Concerns about the use of the popular pesticide are growing in the United States and worldwide due to potential links to adverse health outcomes, including Parkinson’s disease (PD). Recent research suggests that individuals exposed to pesticides for long periods may be more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease (PD).
It is likely that you will suffer from many losses if you get diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. You can file a lawsuit against the negligent party to get compensation for the damages you incurred. Click here to learn more about how to file a lawsuit against the negligent party.
When you file a claim, you can seek compensation for three types of losses: economic, non-economical, and punitive damages. Punitive damage is issued when a defendant deliberately damages the plaintiff’s life. Punitive damage is basically a penalty for the defendant.
This punitive damage is issued in the hopes of stopping the defendant from committing any more crimes. The judge will decide how much the defendant has to pay when it comes to punitive damage.
This blog will tell eight reasons why you should go for punitive damages in a paraquat exposure case.
1. Get Compensation for Damages
You can file a lawsuit to help obtain compensation to cover high medical costs, lost income, and other costs associated with past and future treatment. Along with the lost quality of life, you may also be entitled to compensation for pain and suffering that is both physical and emotional.
You need to think of ways to maximize the compensation you are going to receive. Because honestly, what you receive as compensation will not be enough most of the time. For one thing, consider inflation. Suddenly what you thought was enough is not enough anymore. Going for punitive damages is a good way of maximizing compensation.
2. Hold Businesses Accountable
You can file punitive damages in a paraquat exposure to hold businesses accountable for their negligent actions. Juries may impose punitive penalties as retaliation against companies that deliberately put the public at risk.
When a big business is deliberately putting the lives of people at risk, they need to be held accountable. If someone doesn’t hold them liable, they will keep doing it. What happened to you could happen to someone else. And when it happens to someone else, you are partly responsible for that.
These big companies work like this because they want to generate profit. When you go for punitive damage, it is a gut-wrenching punch to the liable party. You are hitting them where it hurts them the most. By doing this, you can possibly prevent future mistakes from the liable party.
3. Medical Cost
Parkinson’s disease does not develop suddenly in people exposed to paraquat. Over time, their health deteriorates, and sometimes doctors can’t make a diagnosis immediately. You can claim punitive damages for ambulance transport and emergency hospital visits in cases of paraquat exposure.
With conditions like Parkinson’s disease, you never know how much you will be spending on medical care because it is a long-term condition. It is not a condition that goes away with a couple of tablets. After all, it is the disease that took down the great Muhammad Ali. You can’t put a number on how much you will be spending on medical care. So, it is best to go for the maximum amount.
4. Physical Rehabilitation
Your doctor has likely mentioned the importance of physical therapy and exercise if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. You can seek punitive damages for the cost of your physical rehabilitation. After surgery, physical therapy helps with recovery from Parkinson’s disease.
Physical therapy can have a significant positive impact on people with Parkinson’s disease. It is very important to attend the physical therapy session without fail for every victim. The problem is that physical therapy is not cheap–at least, good therapy is not. You need to spend a lot to get a decent level of physical therapy that will work. You need to consider that too, when filing for a claim.
5. Nursing Home Care Cost
Most families place their loved ones in a nursing home to provide round-the-clock care because of insufficient resources for care in the advanced stages of Parkinson’s.
In a paraquat exposure lawsuit, you may be able to seek punitive damages to cover nursing home costs, as the cost of nursing care and treatment often exceeds expected future costs significantly.
6 Obtain Sufficient Fund for Wages Loss
Parkinson’s patients and their families may face further financial hardship due to irresponsible paraquat producers continuing to promote their poison in the agricultural sector through lost wages and benefits.
Therefore, another justification for filing a claim is to obtain sufficient money through the settlement of the paraquat lawsuit to compensate for this significant loss.
7. Home Remodeling Expenses
One of the biggest obstacles for Parkinson’s patients, who have problems with slow movements and movements, is going up and down stairs. Modifying a home to accommodate a Parkinson’s patient, such as building a wheelchair ramp and adding handrails to hallways, is essential in establishing a claim.
8. Expenses for Relief Services
Families, especially those who share a member with Parkinson’s disease, can step in to help, but occasionally they need outside help for different services. You can ask for punitive damages in a paraquat exposure case to cover the cost of the necessary relief services.
Conclusion
The eight reasons above may help you understand why you should seek punitive damages in a paraquat exposure lawsuit. However, consulting with an experienced paraquat exposure attorney can help you assess your claim and determine whether you should file a lawsuit for punitive damages.
It is never a bad idea to go for punitive damage. Speak with your lawyer about what you can do. As you know, winning a claim is hard, and going for punitive damage is even harder. So, have an experienced lawyer by your side.
