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Agricultural equipment accidents can happen in many different ways. Some occur on public roads when cars and trucks collide with slow-moving farm vehicles. Others happen in fields and on farms when equipment malfunctions or operators make mistakes. Still others involve defective equipment that fails during normal use.
The consequences of these accidents are often severe. Farm equipment is large and heavy, and it operates with powerful moving parts. A person struck by a tractor or caught in a combine can suffer catastrophic injuries. Burns, amputations, crush injuries, and traumatic brain injuries are all too common in these cases.
Alabama’s agricultural sector is substantial. The state has over 40,000 farms covering more than 8 million acres. Cotton, peanuts, poultry, and cattle are major products. With this level of agricultural activity comes a corresponding risk of equipment-related accidents. Every year, farmers, farm workers, and members of the public are injured or killed in incidents involving tractors, combines, grain augers, balers, and other machinery.
Operator Error
Many farm equipment accidents result from operator mistakes. Inexperienced or improperly trained operators may not understand how to safely operate complex machinery. Fatigue is also a significant factor, as farm work often involves long hours during planting and harvest seasons. An exhausted operator is more likely to make a mistake that leads to an accident.
Equipment Malfunction
Farm equipment is subjected to harsh conditions and heavy use. When equipment is not properly maintained, parts can wear out and fail. Hydraulic systems can leak, brakes can fail, and safety guards can become damaged or removed. A mechanical failure at the wrong moment can cause a serious accident.
Defective Design or Manufacturing
Sometimes the equipment itself is the problem. A tractor may have a design flaw that makes it prone to rollovers. A combine may have a safety guard that is inadequate to protect operators from moving parts. When equipment is defectively designed or manufactured, the manufacturer can be held liable for injuries that result.
Road Accidents
Farm equipment often travels on public roads to move between fields. These vehicles are slow-moving and can be difficult to see, especially at dawn, dusk, or at night. Drivers of cars and trucks may fail to notice a tractor ahead of them until it is too late to stop. Rear-end collisions with farm equipment can be devastating for the occupants of the smaller vehicle.
Improper Transport
When farm equipment is transported on trailers, it must be properly secured. Equipment that comes loose during transport can fall onto the roadway, causing accidents. Improperly secured loads are a violation of federal and state transportation regulations, and the party responsible for securing the load can be held liable for resulting injuries.
The injuries suffered in farm equipment accidents are often severe and life-changing. The size and power of agricultural machinery mean that even a momentary contact can cause catastrophic harm.
Traumatic Brain Injuries:
A blow to the head from farm equipment or a fall from a tractor can cause a traumatic brain injury. These injuries range from mild concussions to severe brain damage that affects cognitive function, memory, and personality. Victims may require lifelong care and may never be able to return to work.
Spinal Cord Injuries:
Damage to the spinal cord can result in partial or complete paralysis. Victims may lose the ability to walk, use their arms, or control bodily functions. Spinal cord injuries require extensive medical treatment and often result in permanent disability.
Amputations:
Farm equipment with rotating blades, augers, and other moving parts can sever limbs in an instant. Victims may lose fingers, hands, arms, or legs. While prosthetic devices can help restore some function, an amputation is a permanent and life-altering injury.
Crush Injuries:
The weight of farm equipment can crush bones, muscles, and internal organs. Rollover accidents, in particular, can trap victims beneath heavy machinery. Crush injuries often require multiple surgeries and can result in permanent disability or death.
Burns:
Farm equipment uses fuel, hydraulic fluid, and other flammable materials. Fires and explosions can occur, causing severe burns. Burn injuries are extremely painful and often require skin grafts and other extensive medical treatment.
Wrongful Death:
Tragically, many agricultural equipment accidents are fatal. When a family loses a loved one due to someone else’s negligence, they may be entitled to compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit.
The Equipment Operator
If the operator of the farm equipment was negligent, they can be held liable for the accident. Negligence might include operating the equipment while fatigued, failing to follow safety procedures, or operating on a public road without proper lighting or signage.
The Farm Owner or Employer
Farm owners and agricultural businesses have a duty to ensure that their equipment is properly maintained and that their workers are properly trained. If a farm owner was negligent in hiring, training, or supervising an operator, or in maintaining equipment, they can be held liable. Under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior, employers can also be held liable for the negligent acts of their employees performed within the scope of employment.
The Equipment Manufacturer
If the farm equipment was defectively designed or manufactured, the manufacturer can be held liable under product liability law. This is true even if the manufacturer was not negligent. Product liability is a form of strict liability, meaning that the manufacturer is responsible for defects regardless of fault.
Other Drivers
If a car or truck driver caused an accident with farm equipment, that driver can be held liable. Common causes include speeding, distracted driving, and failure to yield to slow-moving vehicles.
Maintenance Companies
If a third party was responsible for maintaining the equipment and failed to do so properly, they can be held liable for accidents caused by mechanical failures.
Negligence
Most personal injury claims are based on negligence. To prove negligence, the victim must show that the defendant owed a duty of care, breached that duty, and caused the victim’s injuries as a result. In farm equipment cases, the duty of care might include operating equipment safely, maintaining equipment properly, or following traffic laws when operating on public roads.
Product Liability
When a defective product causes an injury, the victim can sue the manufacturer under Alabama’s product liability law. Alabama follows the Alabama Extended Manufacturer’s Liability Doctrine (AEMLD), which holds manufacturers strictly liable for injuries caused by defective products. The victim does not need to prove negligence; they only need to show that the product was defective and that the defect caused their injury.
Wrongful Death
When a farm equipment accident results in death, the victim’s family can file a wrongful death lawsuit. Under Alabama Code § 6-5-410, the personal representative of the deceased’s estate can bring a claim for damages. Alabama wrongful death damages are punitive in nature, meaning they are intended to punish the defendant rather than compensate the family for their loss.
Statute of Limitations
Alabama has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death claims. This means that victims must file their lawsuit within two years of the date of the accident, or within two years of the date of death in wrongful death cases. Failing to file within this time period will result in the case being dismissed.
Seek Medical Attention:
Your health is the top priority. Even if you do not think you are seriously injured, you should be evaluated by a medical professional. Some injuries, such as internal bleeding or traumatic brain injuries, may not be immediately apparent.
Report the Accident:
If the accident occurred on a public road, call law enforcement to report it. If it occurred on a farm or worksite, report it to the property owner or employer. A formal report creates a record of the accident that can be valuable evidence later.
Document Everything:
Take photographs of the accident scene, the equipment involved, and your injuries. Get the names and contact information of any witnesses. Keep copies of all medical records and bills.
Do Not Give Statements:
Insurance adjusters may contact you soon after the accident. Do not give a recorded statement or sign any documents without first consulting with an attorney. Anything you say can be used to reduce or deny your claim.
Contact an Attorney:
An experienced personal injury attorney can investigate the accident, identify all liable parties, and fight for the compensation you deserve. The sooner you contact an attorney, the better they can preserve evidence and protect your rights.
At Alsobrook Law Group, we understand the devastating impact that agricultural equipment accidents can have on victims and their families. We have helped clients throughout Lee County and across Alabama recover compensation for their injuries.
When you work with our firm, we will conduct a thorough investigation of your accident. We will work with accident reconstruction experts, agricultural safety consultants, and medical professionals to build a strong case. We will identify all parties who may be liable and pursue every avenue of recovery.
We handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we recover money for you. There is no upfront cost and no financial risk to you.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an agricultural equipment accident, contact Alsobrook Law Group today at 334-737-3718 or through our website to schedule a free consultation. We are here to help you get the justice and compensation you deserve.
Zachary D. Alsobrook is a partner in the Opelika law firm of Alsobrook Law Group, where he concentrates his practice in the areas of criminal defense and DUI; divorce, child custody…
The Alsobrook Law Firm is located in Opelika, AL and serves clients in and around Opelika, Loachapoka, Auburn, Salem, Waverly, Cusseta, Smiths, Barbour County, Bullock County, Calhoun County, Chambers County, Clay County, Cleburne County, Coosa County, Dale County, Elmore County, Henry County, Lee County, Macon County, Montgomery County, Pike County, Randolph County, Russell County, Talladega County and Tallapoosa County.
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