According to the Institute of Agriculture, 374 farmers and farm workers died from a work-related injury, resulting in a fatality rate of 20.2 deaths per 100,000 workers in 2012, with the highest cause being tractor overturns. Also, 113 youth less than 20 years old die annually from farm-related injuries. The majority of these accidents, at 23%, involved machinery. Farm accidents can be devastating, costly, and deadly.
Farmers are an essential part of our nation since they feed us all, but by doing so, they also risk their lives every day. Residents of rural areas are much more likely to be in accidents due to the nature of the jobs in that area. They take lots of human work doing manual labor. So, it makes sense that farming is one of the deadliest occupations in the country, especially for more inexperienced youth working on the farm.
At 844 See Mike, we have helped thousands of clients to seek justice and compensation for personal injuries, and you won’t owe us a penny for our services unless we win your case. If you or a loved one has been injured in a farm accident due to negligence, contact our office today for a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer in Chicago.
Common Farm Accidents
- Insufficient training – These accidents can occur when a worker is not properly able to responsibly manage some type of equipment, machine, or tool that can cause a domino effect of accidents due to lack of control or knowledge.
- Equipment or machinery defects – These accidents can cause the equipment or machinery to break down, suddenly stop, or generally function abnormally.
- Mishandling machinery – These accidents can occur with improper use of machines, which are often very large in size. When larger machines are mishandled, the consequences are larger as well.
- Lack of warning labels or safety guards on machinery or equipment – When some machinery or equipment does not have warning labels for specific possible hazards or lacks safety guards, its operator is much more prone to accidents. It is the manufacturer’s responsibility to keep these labels and guards to keep those who use it safely.
- Tractor overturns – This is the most common type of accident resulting in death on farms. It can occur from sharp turns, traveling over uneven surfaces or hills, or impaired driving.
- Suffocation from grain bins – This accident occurs when a person falls into a grain bin and can suffocate to dangerous levels or die from entrapment.
- Falls from scaffolds, large structures, buildings, or machinery – These accidents can cause fatal injuries and are common, also, given the unique work that farmers must do. These accidents also include fallen objects, structures, or buildings.
- Exposure to chemicals or other hazardous gases – Exposure to harmful gases and chemicals is often the case with farmers that work with pesticides or any mixture made to tend to crops.
- Livestock accidents – A farm’s animals may be one of the most dangerous hazards on a farm. Animals are unpredictable and can charge at any moment.
Common Farm Accident Injuries
The environment of a farm and by the very nature of its work, there are countless ways that things can go wrong with all of them having different resulting injuries. Almost any farm accident can be deadly in a certain situation. However, some of the most common farm injuries include:
- Broken bones, fractures, or bruising, often from falls
- Neck or back injuries from repetitive injuries, especially for older workers
- Concussions or traumatic brain injuries from falls
- Crushing and trapping injuries from machinery rolling over a worker or fallen structures
- Burns or throat and lung injuries from chemical exposure
- Disfigurement
- Death
The Federal Environmental Pesticide Control Act and Negligence
The Federal Environmental Pesticide Control Act was enacted in 1972. It required the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ensure that labeling and classification of pesticides protected farmers, farmworkers, and other persons coming into contact with pesticides or pesticide residues. This is a very helpful legal act to help farmers and can protect with chemical exposure, perhaps if the classification of a pesticide is too strong or unsuited for the use and environment for which a farmer plans to use it. This is also a great example of where negligence can come in. If a pesticide does not have a proper label on it, then they can be liable for negligence for the consequences that a farmer must endure since they were unaware of its classification.
This applies to any farm accident; if negligence is present on the part of another party, you may have a lawsuit for a farm accident. Negligence is present when there is a duty of care from one party to another. This duty of care is a legal obligation to keep others reasonably safe around you. Then, this duty of care must be breached, and this breach must directly cause your injuries and/or losses. Lastly, you must show that you suffered actual damages from the accident. Then, you can begin speaking with an attorney who will help you navigate the legal process, use all available resources to investigate the accident, speak to experts, and negotiate with the insurance companies to get you the best settlement that you deserve.
Contact 844 See Mike, Today
Helping our clients is about counseling, advocating, and ultimately solving problems. With years of experience successfully representing the people, not the powerful, we will take care of the insurance adjusters, your medical bills, your property damage, your lost wages, and monitor your treatment so you can focus on healing and getting your life back to normal. Our unique formula has earned us over 950 outstanding client reviews on our website, an A+ BBB rating, and over 130 five-star reviews on Google. Call 888-572-0176, email us at michael@agrusslawfirm.com, or schedule a meeting with us here. We’re here 24/7.
