About Farm Tractor Accidents - Serious Injuries and Fatalities

Tractors are an essential piece of farm equipment. Yet given their prevalence, tractors are also the leading cause of disabling injuries and fatal injuries on farms. There are news stories every few weeks about a serious tractor accident or tractor fatality. Recently, there was a story about a man who was killed in Stokes County, North Carolina after being pinned and crushed beneath a tractor. Another tractor accident claimed the life of a man from Bethalo, Illinois, who was thrown from his tractor and then run over. Research estimates that tractor accidents can account for as much as one-third to one-half of all fatal injuries on farms. The two most common types of fatal tractor accidents involved the tractor rolling over or overturning and the tractor running over or crushing the tractor operator. Other common causes of fatal tractor accidents include road collisions, contact with low-lying structures (e.g., wires, various overhangs), and becoming entangled with the power take-off (PTO). Many of these fatal tractor accidents can be avoided if the tractor is sufficiently equipped with the proper rollover protective structures. Some of the most important protective structures and features on a tractor include safety restraints such as seatbelts and protective structures that protect tractor operator from harmful substances (e.g., battery leakage, coolant, fuel) and protection from sharp or other wise dangerous surfaces are integral to preventing injury or death. If you or a loved on is seriously injured in a tractor accident or if you have lost a loved on in a tractor accident, it is important to discuss the details of your case with an attorney to determine if you are legally entitled to a settlement. If manufacturer error or design flaws contributed to the tractor accident, you may eligible to file a product liability claim against the responsible parties. And should the tractor accident result in death and another party is responsible for causing the tractor accident, you may be eligible to file a wrongful death suit to claim compensation for pain and suffering, funerary costs, loss of income, and other damages. Obtaining legal assistance is critical if you or a loved one has suffered an injury due to the negligence of another party. Farm equipment accident attorneys, tractor accident attorneys, and riding lawn mower accident attorneys have the specialized knowledge and experience to help individuals and families receive compensation for financial losses, physical injuries, and emotional distress.