If you were exposed to the herbicide Dacthal while pregnant, and your baby suffered health complications, you may have legal options. A Dacthal (DCPA) lawyer at Bagen Law Accident Injury Lawyers, P.A., is here to listen and help you seek accountability.
We understand how frightening it is to learn that a chemical you never chose to be near may have harmed your child. You do not have to face the manufacturer or its lawyers on your own.
For more than 45 years, our team has stood up for injured families, and we bring that same care to Dacthal claims across the country. Dacthal, also called DCPA, was pulled from the U.S. market after federal regulators found it could harm unborn babies. We want to help you understand your rights, so you can make the choice that is right for your family.
Getting answers costs you nothing. Call Bagen Law at (800) 800-2575 for a free, confidential case review, and let us look into what happened.
What Is Dacthal (DCPA) and Why Was It Banned?
Dacthal, known by its chemical name DCPA (dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate), is a weed-killing chemical that federal regulators removed from the market in 2024 because it can harm developing fetuses. It is a pre-emergent herbicide, which means it stops weeds before they sprout. Farmers and landscapers used it for decades.
Dacthal has been used since the 1950s, mostly on crops such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and onions, along with lawns and turf. The chemical was made by AMVAC Chemical Corporation. Over the years, health researchers raised growing concerns about its safety.
Scientists and public health groups pointed to the chemical’s effect on the thyroid, an organ that plays a key role in healthy growth. Understanding who was most at risk from Dacthal exposure helps explain why those warnings grew for years before the government finally stepped in.
The turning point came in 2024. On August 6, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued an emergency order suspending all uses of Dacthal, its first emergency action of this kind in nearly 40 years, under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).
A short time later, on October 22, 2024, the EPA finalized the cancellation of every remaining Dacthal product. As the agency explains in its guidance, this means Dacthal can no longer be sold, distributed, or used in the United States.
How Can a Dacthal Lawyer Help You?
A Dacthal lawyer can investigate your exposure, gather the medical and scientific evidence, and pursue the compensation your family may be owed, all with no cost to you up front. These cases are complex, so having an experienced team on your side matters. Here is what we do for the families we represent:
- Review where and when you or your loved one may have come into contact with Dacthal.
- Work with medical and scientific sources to connect the exposure to the harm.
- Handle every conversation with the manufacturer and its insurers, so you do not have to.
- Calculate the full cost of the injury, including future care.
- Take your case to trial if a fair settlement is not offered.
From your first phone call to the final resolution, we carry the legal weight, so you can keep your attention on your family.
We know that reaching out to a law firm can feel like a big step, especially when you are worried about your child. That is why our first conversation is simply about listening. There is no pressure, and no obligation, only a chance to learn where you stand.
Who Was Exposed to Dacthal?
People who lived, worked, or spent time near farms and treated fields faced the greatest risk of Dacthal exposure, often without ever knowing it. Farmworkers who handled or applied the chemical were among the most affected. So were pregnant women who worked in the fields, or who lived close to where the herbicide was sprayed — exposure that can raise serious concerns for a Gainesville birth injury case.
Exposure did not only happen at work. Families living near farmland, and people who used products containing Dacthal on lawns and turf in earlier years, may also have been exposed. The EPA noted that a treated field could stay at unsafe levels for 25 days or more after spraying.
Because the herbicide could drift and linger, many people simply did not realize they had been exposed. If any part of your life put you near Dacthal during a pregnancy, we can help you look into it.
Some families are only now connecting the dots, years after the exposure took place. A child’s health struggles may not point to a clear cause at first. If you suspect a link, it is worth asking questions, and we are glad to help you ask them.
Health Problems Linked to Dacthal Exposure
The most serious concern with Dacthal is harm to unborn babies whose mothers were exposed during pregnancy. Thyroid hormones help a baby’s brain and body grow, so even small changes before birth can have lasting effects. Federal regulators found that Dacthal can disrupt these hormones in a developing fetus.
According to the EPA, exposure during pregnancy has been linked to a range of health concerns, including:
- Changes to fetal thyroid hormone levels.
- Low birth weight.
- Impaired brain development and lower IQ.
- Impaired motor skills.
- Thyroid problems, along with a possible link to cancer, since the EPA classified DCPA as a possible human carcinogen back in 1995.
Some of these effects may be permanent, which is why families deserve real answers. If your child faces challenges that may trace back to Dacthal, we can help you find out whether the chemical played a role.
We also understand that these are painful things to think about. Our goal is never to add to your stress, but to give you clear, honest information. When you understand what may have happened, you can make choices from a place of strength, rather than fear.
Why Choose Bagen Law for Your DCPA Claim
Families choose Bagen Law because we pair decades of courtroom experience with genuine care for the people we serve. Since 1983, we have fought for injured families, and we know how to stand up to large companies and their insurers. Here is what sets our team apart:
- More than 45 years serving injured families, with 150+ years of combined attorney experience.
- Steven A. Bagen holds Florida Bar Board Certification in Civil Trial Law, a credential that recognizes him as a specialist in trial work.
- A record of recovering hundreds of millions of dollars for injured clients over the years.
- Recognition from respected sources, including Super Lawyers.
- No attorney fee unless we win, and no cost to you up front.
When you call (800) 800-2575, you reach a team that treats your family the way we would want our own to be treated. Reach out today, and let us get to work for you.
What Compensation Could a Dacthal Lawsuit Provide?
A Dacthal lawsuit may help families recover money for medical care, ongoing treatment, and the lasting effects of a child’s injuries. This is not about money for its own sake. It is about justice, and about getting the resources a child may need for therapy, education, and care across a lifetime.
Depending on the facts of your case, compensation in a Dacthal claim may cover:
- Past and future medical expenses.
- The cost of therapy, special education, and long-term care.
- Lost earning capacity.
- Pain and suffering.
- Other losses tied directly to the injury.
Every family’s situation is different, so the value of a claim depends on the specific harm involved. We will review your circumstances carefully, and explain what your family may be able to pursue.
We will also take the time to explain each step in plain language, so nothing feels confusing. You will always know what is happening with your case, and why. Clear communication is part of how we care for the families we serve.
Time Limits for Filing a Dacthal Lawsuit
Every state sets a deadline, called a statute of limitations, for filing an injury claim, so it is wise to speak with a lawyer sooner rather than later. These deadlines vary from state to state. They can also depend on when the harm was discovered, or when it was first connected to Dacthal.
Because the rules differ, and because missing a deadline can end a claim before it even begins, we encourage families to reach out early. The sooner we can begin, the more time we have to gather evidence, and to build a strong case.
A quick call is the best way to protect your rights. We will review the timing that applies to your family at no cost, and with no pressure.
There is no downside to asking early. Even if you are unsure whether you have a case, a short conversation can bring clarity. We would rather you call and find peace of mind, than wait and lose the chance to act.
Holding the Maker of Dacthal Accountable
Lawsuits over Dacthal focus on whether the manufacturer, AMVAC Chemical Corporation, gave families the warnings they deserved about the chemical’s risks. These cases center on accountability. Families and their lawyers say the product’s warnings did not reflect what was known about the danger to unborn babies.
The claims commonly involve product liability, failure to warn, and negligence — the same legal grounds families have pursued in claims involving the symptoms of paraquat exposure and other herbicides. After the EPA moved to cancel Dacthal, more people came forward to ask whether their family’s health problems were connected to the herbicide.
In our decades handling injury and product cases, we have learned that these matters turn on careful investigation, and on strong science. We are prepared to dig into the records, work with knowledgeable sources, and press for the accountability your family is owed.
Accountability is not about blame for its own sake. It is about making sure companies answer for the safety of the products they sell, and about helping families rebuild. That is the kind of advocacy we have practiced for more than four decades.
FAQs about Dacthal Lawsuits
Below are answers to questions families often bring to us about Dacthal claims.
No, you do not need to have every detail worked out before you call. Exposure often happened quietly, sometimes without anyone realizing it. Part of our job is to investigate your history, review available records, and piece together where the exposure may have occurred.
Dacthal was sold as a weed-control product for farms, and it was used on crops such as broccoli, cabbage, and onions. In earlier years, it also appeared in products applied to lawns and turf. If you think you or a loved one used or lived near any of these products, we can help you look into it.
Yes, a parent or legal guardian can generally pursue a claim for a minor child who was harmed. Because a child’s future needs can be significant, these claims often focus on long-term care and support. We will walk your family through the process, one step at a time.
No, Dacthal is no longer sold or used in the United States. The EPA finalized the cancellation of all Dacthal products in October 2024, and the use of existing supplies is also prohibited. Even though the product is gone, families who were already exposed may still have a claim.
Not necessarily, since many injury cases resolve through a settlement. That said, we prepare every case as if it will go before a jury. This approach puts your family in the strongest possible position, whether the case settles or goes to trial.
Working with our firm costs you nothing up front. We handle Dacthal claims on a contingency basis, which means you pay no attorney’s fee unless we win your case. That way, cost is never a reason to hold back from getting answers.
Getting started is simple. Call Bagen Law at (800) 800-2575 for a free, confidential case review. We will listen to your story, answer your questions, and explain your options, so you can decide what feels right for your family.
Contact a Dacthal (DCPA) Lawyer Today
You do not have to carry this worry by yourself. Learning that a banned chemical may have harmed your child is a heavy thing, and you deserve a team that will listen and fight for you. At Bagen Law, we see you, and we are here to help.
Our tradition is captured in our registered motto, Fighting For Florida’s Injured®, and today we bring that same commitment to families across the country. There is no cost to speak with us, and no attorney fee unless we win your case.
Call Bagen Law Accident Injury Lawyers now at (800) 800-2575 for your free, confidential case review. Let us look into what happened and help your family move forward.
Bagen Law – Gainesville Office
Address: 111 SE 1st Ave Ste 150, Gainesville, FL 32601, United States
Phone: 352-377-9000