Paraquat Lawsuit Lawyers

A 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!

Paraquat Trade Names

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:

• Gramoxone SL 2.0 Herbicide
• Para-SHOT
• Helmquat
• Parazone
• Firestorm
• Ortho-Paraquat
• Quick-Quat
• Devour
• Blanco

How to Know If You Were Exposed to Paraquat

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:

• Paraquat is not known to have been used in any terrorist attacks or wars.
• The most likely route of exposure to paraquat that would lead to poisoning is ingestion.
• Paraquat can be mixed easily with food, water, or other beverages. If the form of paraquat does not contain the safeguard additives (dye, odor, and vomiting agent), people might not know that the food, water, or other beverages are contaminated. Eating or drinking paraquat-contaminated food or beverages could poison people.
• Paraquat poisoning is also possible after skin exposure, which 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 has sores, cuts, or a severe rash.
• If it is inhaled, paraquat could cause poisoning leading to lung damage.
• Licensed applicators of paraquat most at risk for exposure.

Paraquat Poisoning Symptoms

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:

• Pain and swelling of the mouth and throat.
• Gastrointestinal (digestive tract) symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea (which may become bloody).
  • Severe gastrointestinal symptoms may result in dehydration, electrolyte abnormalities (not enough sodium and potassium in the body), and low blood pressure.
• Ingestion of small to medium amounts of paraquat may lead to the following adverse health effects within several days to several weeks:
  • Heart failure
  • Kidney failure
  • Liver failure
  • Lung scarring
• Ingesting large amounts of paraquat leads to the following impacts within a few hours to a few days:
  • Acute Kidney failure
  • Confusion
  • Coma
  • Fast heart rate
  • Injury to the heart
  • Liver failure
• Lung scarring
  • Muscle weakness
  • Pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs)
  • Respiratory (breathing) failure, possibly leading to death
  • Seizures

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:

• Lung damage (scarring).
• kidney failure.
• Heart failure.
• Esophageal strictures (scarring of the swallowing tube that makes it hard for a person to swallow).

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.

Proving Paraquat Exposure

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 West Virginia 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!