Proving Paraquat Exposure and Parkinson’s Diagnosis When You Live Near Sprayed Areas

A Parkinson’s disease diagnosis is a devastating, life-changing event. When you learn that your incurable neurological condition may not be a random tragedy but the result of exposure to a toxic chemical, the news is both enraging and overwhelming. For decades, the highly toxic herbicide Paraquat has been sprayed on agricultural fields and commercial properties across California. A growing body of scientific evidence shows a strong link between this chemical and the development of Parkinson’s disease.

Many victims are not the farmworkers who directly handled the chemical but the people who simply lived nearby. They are the families whose homes, schools, and parks were unknowingly showered with toxic spray drift for years. At Walch Law, we hear a common, desperate question from these families: “We never touched the stuff, but we live next to the fields. How can we possibly prove Paraquat caused this?”

Building a successful legal claim based on residential exposure is complex, but it is absolutely possible.

How Living Near Sprayed Areas Leads to Exposure

Paraquat is a “restricted use” chemical, meaning it is not available for public purchase. However, its danger is not restricted to those who directly apply it. For residents of nearby communities, exposure is a constant and invisible threat.

Spray Drift: This is the most common and dangerous route of exposure for residents. During application, especially when sprayed from airplanes or large ground rigs, fine droplets of Paraquat can be carried by the wind for miles. This toxic cloud can settle on homes, yards, playgrounds, and cars, contaminating the air you breathe and the surfaces you touch.
Contaminated Water Supply: Over time, Paraquat can seep into the ground and contaminate the local water table. Families who rely on private well water may be exposed through drinking, cooking, and bathing, leading to chronic, long-term ingestion of the poison.
Contaminated Soil: Paraquat residue can settle into the soil in your yard or local parks. Children playing outside or anyone working in a garden can be exposed through skin contact or by inhaling contaminated dust.

The Evidence Needed to Prove Residential Exposure

Proving that you were exposed to Paraquat when you didn’t directly handle it is the central challenge of a residential exposure case. It requires a meticulous, multi-faceted investigation to build a web of evidence that connects your home to the chemical’s use. Our legal team specializes in this type of investigation.

Proving Proximity and Use

Geographic Mapping: We use satellite imagery and property records to create a detailed map showing the close proximity of your home, your children’s school, or your workplace to farms and commercial properties where Paraquat was likely used.
Pesticide Use Records: In California, commercial applicators are often required to maintain records of what chemicals they spray, where they spray them, and when. We can legally obtain these records to create a timeline of Paraquat applications in your immediate vicinity.
Witness Testimony: We interview former farmworkers, neighbors, and other community members who may have seen Paraquat being applied or can testify to the frequent spraying near your home.

Scientific and Medical Evidence

Environmental Testing: In some cases, it may be possible to test soil and water samples from your property to detect the presence of Paraquat residue, providing direct physical evidence of contamination.
Your Medical Records: Your medical history helps establish a timeline for when your Parkinson’s symptoms began. We work to show that your diagnosis occurred after a period of prolonged exposure.
Expert Witness Reports: We work with toxicologists and environmental experts who can analyze the pesticide use data, wind patterns, and other factors to provide a scientific opinion that it is highly probable your home was exposed to Paraquat drift.

Linking Paraquat Exposure to Your Parkinson’s Diagnosis

Once exposure is established, the next step is to legally and scientifically link that exposure to your Parkinson’s disease. This is where a deep understanding of the science is crucial.

A Foundation of Scientific Studies: An extensive and growing body of research has demonstrated the link between Paraquat and Parkinson’s. These peer-reviewed studies show that Paraquat creates oxidative stress that kills dopamine-producing neurons—the exact mechanism that causes the disease. We use this powerful body of science as the foundation of every claim.
Expert Neurologist Testimony: We work with world-class neurologists and medical experts who will review your medical records and the evidence of your exposure. They can provide a professional opinion in a court of law that, to a reasonable degree of medical certainty, your Parkinson’s disease was caused or substantially contributed to by your exposure to Paraquat.

Your Legal Rights and the Path to Compensation

If you have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease due to Paraquat exposure, you have the right to file a product liability lawsuit against the manufacturers, including Syngenta and Chevron. These lawsuits allege that the companies knew about the neurotoxic risks of their product for years but failed to warn the public, putting profits before safety.

A successful lawsuit can provide critical financial compensation for the immense damages you and your family have suffered, including:

All Past and Future Medical Expenses: This covers everything from doctor visits and medications to physical therapy and potential future surgical procedures.
Cost of Lifelong Care: Parkinson’s is a progressive disease, and this compensates for future needs like in-home health aides or residence in a specialized care facility.
Lost Wages and Diminished Earning Capacity: Compensation for the income you have lost and will lose due to your inability to work.
Pain and Suffering: Financial recovery for the physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life caused by the disease.
Punitive Damages: These are intended to punish the manufacturer for their egregious conduct and to deter them from harming others in the future.

How Walch Law Builds a Winning Residential Exposure Case Against Paraquat

Taking on a massive chemical company is an impossible fight to wage alone, especially while managing a debilitating illness. The team at Walch Law has the specific experience required to build these complex residential exposure cases from the ground up. We level the playing field and fight for the justice you deserve.

When you trust us with your case, we will:

Provide a Free and In-Depth Case Evaluation: We will listen to your story, analyze your residential history, and provide a clear, honest assessment of your legal options and the strength of your potential claim.
Lead a Comprehensive Investigation: We immediately take on the burden of proof. Our team launches an investigation to gather pesticide use records, map your proximity to sprayed areas, and collect all the evidence needed to prove exposure.
Assemble a World-Class Team of Experts: We work with a network of renowned neurologists, toxicologists, and environmental scientists who can provide the powerful expert testimony needed to link your illness to Paraquat and prove your case in court.
Handle Every Legal Complexity: We manage all communications with the defendants, file all necessary court documents, and aggressively negotiate to achieve a settlement that provides for your family’s future. If the manufacturer refuses to be fair, we are always prepared to take your fight to a jury. You pay us nothing unless we win compensation for you.

Contact Us Today for a Free, Confidential Consultation

You deserve answers, and you deserve justice. Do not let the complexity of a residential exposure case stop you from seeking help. The time to file a claim is limited by law, so it is critical to act quickly.

Contact the experienced Paraquat attorneys at Walch Law today for a free, no-obligation case review. Let us help you understand your rights and begin the fight for the accountability and financial security your family deserves.