Wool Trial Law represents individuals suffering from Parkinson’s disease in toxic tort litigation. Scientific studies indicate a potential link between exposure to certain environmental toxins, such as pesticides, heavy metals, solvents, and volatile organic compounds, and an elevated risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.
If you or a loved one has developed Parkinson’s after long-term exposure to hazardous toxins, you deserve just compensation. Our firm represents toxic exposure victims nationwide and has a proven track record of achieving successful outcomes. Contact us today to learn how we can help.
About Parkinson’s Disease
According to the Mayo Clinic, Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological disorder that affects the central nervous system and causes severe motor-related symptoms over time. The condition affects muscle control, balance, movement, the senses, thinking ability, mental health, and digestion. Parkinson’s signs and symptoms include:
- Tremors – This is a rhythmic shaking of the muscles even when at rest that usually begins in a limb, such as the hands and fingers, and grows progressively worse.
- Slowed movements (bradykinesia) – Muscle control problems associated with Parkinson’s disease lead to slowed movement, such as walking and standing, making simple tasks difficult and time-consuming.
- Rigid muscles – Muscle stiffness in any part of the body that causes pain and limits a person’s range of motion.
- Impaired posture and balance – Stiffness associated with Parkinson’s can cause stooped posture and balance problems, resulting in a slow walking gait and falls.
- Loss of automatic movements – Reduced muscle control can decrease a person’s ability to perform unconscious tasks, such as blinking, smiling, or swinging their arms while walking
- Speech changes – Loss of muscle control in the throat and chest can cause an unusually soft speaking voice (hypophonia) or slurred speech.
- Trouble swallowing (dysphagia) – Reduced throat muscle control can make swallowing difficult, increasing the risk of choking
Although there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, medications, physical therapy, exercise, and lifestyle changes can help control the symptoms. The benefit of drugs and other treatments diminishes over time, and surgery may be necessary in more advanced cases.
Environmental Factors in Parkinson’s Disease
Environmental factors that may contribute to the development of Parkinson’s disease include:
- Pesticides/herbicides – Studies have shown a link between exposure to chemicals in pesticides and herbicides, such as paraquat, and the development of Parkinson’s disease.
- Manganese and other heavy metals – Exposure to various metals may be related to the development of Parkinson’s disease. For example, high-dose manganese exposure in certain occupations, such as welding, may cause a form of Parkinson’s called manganism.
- Solvents – Long-term exposure to solvents, such as Trichloroethylene, used in many industrial settings, such as metal degreasing and dry cleaning, and in paint thinners and detergents has been linked to the development of Parkinson’s.
- Organic pollutants: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were used in various industrial processes until they were banned in the 1970s; however, researchers have found high concentrations of PCBs in the brains of some Parkinson’s victims.
Although environmental exposure to these and other toxins may lead to the development of Parkinson’s, the disease is said to result from a complex interplay between genetics and environmental factors. Given these complexities, it takes an experienced mass tort attorney to protect your rights and interests.
Parkinson’s Disease Mass Tort Lawsuits
Wool Trial Law is representing groups of individuals who have developed toxic exposure-related Parkinson’s disease in mass tort litigation:
Camp Lejeune Lawsuits
Toxic substances such as perchloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE) leached into the drinking water at Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base in North Carolina between the 1950s and 1980s. Service members, military families, and contractors exposed to the toxins through drinking, cooking, and bathing water developed a wide range of illnesses, including Parkinson’s disease. Under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, victims have a right to file lawsuits to recover damages for injuries and losses resulting from exposure to contaminated water.
Paraquat Lawsuits
Paraquat is one of the most widely used weed-killing herbicides in the U.S., according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Commonly sold under the brand name Gramoxone, paraquat is used to control weeds in many agricultural and non-agricultural settings. Farmers and migrant laborers are most at risk of paraquat exposure, but those who live near industrial farms may also be at risk. Exposure to paraquat has been linked to serious health conditions, including Parkinson’s disease.
If you or a loved one was exposed to an environmental toxin and subsequently developed Parkinson’s disease or another illness, we want to hear from you. By pursuing a toxic tort lawsuit, you can recover the financial compensation. You can trust Wool Trial Law to protect your rights and get you the maximum compensation you deserve.
Contact Wool Trial Law About Parkinson’s Disease Lawsuits
Parkinson’s disease is a horrible disease that is often associated with aging, but many people have developed this neurological condition at a relatively young age after exposure to environmental toxins. Our firm is committed to holding responsible parties accountable and helping victims obtain just compensation. Contact our office today so we can start working on your claim.