According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, agricultural jobs rank among the most-deadly in the U.S., with 22 of every 100,000 farm workers dying in a work-related accident. Nearly one-third of these fatalities are due to tractor injuries, including tractor overturn accidents.
Many tractor accidents are the result of improper maintenance, insufficient training, unsafe use, or any other number of negligent practices. Unsafe design and/or manufacturing of a tractor may also contribute to deadly tractor accidents.
Tractor Overturn Accidents
The National Safety Council ranks tractor overturn accidents as the number one cause of death and injury on farms in the U.S. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries estimates that 125 people are killed every year due to tractor overturn accidents. These accidents are commonly caused by a myriad of preventable causes, including:
- Failure to hitch properly
- Going up an incline that is too steep
- Speeding
- Poor turning
- Ballasting improperly
- Stuck rear wheels
- Manufacturing defects
- Lack of safety features
Modern tractors are legally required to have rollover protection systems and seat belts, however approximately 50% of tractors in the U.S. are older models which do not have these safety protections, putting employees at serious risk for injuries and fatalities.
Determining Tractor Overturn Accident Liability
In a tractor overturn accident, determining liability can be complicated, and one or more parties may be involved, including:
- The farm owner: If a tractor was suffering from lack of maintenance, missing key safety features or they are in bad repair, or the operator was inadequately or improperly trained, the farm owner may be held liable for the accident.
- The tractor owner: If a tractor was rented or provided to a farm on a lease and the tractor was unsafe, the owner of the tractor may be responsible for damages.
- The tractor operator: Irresponsible driving on the part of the tractor operator may make them liable for an accident.
- The maintenance crew: If a tractor was maintained by a third-party maintenance company but they falsified what was done or they provided inadequate maintenance, they could be held liable for damages.
- The manufacturer: In the event that a tractor was designed and/or manufactured defectively and it can be established that the tractor failure caused the accident, you may have a case against anyone involved in the chain of distribution of the defective tractor and/or its parts.
As a Farm Worker, You Have Rights
Agricultural jobs rank as one of the most dangerous in the U.S. If you or a loved one was injured, you may be entitled to compensation depending on the circumstances of your accident. Negligence on the part of your employer, machinery manufacturer, landowner, etc. can be grounds for a personal injury lawsuit and the lawyers at America’s Consumer Lawyer will work with you to help determine whether filing a lawsuit is in your best interest and make sure you receive the compensation you deserve.
We are proud to serve our fellow citizens in personal injury cases, especially when you or a loved one has suffered an injury or illness due to another’s negligence. We see you as a person, not just a client – and that makes us better at the work we do. We listen. We learn your story. And, as we help you get the money you deserve, we go above and beyond in a way most law firms never could and never would. Because we’re not just lawyers. And you’re not just a client. We’re friends, neighbors, family. We’re all people and here at America’s Consumer Lawyer, we put People, First.
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, and 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 125 five-star reviews on Google. Call 888-572-0176, e-mail us at michael@agrusslawfirm.com, or schedule a meeting with us here. We’re here 24/7.
