Every third week of March, Poison Prevention Awareness Week is observed across the United States. Poison exposure is unfortunately far more common than people might think. According to the Mayo Clinic, ‘poisoning’ is any injury or death as a result of swallowing, inhaling, touching, or injecting drugs, chemicals, venoms, or gases.
It may seem unlikely, but the reality is that most poison deaths and injuries happen inside a home due to carbon monoxide exposure; a poison that is especially dangerous because it is a silent killer. Often, toxic substances or chemicals like carbon monoxide either don’t have a particular scent or aren’t recognizable by scent until it is too late.
Paraquat Lawsuits Ongoing Due to the Poisonous Liquid Weed Killer
One toxic substance is Paraquat, which is a chemical liquid weed killer. Paraquat was developed in the 1960s and has grown in popularity ever since, especially amongst commercial farmers.
The highly poisonous liquid weedkiller is typically marketed with a blue dye and a strong odor. It has become highly regulated with enhanced protection mandates outside of the United States, with 32 countries having banned Paraquat usage.
According to the National Institutes of Health, Paraquat users are up to 2.5 times more likely to develop Parkinson’s Disease than non-users. Additionally, research concluded that exposure to Paraquat herbicide can cause prenatal neurodevelopmental toxicity similar to Parkinson’s disease.
As of February 2022, there were 688 Paraquat lawsuits pending nationwide. If you or someone you know may have been exposed to Paraquat, contact a Cory Watson attorney today.
DuPont C8 Water Contamination Lawsuits
Additional notable poison-related lawsuits have been filed against the DuPont Company, who was responsible for leaking a toxic chemical, C8 (also known as PFOA), into nearby residents’ source of drinking water surrounding the company’s plant in West Virginia. In 1997, Ohio native Carla Bartlett developed kidney cancer through drinking the contaminated water.
In 2015, DuPont was forced to pay $1.6 million to Bartlett for negligence, medical bills, and emotional distress.
In 2020, a historic $50 million verdict was reached in a case against DuPont. Cory Watson Attorneys represented two plaintiffs, one of whom suffered from two bouts of testicular cancer as a result of C8 contamination by DuPont.
Cory Watson Attorneys Jon C. Conlin, F. Jerome Tapley, Nina Towle Herring, Mitchell Theodore, Beth Chambers, and Brett Thompson represented the plaintiffs and secured a unanimous $50 million verdict on behalf of the Abbott family.
“This was the largest verdict yet for these C-8 contamination cases,” said Jon Conlin, principal attorney at Cory Watson, a firm representing hundreds of people who were poisoned along the Ohio River.
“The Abbotts can never have true justice, but the jury told DuPont that it could no longer escape responsibility for its decades of dumping C-8 — at least for these two victims,” Conlin said.
How to Protect Yourself From Poison Dangers
There are three main things you can do to prevent your chances of exposing yourself or your loved ones to poisonous chemicals or other substances:
- Learn your poisons – stay informed, read labels, and know what you are bringing inside your home
- Practice child safety – ensure your children understand the dangers of toxic chemicals. Keep poisonous chemicals or other objects out of reach when they are not under your supervision.
- Practice pet safety – do the same thing with your pets as you would your children. Make sure anything that could be harmful to a pet is out of their reach.
Talking to an experienced attorney from anywhere in the United States shouldn’t be a hassle. Call Cory Watson now to see if you have a personal injury case. Our dedicated team will evaluate your case and help you find out if you are entitled to financial compensation.