Maison Law represents pumpkin patch venue injury victims in California. If you or a loved one has been injured at a pumpkin patch due to a hazardous condition or careless actions, the personal injury lawyers at Maison Law can help. Our firm has years of experience reaching successful settlements for personal injury victims and we can help you get the compensation you need. Contact Maison Law today for a free consultation and case evaluation.
Do I Need a Lawyer for a Pumpkin Patch Venue Injury?
If you or a loved one has been injured at a pumpkin patch, it is advisable to discuss the details of your injury with an attorney. Even if your injury seems minor, it could lead to more problematic health issues down the road.
For example, let’s say you were on a hayride with your child at a pumpkin patch. The tractor is towing you and other guests on a trailer until the hitch disconnects, bringing the trailer to a sudden halt. The sudden stop causes you to hit your head hard against the metal frame of the trailer. You have a knot on your head but don’t think much of it and exit the hayride with everyone else. However, one year later you’re experiencing neurological issues and your doctor says you must have experienced serious head trauma in the past. Now, you need treatment for an injury that occurred over a year ago. What should you do?
A personal injury attorney can help you bring a lawsuit against the pumpkin patch owner for allowing you, and your child, on a hazardous hayride. If carelessness caused your injury, then an attorney will work to prove the pumpkin patch owner was liable for your injuries. They will also:
- Connect you to trusted doctors for continued treatment
- File a lawsuit to get you compensation for your:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Assign liability to all additional parties responsible
- Communicate with insurance adjusters on your behalf
- Build your case by gathering concrete evidence to confirm your claim
- Represent you in court if your case goes to trial
Common Pumpkin Patch Hazards
A fall pumpkin patch is filled with exciting community activities like corn mazes, petting zoos, hayrides, pumpkin carving contests, and bounce houses. However, with any active environment involving many visitors, the risk of injury is higher. In fact, according to the National Children’s Center, nearly 14,000 children per year are injured on farms, or ranches, which is where pumpkin patch festivals are usually held. This statistic is not to dissuade you from partaking in the fall festivities, but to make you aware of the pumpkin patch premise liabilities. In California, premise liability is covered in covered in California’s Civil Code 1714(a), which states:
“Everyone is responsible, not only for the result of his or her willful acts, but also for an injury occasioned to another by his or her want of ordinary care or skill in the management of his or her property or person, except so far as the latter has, willfully or by want of ordinary care, brought the injury upon himself or herself.”
Some of the most common hazards you’ll find at a pumpkin patch include:
- Poorly maintained corn mazes
- Aggressive animals
- Unstable bounce pads
- Defective hayrides
- Uneven surfaces or potholes
Common Pumpkin Patch Venue Injuries:
Slipping and falling is one of the most common ways people get injured at a pumpkin patch. The majority of pumpkin patches in California are built on farmland. These farms usually involve hazardous equipment that visitors are not used to being around. These items include:
- Irrigation ditches
- Field Furrows
- Tractors
- Wired fences
- Gravel roads
- Uneven walking surfaces
Sometimes the farm fails to remove these hazards or warn visitors about them, resulting in injuries. Some of the most common injuries include:
- Slip-and-fall accidents: uneven surfaces, farm tools, and wet surfaces can cause farm guests to slip and fall during their visit.
- Health concerns and allergic reactions: Visitors may be allergic to hay, corn, or chemicals used on the farmland, causing them to have respiratory issues or other allergic reactions.
- Equipment injury: improperly installed or maintained equipment can cause injury to children and adults.
- Animal-related injuries: Petting zoos are fun, but they also present the risk of bites, scratches, and other injuries if they are not cared for properly by the pumpkin patch owner.
- Pumpkin carving: Pumpkin carving is one of the most common fall injuries, making up 44% of all fall-time injuries according to a study by the College of Food, Agriculture, and Environmental Science.
What is the Typical Compensation for a Pumpkin Patch Venue Injury?
There is no average compensation when it comes to premise liability lawsuits. The value of each case is dependent on the severity of your injuries and how much they’ve altered your life. For example, let’s say you broke your wrist when you slipped and fell in a pumpkin patch maze and were out of work for 3 to 4 months. Your compensation would reflect the cost of medical treatment received, lost wages, and non-economic damages such as anxiety, depression, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Contact a Pumpkin Patch Premise Liability Lawyer in California
If you or a loved one has been injured due to a hazardous condition at a pumpkin patch, the premise liability attorneys at Maison Law can get you the compensation you need. No upfront money is required and we don’t get paid unless we win your case. Contact Maison Law today for a free consultation and case evaluation.
