Take a ride anywhere around Corcoran and you’ll see the footprint of the farming industry. Crops pop up everywhere in the spring and harvesting goes on throughout the year. Central Valley is proud of its farming tradition.
The work never stops, and that can provide obstacles for other residents using local streets and highways. Heavy equipment can block traffic as farmhands move from field to field. Freight trucks moving produce are also picking up and delivering at all hours. Those heavy vehicles can be a nightmare for travelers, especially in a collision. The consequences of hitting one of these big trucks or machines can be devastating for motorists.
Farming Traffic Dangers in Corcoran
The risks can be high for you in your own vehicle and also for the drivers and operators of farm vehicles. The CDC found that In 2017, 416 farmers and farm workers tragically died from a work-related injury. Transportation incidents were the leading cause of death for farmers and farm workers.
You’ve probably seen people stuck behind slow farm traffic trying to make an ill-advised attempt to pass in a dangerous spot on the road. These careless drivers can race alongside the vehicle and be at risk for a head-on collision from a car they didn’t see coming. They can also be invisible to the equipment operator who suddenly makes a left turn without knowing that a driver is coming up alongside.
Hazardous situations like these can play out every week on Kings County roads. Tragic accidents can leave drivers and passengers in any vehicle involved with severe injuries.
Farm Vehicles Common Hazards
We’ve mentioned the long lines that can form behind slow-moving vehicles and the dangerous risks motorists may take to go around farming obstacles.
Beyond collision incidents, farming vehicles can present other dangers to motorists:
- Lost Payload Dangers — Trucks can lose unstable loads (vegetables, fruit crates) and drop an unavoidable obstacle in your path.
- Chemical Spills – Harmful chemicals used on farms can make you sick and leave you with unexpected health issues later in life.
- Farm Waste Contamination Injuries.
- Harvester/Combine Vehicle Collisions – These vehicles can offer extra danger from protruding gear and equipment that breaks free and is suddenly hurling towards you. There’s even the danger of your vehicle ending up under one of these giant machines in a collision.
Complex Farming Accident Cases in Corcoran
If you or a member of your family are hurt in an accident involving a farming vehicle sorting out just how to get help with your recovery can be a confusing task.
Filing a claim after an accident can involve many parties. It may just involve a local farmer/owner of a farm and his or her personal insurance policy. A national farming company may operate the local farm and their corporate lawyers and insurance agents may get involved.
The drivers may be working for a contracted transportation company that assists the farm with delivery and shipping. That trucking company may be responsible for paying you compensation for your hospital bills and lost wages at work.
If a malfunction on a vehicle or piece of equipment leads to your accident then the manufacturer of the vehicle can be part of a civil lawsuit filed on your behalf.
The truth is that a claim over your injuries may involve all of these entities and more. The good news is that an experienced farming accident attorney with knowledge of the area can sit down with you and determine everyone who may share in the liability for your physical and emotional hardships.
Contact a Farming Vehicle Accident Lawyer
After a serious traffic accident involving a piece of farming equipment or a farm truck talk over your case with a local attorney. If your accident was caused by a farmworker backed by a regional or national company you may soon be getting calls from corporate lawyers and insurance agents. These representatives are on the company payroll and will be looking to discredit your accident and your injuries and hoping you’ll accept their lowball offers. Make sure you have your own attorney to protect you from their tricks of the trade.
After a serious injury anywhere in Central Valley, contact attorney Martin Gasparian for a free consultation and case evaluation. Mr. Gasparian takes a hands-on approach to every case. He believes that every client should work directly with their lawyer, get honest advice, and personalized attention to detail their case deserves.
