the defense of doctors, hospitals, and large companies in medical professional liability and employer liability actions. Today, Holly concentrates her practice on pursuing the rights of plaintiffs in medical malpractice, employment discrimination, wrongful death, and personal injury cases. Attorney Profile
Robert V. Berthold III joined Berthold Law Firm, PLLC in 2009. His emphasis is on industrial and workplace accidents, medical malpractice, trucking accidents, automobile accidents, and insurance litigation. He has successfully negotiated many insurance settlements on the behalf of injured plaintiffs. Attorney Profile
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