Farmers in the greater Syracuse area work hard to provide us with the food we need. Every day, hundreds of farm workers suffer serious injuries in New York and throughout the United States. Most farming accidents involve negligently or recklessly operating large farm equipment. Other accidents involve dangerous conditions on the farm. In a matter of seconds, victims can suffer devastating injuries.
If you have been injured in a farming accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, property damage, pain, suffering, and other damages. The skilled personal injury attorneys at Carden Dotzler Hammond, PLLC are prepared to review your case, answer your questions, and help you understand your legal rights.
Farming Accidents Involving Tractors and Combines Injuries
Tractor-related injuries are far too common. Tractors can overturn or roll over due to a defect, putting operators at risk of injury. Workers can suffer injuries if a negligent tractor driver runs them over. Other accidents involve exposure to overhanging electrical wires while operating a tractor.
Many commercial tractors are massive. When operators back into a wall or another vehicle, victims can become pinned between the vehicles. Tractor operators may accidentally fall off of them, breaking bones in the collision. Collisions between tractors and other vehicles, including passenger vehicles on public roadways, can cause devastating injuries.
Tractors are only one of several types of heavy machinery used on farms. Combine harvesters can be dangerous when the operator isn’t experienced or is operating the machine negligently. Farmers can become struck by or pinned by combined machines. They can also become entangled in belts, chains, gears, and harvesting machines. For example, in the past, farm workers have died while being pinned down by the arm of an almond shaker.
Injuries Caused By Working with Farm Animals
When farmers work with livestock, two main types of accidents can occur. Motor vehicle collisions can be caused when large animals make their way on the road. When fences aren’t secure, or workers fail to secure gates, drivers can become injured when colliding with large animals. The second type of farming accident involving large animals occurs when workers become injured while feeding, transporting, administering medications, tagging, and grooming. Livestock accidents could include the following:
- Livestock animal bites
- Horses or cows stepping on a worker’s foot
- Cows charging workers and crushing them
- Livestock animals kicking or hitting workers
- Being trampled or crushed by a livestock animal
- A livestock animal with horns gores workers
- Exposure to disease transmitted by livestock animals
I’ve Been Injured in a Farming Accident. What Are My Legal Rights?
If you’ve been injured in a farming accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. This could include reimbursement for your medical expenses, compensation for your pain and suffering, and even coverage for future medical treatments or lost wages if your injuries prevent you from working.
To recover this compensation through a personal injury lawsuit, you and your attorney must prove that someone else’s negligence caused your injuries. If you were injured because of the negligence or reckless conduct of another person, company, or business, you have the right to pursue compensation from them.
For example, suppose you were injured while operating a tractor and later discovered the tractor’s owner failed to maintain it, which caused the accident. In that case, you will likely have a claim for compensation. Speaking to an attorney before you speak to any insurance company can help protect your compensation claim.
An attorney can help you identify any at-fault parties liable for your injuries. You may have the right to bring a claim against the farm. If the farm is a separate company, you may have the right to pursue a claim against the farmers as individuals and the farm. Your personal injury attorney will investigate your case and gather evidence related to the cause of the accident. Your attorney will also obtain your medical records and work with medical experts to determine the full extent of your medical expenses and pain and suffering.
How to Recover Money After Being Injured on a Farm
Two main avenues exist to recover compensation after a farm injury in New York. If the farm owner’s negligence caused your injuries, you would likely have a right to pursue an insurance claim through the farmer’s commercial insurance policy. Certain agricultural trailers and vehicles must maintain New York State automobile liability insurance coverage. The landowner or farm will likely carry additional commercial insurance coverage for accidents and injuries on the farm.
Available Damages in Farm Accident Claims
An experienced attorney can provide you with an estimate of the monetary value of your claim. The value of your claim depends on several factors, including the severity of your physical injuries. Serious injuries such as brain injuries, injuries requiring surgeries, and spinal cord injuries could be valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars to multi-million dollars.
The impact on your life will ultimately determine your case’s value. For example, suppose you can no longer work because of your injuries. In that case, your attorney can pursue future lost earnings and your future medical expenses, which will likely be a significant percentage of your damages.
If your injuries are extensive, pursuing a personal injury lawsuit in a New York civil court may be a better strategy to recover compensation for all of your damages. However, it’s important to note that personal injury lawsuits can be complex. They may also involve negotiations with insurance companies or other parties. Through a personal injury lawsuit, victims can pursue compensation for economic and non-economic damages, such as compensation for pain and suffering. Your attorney will guide you through this process and work to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
Contact Our Experienced Syracuse & Central New York Farming Accident Attorneys
At Carden Dotzler Hammond, PLLC, we have a track record of successfully obtaining the full compensation our clients observe. If you’ve suffered a farming accident, you aren’t alone. Our skilled attorneys are prepared to pursue the full compensation you need and deserve. We will handle every aspect of your case while you focus on your recovery. Don’t hesitate to contact Carden Dotzler Hammond, PLLC, to schedule a complimentary, no-obligation case evaluation.
Carden Dotzler Hammond, PLLC represents clients in Syracuse, Central New York, and in the following towns and villages of Onondaga County: Camillus, Cicero, Clay, Dewitt, Elbridge, Geddes, Manlius, Marcellus, Onondaga, Salina, Skaneateles, Baldwinsville, East Syracuse, Fayetteville, Jefferson County, Liverpool, North Syracuse, and Solvay.