Can You Sue If You Worked With Paraquat and Were Diagnosed With Parkinson’s?

For years, you worked with Paraquat, trusting that the “restricted use” label and safety protocols were enough to protect you. As a licensed applicator, farmworker, or agricultural professional, you handled one of the most toxic herbicides on the market to do your job. Now, you face a diagnosis that has changed your life forever: Parkinson’s disease. You may be dealing with tremors, stiffness, and a future filled with uncertainty, all while wondering if the very chemical you worked with is to blame.

The answer is a resounding yes. A powerful and growing body of scientific evidence links Paraquat exposure to the development of Parkinson’s disease. The manufacturers of this poison, including Syngenta and Chevron, are now facing thousands of lawsuits from workers just like you.

At Walch Law, we are dedicated to fighting for workers who have been harmed by corporate negligence. You have rights that go beyond a typical workplace injury claim, and you can hold these manufacturers accountable. Call now to learn more.

Understanding Your Legal Rights: Product Liability vs. Workers’ Compensation

When you are injured on the job, the first thing that often comes to mind is workers’ compensation. While important, it is often not the right or only path for a Paraquat-related illness. Understanding the difference is critical.

Workers’ Compensation: This is a no-fault insurance system that provides benefits for injuries and illnesses that occur in the course of employment. It typically covers medical bills and a portion of your lost wages. However, it does not provide any compensation for your pain and suffering, and the benefits are often insufficient to cover the lifetime costs of a disease like Parkinson’s. Crucially, you generally cannot sue your employer through workers’ comp.
Product Liability Lawsuit: This is a claim filed directly against the manufacturer of a defective or dangerous product. In this case, you are not suing your employer; you are suing companies like Syngenta and Chevron for creating a product they knew or should have known was neurotoxic and for failing to warn you of the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. A product liability lawsuit allows you to seek full and fair compensation for all of your damages, including pain and suffering.

For most workers diagnosed with Parkinson’s after Paraquat exposure, a product liability lawsuit is the most powerful path to justice. You can pursue this claim even if you are also receiving workers’ compensation benefits.

The Evidence Needed to Build a Winning Case

To build a successful Paraquat lawsuit, we must prove two key things: that you were exposed to Paraquat through your work and that the exposure caused or contributed to your Parkinson’s diagnosis. As someone who handled the chemical directly, your case for exposure is often very strong. We build your case using a foundation of clear and compelling evidence.

Proving Your Exposure

Your Applicator License: If you were a commercially licensed applicator, your license is a powerful piece of evidence that you were trained and authorized to handle restricted-use pesticides like Paraquat.
Employment Records: Pay stubs, work schedules, and letters from your employer or former employers can establish the timeline and locations of your work in agricultural or commercial landscaping settings.
Purchase and Spray Records: Receipts for Paraquat purchases made by you or your employer, along with spray logs or journals detailing when and where the chemical was applied, provide direct proof of use.
Witness Testimony: Co-workers who can testify that you mixed, loaded, sprayed, or worked in fields treated with Paraquat can be invaluable. Even your own detailed testimony about your work duties is critical evidence.

Linking Exposure to Your Parkinson’s Diagnosis

A Formal Medical Diagnosis: Your complete medical file, including the official diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease from a neurologist, is the cornerstone of your medical evidence.
Scientific Research: We use the vast body of peer-reviewed scientific literature that establishes the biological link between Paraquat and the death of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain—the hallmark of Parkinson’s disease.
Expert Testimony: This is perhaps the most crucial element. We work with a network of world-class neurologists, toxicologists, and other medical experts. These experts will review your work history and medical records to provide a professional, scientific opinion that your exposure to Paraquat was a substantial factor in causing your Parkinson’s disease.

What Is Your Paraquat Lawsuit Worth?

No amount of money can undo a Parkinson’s diagnosis, but a successful lawsuit can provide the financial security your family needs to face the future. The value of your case is calculated based on the full extent of the damages you have suffered. Because you were directly exposed and Parkinson’s is a severe, progressive disease, the potential compensation is significant.

Your recovery can include:

All Past and Future Medical Expenses: This covers every cost associated with your illness, from doctor’s visits and medications to physical therapy, assistive devices, and potential future needs like in-home care.
Total Lost Wages: Compensation for the income you have already lost from being unable to work.
Loss of Future Earning Capacity: If you can no longer work, you can be compensated for the wages you would have earned for the remainder of your career.
Pain and Suffering: This is significant compensation for the physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life that comes with a debilitating diagnosis like Parkinson’s.
Punitive Damages: In cases of extreme corporate negligence, juries can award punitive damages. These are intended to punish the manufacturer for their misconduct and to deter them from harming others in the future.

What to Do After a Parkinson’s Diagnosis

If you have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s and have a history of working with Paraquat, the steps you take now are critical to protecting your health and your legal rights.

Focus on Your Medical Care: Follow the advice of your neurologist and medical team. Your health is the number one priority.
Document Your Work History: As best you can, write down a detailed history of your employment. List every farm, landscaping company, or other entity you worked for where you may have used or been exposed to Paraquat. Note your job duties, the years you worked there, and any details you remember about the chemicals used.
Gather Any Records You Have: Collect any old pay stubs, licenses, certifications, or photos related to your work.
Do Not Speak to Company Representatives: If you are contacted by a representative from Syngenta, Chevron, or any other chemical company, do not speak with them. Direct them to your attorney.
Consult an Experienced Los Angeles Paraquat Attorney Immediately: The most important step you can take is to contact a law firm that specializes in these complex product liability cases. Your time to file a claim is limited by law, so do not delay.

How Walch Law Fights for Injured Workers

At Walch Law, we believe that hardworking people who were poisoned by a dangerous product deserve a powerful advocate in their corner. Taking on a global chemical giant is an intimidating fight, but it’s one we are prepared for. We handle every aspect of your case so you can focus on your health.

Free, Confidential Consultation: We will listen to your story, review your work and medical history, and provide a clear, honest assessment of your claim’s strength and value.
Comprehensive Investigation: We take on the entire burden of proof. Our team immediately begins gathering your employment records, medical files, and all other evidence needed to build an ironclad case.
World-Class Expert Network: We have established relationships with leading medical experts, toxicologists, and financial planners who provide the powerful scientific testimony needed to prove your case and calculate your lifetime damages.
Tenacious and Skilled Representation: We are formidable negotiators and seasoned trial attorneys. We will manage all communications with the defendants’ legal teams and fight aggressively for a settlement that secures your family’s future. If the manufacturer refuses to offer fair compensation, we will not hesitate to take your case before a jury. We handle everything on a contingency fee basis—you pay nothing unless we win.

Contact Us Today—Your Fight Is Our Fight

You dedicated your career to your work, trusting that the products you used were safe. That trust was broken. Now is the time to hold the manufacturers of Paraquat accountable for the devastation they have caused.

Contact the experienced and compassionate Paraquat lawyers at Walch Law today for a free, no-obligation case review. Let us answer your questions and begin the fight for the justice and financial security you and your family rightfully deserve.