TRACTOR ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS

IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE SUFFERED INJURIES OR DIED FROM A TRACTOR ACCIDENT, YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION.

TRACTOR INJURY LAWSUIT CLAIMS

The U.S. Fatal Work Injury Census 2010 found the most significant net increase in work-related fatalities involved drivers of tractor-trailers or other heavy trucks–a 6 percent rise, from 577 cases per year to 610. The most common type of tractor-trailer crash is a rollover–the U.S. Department of Labor (USDL) reports that tractor-trailer rolls cause 44% of agricultural impacts. In addition, the National Tractor Safety Initiative says that tractor-related crashes result in approximately 130 deaths per year, which is half of all fatalities among farm workers.

Tractor manufacturers need to design their tractors to be safe. And they frequently need to warn about the hazards of operating one.

For instance, newer tractors must have rollover protective systems (ROPS), yet older models frequently tip. Of the 4.8 million tractors in the United States, 50% have no ROPS or safety harnesses.

It implies that you are unlikely to be at fault if your tractor causes an accident. Injuries from operating farm machinery are rarely caused by the farms using the machinery. Even if you believe you are partly to blame, you still have the right to seek compensation. Again, this is because you did not need to be in any way misusing the tractor to cause the breakdown.

Tractor accidents happen because manufacturers don’t have a safety-first design, and tractor companies donat bother warning you about how you could get hurt using these heavy, complicated machines. Runovers — These result in approximately 60 deaths each year. Motor Vehicle Collision–these result in about 50 deaths of operators and many injuries/deaths from motor vehicles each year. Entanglement with moving parts (shafts, pulleys, belts, chains, and gears) results in approximately ten deaths yearly.

You are driving in dangerous weather conditions or on rough terrain. The National Safety Council has published information on reducing your chances of a tractor-trailer crash.

Are the harnesses in place, and are safety harnesses being used? Is the PTO Master Shield installed? Is the operator platform cleared of debris? Is the Reactive Slow-Moving Vehicle icon posted?

Are the lights and blinkers working? Are lights and flashers operational?

Speak to a Tractor Accident Lawyer About Your Case for Free.

Was an “ABC” extinguisher installed? Is the tractor equipped with a full First Aid Kit? No matter how many safety precautions you take, it would help to remember that tractors are not designed for safety. When you are injured on a tractor, the equipment, not you, is considered “defective” — a term applied to poor product design, poor manufacture, a lack of safety notices, or all three.

That means: You are not to blame, and you deserve compensation! For example, suppose you are a traumatically injured agricultural laborer. In that case, if someone in your household was injured or died while driving a tractor, or if you lost wages because of tractor injuries, you could be eligible for compensation — including payments beyond what is covered under workers’ compensation. In addition, manufacturers that design and distribute unsafe equipment must compensate you for losses you have suffered from using their products. For a free, completely confidential consultation, call us at (888) 491-0444.