If you were exposed to the herbicide paraquat and later diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, the two could be linked. For decades, the herbicide’s manufacturers knew about potential dangers, yet failed to warn the public. Now, you can pursue compensation for your various losses.
You don’t have to struggle with bills, missed income, and other losses due to your diagnosis. Our paraquat lawsuit lawyer can gather evidence linking your condition to the chemical and pursue the negligent party for damages.
What’s the Case Against Paraquat?
Paraquat has been used in the United States since the 1960s, and the dangers have long been known, with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) acknowledging the risks. Manufacturers have a responsibility to be aware of products’ potential risks and adequately warn consumers and users.
By not fully studying or warning the public about the risk of paraquat, including its link to Parkinson’s disease, manufacturers can be held liable. Still, this requires us to prove that because you were exposed to paraquat, you developed health complications.
While the EPA has not ruled definitively on paraquat causing Parkinson’s disease, Attorney James Parrish can still pursue a paraquat lawsuit. In cases like this, we rely on a preponderance of evidence rather than proving something beyond a shadow of a doubt.
We Will Gather All Necessary Evidence to Support Your Lawsuit
Connecting the dots between paraquat and Parkinson’s disease involves telling a larger story about your case. To do that, we utilize:
- Medical records
- Work history
- Residency history
- Scientific evidence
- Expert testimony
Medical testimony and evidence can show how you were harmed, while work and residency history can establish a link to exposure. Scientific evidence offers a larger context, showing that you are not the only person to have raised questions about your diagnosis and this herbicide. Although we are focused on obtaining damages for your specific situation, we can use information from similar cases and studies.
For instance, the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research has compiled data on the link between the product and the disease – and has even sent formal documentation to the EPA. Some of the cited studies indicate that prolonged paraquat exposure at a young age increases the risk of Parkinson’s disease by 200 to 600 percent.
Our injury attorneys collect evidence from several sources and approach your case from several angles to create a fully fleshed argument for your damages.
We Will Seek These Losses While You Focus on Your Health
Pursuing legal action against paraquat manufacturers can help prevent the herbicide from further harming others. Furthermore, it can provide compensation for these expenses:
- Medical bills
- “Pain and suffering” and inconvenience
- Emotional distress
- Reduced future earning capacity
- Lost income
The Parrish Law Firm, PLLC will evaluate every facet of your case to pursue appropriate compensation.
Short- and Long-Term Medical Expenses
As a permanent disorder, Parkinson’s carries a long list of medical expenses. As the disease progresses, those expenses go up. Your compensation needs to include both past and future costs, including:
- Diagnostic tests
- Surgeries
- Prescriptions
- Medical equipment
- Physical therapy
- Rehabilitation expenses
- At-home care
- Home and car modifications
- Alternative medicine
- Mental health support
Simply receiving a diagnosis can be an ordeal, as no single test can indicate you have the disease. Instead, you must visit specialists like neurologists, who use several diagnostic methods. Once you receive the diagnosis, these costs should and could be reimbursed.
We will pursue your future and anticipated healthcare costs.
As the disorder progresses, you may need additional help with mobility, prescription costs, and more aggressive treatment options, like deep brain stimulation. You may also require support for anxiety or depression.
The personal injury staff at the Parrish Law Firm, PLLC is part of your larger team, working in concert with your family and doctors to understand your prognosis. By utilizing their expertise, we can assign an accurate value to your healthcare expenses and pursue them accordingly.
Detriment to Your Career
A diagnosis like Parkinson’s disease can completely upend your professional life. Symptoms listed by Mayo Clinic highlight the ways the disease can affect your ability to work:
- Tremors could interfere with coordination and motor skills.
- Slowed movement makes active or multi-tasking jobs challenging.
- Rigid muscles can affect physically laborious jobs.
- Impaired posture and balance can affect your ability to stand for long periods.
- Speech and writing changes affect your ability to communicate or perform tasks.
While you may only need to scale back on work initially, the symptoms may eventually prevent you from working at all. This can lead to a serious setback in your financial situation – and just when you need income to pay medical bills.
We will seek all losses related to your income
Compensation from a paraquat lawsuit can account for lost:
- Wages
- Salaries
- Commissions
- Freelance work
- Side gigs
Additionally, you could receive compensation for reduced earning capacity. Our lawyer works with economists and actuaries on your paraquat lawsuit. These experts help determine the lifetime impact of the disease on your finances. This allows us to fight for every penny you need and deserve.
With Us, You Gain an Entire Team to Represent You
When suing for damages after a Parkinson’s diagnosis, you are going after a large company with employees dedicated to defending against lawsuits. You might feel very small while going head-to-head with a very large corporation.
When hiring a paraquat Parkinson’s lawyer from the Parrish Law Firm, PLLC, you don’t just add one person to your team. You add an entire staff of people dedicated to researching, negotiating, and litigating your case. You don’t have to feel outnumbered or outgunned.
We will support your legal goals by:
- Investigating your exposure
- Talking with medical specialists
- Consulting other experts
- Compiling evidence
- Negotiating with all parties
- Reviewing settlement offers
- Handling all communications
- Filing the lawsuit
- Helping you understand your rights
- Explaining paperwork and terminology
- Pursuing your case in court
We’ll Manage Your Case’s Tiniest Details
The above list doesn’t include the day-to-day assistance we provide. We also help with the basics, like making appointments, taking care of routine calls and paperwork, and answering your questions.
We’re not just taking on paraquat’s manufacturers. We’re taking on all the small details required to pursue a lawsuit – details that can pile up and feel overwhelming otherwise.
Not only do we act as a buffer between you and the negligent party, but we also act as a buffer between you and the general stress of this process. Let us handle it.
Your Paraquat Lawyer Will Prove Strict Liability
Unlike most injury claims, product liability claims rest on the principle of strict liability. To recover compensation, you don’t prove negligence. Instead, you prove that you used a product as instructed and suffered harm.
We will use your medical records, statements from experts, and other supporting information to back up your case.
Our History of Defending People Just Like You
At the Parrish Law Firm, PLLC, we are grateful that past clients have expressed their satisfaction through testimonials:
- “Attorney Jim is knowledgeable, helpful, and spot on. He personally called me and took time to give me the legal advice I needed.” – Junn C.
- “It’s amazing how the Parrish Law Firm responds to your calls, voicemails, emails, etc.” – Lesly Edward T.A.
- “I’m truly grateful for the excellent service Mr. Parrish has provided. He simplified the process and provided the guidance necessary for my case to conclude in the best way possible.” – Andrew M.
We offer the same accessibility and support when pursuing your case.
We’re Ready to Answer Your Case – Related Questions Today
You are dealing with a lot of new information as you process both your diagnosis and paraquat’s contribution to that diagnosis. You may be worried about how much time you have to file a lawsuit and what details you need to know to take action. These questions may even discourage you from seeing a lawyer because you think you need answers first.
Although we love it when clients bring us evidence or information they have, we don’t expect you to have already built your entire case before your first consultation with us. We can clarify the path forward, do the research to fill in any gaps on your behalf, and address common questions about paraquat cases.
What Products Contain Paraquat?
Some common products that contain this herbicide are:
- Gramoxone
- Parazone
- Firestorm
- Blanco
- Devour
- Para-Shot 3.0
- Para-col
- Bonedry
- Dexuron
- Esgram
- Crisquat
- Quick-Quat
- Helmquat 3SL
Obviously, some products are more upfront than others in the name of their products, with “para” or “quat” offering a clue. However, with so many products and trade names for the herbicide, it can be challenging for laymen to realize they have been exposed, especially after a long time.
In fact, with paraquat exposure, it’s important to remember that the product that contributed to your Parkinson’s may no longer be on the market. After all, the disease can take years to manifest, long after a specific product was phased out.
Part of our work in linking your diagnosis to paraquat exposure will involve investigating the products you came in contact with. Moreover, just because the product in your case is no longer manufactured doesn’t eliminate your right to damages. Attorney James Parrish can hold companies liable for past mistakes with your paraquat lawsuit.
Who Is Eligible for a Paraquat Case?
Most commonly, victims in these lawsuits include:
- Farmers who used paraquat
- Herbicide applicators
- Paraquat sellers
- Manufacturing plant employees
- Neighbors to farms that used paraquat
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlight that applicators are the most at risk for health issues due to exposure. Regardless of how you were exposed, if there is a link between your Parkinson’s diagnosis and paraquat, you could have grounds for a case.
Although paraquat is an herbicide, it is not the same as Roundup, another herbicide that has been the basis of lawsuits due to its link with cancer. The Roundup lawsuit lawyer at the Parrish Law Firm, PLLC can provide more information if you suffered harm due to this product.
What Is the Statute of Limitations?
You might be concerned that the statute of limitations (or your lawsuit’s filing deadline) may have expired. After all, your initial exposure might have been decades ago.
Fortunately, the law allows for these situations. In Virginia, you generally have two years to file a lawsuit. This begins from the date you were diagnosed – not when you were exposed (per Va. Code § 8.01-243). No matter how much time has passed between your contact with paraquat and your Parkinson’s diagnosis, we want to hear your story.
Has Paraquat been Recalled?
Paraquat is an active ingredient in many herbicides. While many of those products have been pulled from the market, paraquat is still actively used across the country.
Even though paraquat itself hasn’t been recalled, you can still pursue compensation. Our team can explain more during your free case review.
We Can Get Started on Your Case Today
Your initial consultation with us is free and offered at no obligation. So, during our conversation, you don’t have to worry about payment or being obligated to work with us. Attorney James Parrish can pursue your paraquat lawsuit.
We’re ready to start pursuing compensation for your losses today. To connect with our team, dial (571) 229-1800.