Paraquat is a toxic chemical, that can result in death if even a tiny amount is consumed. If paraquat is consumed, there is no antidote or cure to the subsequent poisoning that it causes. If you have been exposed to paraquat and it has negatively impacted your health, then you could be entitled to compensation. The amount of compensation that you will receive depends largely upon how significantly exposure has affected your life.
This article will tell you how you can advance your compensation claim and receive money for damages caused by paraquat exposure:
Contents
Confirm Exposure
If you want to make a claim for paraquat exposure, then you need to confirm that you have indeed been exposed to the chemical. If you have developed symptoms after some kind of chemical exposure, you will likely be entitled to compensation. However, just because you work on a farm and you have been exposed to chemicals, that’s not to say that you have been exposed to paraquat. There are a series of diagnostic tests that can be performed to confirm exposure. You can also get evidence directly from your former employer, although this can be difficult.
Acquire Evidence
As mentioned in the last part of the previous point, it’s very important that you acquire evidence. If you are able to then you should acquire evidence that conclusively shows that your employer was using paraquat on crops and that is how you were exposed to it. This is not the only way of proving paraquat exposure, but it is the most effective. In addition to providing photographic and video evidence, you should also try to find people that you can use as witnesses, which will be addressed toward the end of this article.
Medical Certificates
A medical certificate is absolutely essential. You need to be able to prove to the insurance adjuster that your lawyer works with that you were injured as a consequence of paraquat exposure. If you have not been able to prove paraquat exposure, then you can at the very least acquire evidence confirming that you were injured as a result of exposure to some kind of chemical. A medical certificate is a very valuable piece of evidence that can help you to win compensation. A medical certificate from a trained and experienced doctor can’t be disputed.
Contact Attorney
Once you have acquired evidence of some kind and a medical certificate, you can go ahead and contact a lawyer. The first thing that a lawyer will do with you is to sit down and interview you, then go through potential paraquat settlement amounts so that you know how much you could be entitled to. When you are hiring a lawyer, make sure that you hire one that is qualified and experienced. The compensation that you receive could change your life for the better, so don’t entrust your claim to somebody who isn’t experienced enough to deal with it.
Making Claim
Once you have found a lawyer that you want to work with, you can go ahead and make your claim. The claim process is relatively straightforward; your lawyer will do most of the work for you. If they need you to do anything then they will contact you, by phone or email. You need to be completely honest with your lawyer when they are making your claim. If you exaggerate or tell any mistruths, then it could result in your compensation claim being undervalued or dismissed. Your lawyer won’t want to represent you if you aren’t honest, especially if they are offering their services on a no-win-no-fee basis (as most personal injury attorneys do).
Have Patience
Once your claim has been made, you need to have patience. The worst thing that you can do is pester and nag your lawyer. Let them handle your case. If you try to micromanage, then they may fire you as a client or worse, may not be able to win you your compensation. You need to understand that the lawyer with whom you work likely has other clients that they have to deal with, so can’t dedicate all of their time exclusively to you. Make sure that you are appreciating and understanding of this. Give them the benefit of the doubt, have patience, and let them handle your case their way.
Receive Treatment
Whatever your injuries are, make sure that you seek treatment. The worst thing that you can do for yourself after paraquat exposure is not receiving medical attention. The complications that can arise from it can be severe. There is some evidence to suggest that paraquat can cause Parkinson’s disease. Make sure that you work closely with your healthcare team or physician, so that you can heal completely. If you don’t then you could develop nasty symptoms, side effects, and complications. Your compensation pay-out should cover any medical expenses incurred.
Present Witnesses
If you were able to acquire witnesses, then you should hand over their contact information and details to the lawyer that you have decided to work with. In addition to handing their information over to your lawyer, make sure that you additionally supply your lawyer with all of the evidence that you acquired to back up your case. If you do not give this evidence to your lawyer, then they could either refuse to take you on as a client or they may not be able to get you the maximum amount of compensation. Evidence is absolutely fundamental to your case’s success. You can’t receive compensation on word alone.
Attend Court
Finally, if needs be, attend court. It isn’t very common for paraquat claims to go to court, because more often than not the farmer’s insurance company issues a pay-out. If they do not, however, then you will need to go to court. Court cases can be very stressful, especially for people that have never been to them before. Make sure that you are honest on the stand and bring as much evidence with you as possible. Your lawyer will run you through all of this anyway, prior to your hearing.
Paraquat exposure can be life-changing. If you have developed injuries or disabilities as a result of exposure to it, then it’s essential that you contact a lawyer and make an insurance claim. If needs be, you can also take the farmer responsible to court and sue them. Don’t allow the farmer responsible for ruining your life to get away with it. Take legal action.