It’s not an exaggeration to say Turlock, and the rest of the Central Valley feeds the entire nation. Stanislaus County and surrounding farm communities lead every other county in America in agriculture sales.
Deadly Accidents on the Farm
Growing and producing for the nation is only possible with a lot of sweat and hard work provided by local farm workers. Early mornings and late nights are the norms. Farmworkers get an incredible amount done each week, but not without risk. The strenuous work and the large machinery involved can lead to dangerous accidents.
The CDC reports that in 2017 alone, 416 farmers and farm workers died from a work-related injury. Those deaths are even more tragic when you consider that in any given year, around 400,000 farmworkers are under the age of 20.
Common Dangers in Farm Work
There are numerous ways to get injured in a farm-related accident. Sometimes a worker can make an error in judgment or ignore certain safety protocols. In other cases, it is the equipment or the fault of a third party. For example, if a harvester malfunctioned and a worker was injured, then the worker can seek compensation from the harvester manufacturer.
This is known as a third-party negligence claim, and it allows workers to sue someone other than their employer for damages if they are injured while at work. Some of the common third-party claims in the Turlock area are:
- Harvester/Combine Malfunctions
- Defective Tractors and Equipment
- Defective Farm Equipment
- Insufficient Safety Features
- Disease and Injury from Farm Products
- Insufficient Manufacture Warnings/Non-Disclosure
- Third-Party Company Employee’s Negligence
These are just a few, but anytime a farmworker uses equipment/products from an outside vendor whose negligence causes an injury, the worker can sue the vendor for damages. Other times, the injury is caused by a worker from another company and the injured farm worker can seek damages directly against that company.
Common Injuries on the Farm
TYPES OF INJURIES
The equipment used in farming is complex and powerful, and when an accident happens, the injuries are often serious. Some of the most common of these injuries are:
- Broken Arms/Legs
- Severed Limbs
- Back Injuries
- Rib Fracture/Displacement
- Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Torn Ligaments
- Sprains/Strains
- Repetitive Motion Injuries
CONTACT A FARM ACCIDENT LAWYER
At Maison Law, we are experienced in all types of farm-related injuries. When you are hurt in an accident, you can lose time from work and incur thousands in medical bills. We understand the uphill battle you will face in recovery. We know from experience how to deal with the medical service providers and the insurance company to help you get your life back on track.
After an accident involving a serious injury in Turlock and across 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.