The Central Valley is home to some of the world’s most fertile farm land, so it stands to reason that farming is the region’s number one industry. Farmers are dependent on their tractors and other equipment to work their land. Unfortunately, operating this equipment is dangerous and can result in injury or death.
Farming Accidents
In the U.S., tractor accidents are the leading cause of farming fatalities and serious injury according to a report from the National Agriculture Safety Database. Each year, around 240 farm workers die in tractor or farm equipment accidents, and farming is the second most dangerous industry behind mining.
In a tragic example of the dangers of tractors, an 18-year-old farm worker was killed operating his tractor while bailing hay on July 5, 2019. The accident happened in a field near the intersection of Ave. 328 and Road 80 in Tulare County near Visalia.
According to a Facebook post from the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department, the man had been bailing hay when he was run over by the tractor he was driving. The events leading up to the accident are unknown at this time, but the accident is still under investigation.
Unfortunately, accidents like these are commonplace in the region as farm equipment like bailers, combines and planters are used by form workers. Industry safety experts say that for the most part farmers and workers are aware of the dangers that tractors possess, but they commonly feel that it’s not going to happen to them.
Rollover: Leading Causes of Tractor Accidents
Accidents occur because something goes wrong. Many are because of carelessness, inattentiveness or inexperience, and while the first two can be avoided, the last takes time, training and a healthly dose of common sense. Some of the leading causes of tractor deaths in the Central Valley are:
Tractor Rollovers
A tractor rollover is by far the leading cause of farm injuries and deaths. These happen when the tractor turns over onto its top pinning the worker and often subjecting them to the machinery. These can cause serious injury and fatalities.
Causes of a Rollover
- Improper hitching.
- Traveling up an incline that is too steep for the tractor to handle.
- Going too fast into a turn.
- Driving over holes in the fields.
- Driving too close to a ditch.
- Improper ballasting.
Prevention
Most rollovers can be prevented by a rollover protective structure (ROPS) which is essentially a cage or system of roll bars designed to keep the operator inside the cab when a tractor rolls over. Federal law requires all tractors manufactured after 1976 must contain and ROPS, but many farms still use the older equipment.
Lack of Seatbelt Use: Many of the ROPS have large openings where a worker could fall through in the case of a rollover or partial rollover. If a seatbelt isn’t used, then many of the ROPS become less effective.
Other Common Tractor Injuries:
- Runovers: These are less common, but not less dangerous and happen when either a worker in the field or the tractor operator falls under the moving tractor.
- Falling into equipment: Seeders, tillers, harvesters and other tractors have complex moving parts and can easily grab hold of a hand or piece of clothing.
- Collision with Vehicles: Many deaths and injuries happen when the tractor is moving on the highway from field to field and collides with a vehicle.
- Equipment Design: Many times, the problems with tractors that lead to rollovers and other accidents are because of defective design or manufacturing. The requirements for ROPS have changed over the years, and not all systems are made well or designed well.
- A manufacturer is required to design and produce equipment to specific safety and quality specifications, and if that doesn’t happen and it causes an accident, then the company can be held responsible.
What do I do if I’m Injured in a Farm Accident?
After getting immediate medical attention, the best thing to do is to contact an attorney. Don’t talk to an insurance agent or claims adjuster until you’ve spoken to the lawyer. While it’s not necessary to sue in every case, you need to make sure that you are not being told untruths and that you are being treated fairly.
The legal team at Maison Law are local to the Central Valley and they have experience helping farm owners and workers get compensation for their tractor-related injuries. They can talk to you in a free consultation to let you know your rights and to evaluate your case.
Contact Maison Law Law at 559-203-3333 to talk to an attorney who can give you the peace of mind that your case is being competently and professionally handled so you can focus on your recovery.
