Paraquat is a chemical that’s used widely in the agricultural industry. It is used as a herbicide. Unfortunately, paraquat exposure can cause adverse health issues and even disabilities. If you work in the agricultural industry and think that paraquat exposure has caused you to experience health problems, then you need to file a lawsuit. A lawsuit will help you to get the money that you need so that you can lead an ordinary life with your injuries. This post will offer a few useful tips for filing a paraquat lawsuit against your former employer:
Medical Issues
The first thing that you need to do if you have been exposed to paraquat, is to confirm your injuries. You can do this by getting a written medical certificate from the physician that has been treating you. If you don’t have any injuries, then compensation is unlikely. One lawyer that’s providing the Paraquat MDL latest updates says that paraquat exposure can cause very serious side effects, including even Parkinson’s disease. With this in mind, if you have been exposed to it then it’s very likely that you will suffer from nasty symptoms and side effects. You need to get written medical evidence from your physician showing this.
Confirm Exposure
Following on from the last point made in the previous section, it’s very important that you confirm that you have been exposed to paraquat. Even if you have all of the symptoms of paraquat exposure, if you can’t prove that you have been somewhere where the chemical has been used, then you won’t be able to claim compensation (nor will you have anyone to claim compensation from). The most common people that lawsuits are made against are farmers because many carelessly allow their farmhands to be exposed to the chemical. If you suspect your former employer may have knowingly exposed you to it, then you can make a claim against them.
Identify Employer
If your employer was responsible for exposing you to paraquat, then you need to be able to identify them to your lawyer. If you are unwilling to do this, then you won’t be able to make a claim. The identification process is a big part of your compensation claim. For many people, this is very challenging to do, because their former employers (and the people that exposed them to toxic chemicals), are friends and sometimes even family members. This is something that you need to think long and hard about. You shouldn’t feel guilty about taking legal action against a loved one if they have exposed you to a harmful chemical, because your lawsuit will stop them from doing it to other people in the future.
Legal Aid
If you are going to file a paraquat lawsuit, then you need to get legal representation. There are some lawyers that will work with you on a no-win-no-fee basis. A no-win-no-fee lawyer essentially represents you for free, and then takes a percentage of your compensation claim’s winnings. These types of lawyers work very hard because if they don’t deliver results they don’t get paid. Before hiring a lawyer, you must conduct online research and try to find one that’s professional, experienced, and worth dealing with.
Other Evidence
Any other evidence that you have should be handed over to your lawyer. It’s a very good idea to take additional evidence if you can. An example of additional evidence might be video footage of your employer using paraquat while people are working or even just proof that they actually keep paraquat on the farm. Many farmers will dispose of any toxic chemicals after use, so it can be difficult to prove that they have used them once you’ve left the farm and are no longer working there.
Additional Witnesses
If you worked with other people who have since developed health problems because of being exposed to paraquat, then it’s a good idea to bring them along as additional witnesses. You should also encourage them to take legal action against your mutual former employer, too. This is so that they can receive justice and compensation. If you are going to bring witnesses, then make sure that they aren’t exaggerating or telling any lies. An untruthful witness can be very bad for your case.
Total Honesty
As mentioned in the last section, dishonesty can be bad for your case. If you exaggerate or lie about any elements of your case and are discovered to be lying, then your entire case can be dismissed. Because of this, it’s very important that you are completely honest and don’t tell any mistruths. It’s very easy to exaggerate your case, because you have been hurt, and injuries are always much worse to the person than they might really be, however you mustn’t exaggerate. Your lawyer will likely refuse to represent you if they discover that you have been lying to them, even if your case isn’t dismissed.
Medical Help
In addition to seeking legal aid and compensation, you need to seek medical help. Paraquat exposure can result in some very serious health conditions becoming manifest. If you don’t go and see a doctor and receive treatment, then you won’t be able to recover properly. Because paraquat is a toxic chemical, most of the damage is already done by the time that people seek medical aid. With this said, it is still possible to treat the health problems that are caused by paraquat, without actually treating the paraquat exposure itself.
Filing Lawsuit
If the person who exposed you to paraquat is a friend or family member, you still need to make a claim. As mentioned earlier, it can be difficult making claims against loved ones. Unfortunately for them, their negligence led to you being exposed to a very harmful chemical. If you allow them to get away with it and don’t file a lawsuit, then they could go on to hurt other people. You shouldn’t have sympathy for anyone that has knowingly exposed you to harmful chemicals.
If you have been exposed to paraquat, then you might be able to file a lawsuit. Paraquat exposure can cause some nasty health issues. If it has caused you health problems, then it’s important that you seek medical help, and hire a lawyer. A lawyer will be able to manage your lawsuit for you.
