Farm Fatalities are Rising
The Bureau of Labor Statistics published their report of fatal work injuries. The agency found that farm deaths have risen 7%. This is the third straight year that death rates are on the rise. In fact, this is the highest rate since 2006.
A Closer Look at Farm Fatalities
Indiana is one of the few states that still have the resources to track farm fatalities and serious injuries. The state agency found there were 44 farm-related deaths there last year. This is 47% higher than the average number, which dates all the way back to 1970. These numbers do not include crashes involving farm trucks, heart attacks, heat or medical complications.
Most Farm Fatalities Are From Machines
Farming is a dangerous job, and unsafe machinery is normally the cause. Most equipment-related accidents on the farm are due to farm tractor rollovers. In 2016, 80% of all farm deaths were because of vehicles and/or machinery.
Many farmers purchase comprehensive warranties on their equipment. This usually covers any mechanical defects that occur. However, the corporations who drafted the warranties use large legal departments to minimize their responsibility to correct a defect. Many also find that the fine print has even rendered the warranty useless.
Tractors Responsible for Highest Farm Fatalities
Tractor deaths claimed 125 lives in the US alone. Overturned tractors are the number one cause of serious injury to farmers. This normally happens when the tractor hits a slope with slippery or rough terrain causing it to roll over. Pulling a heavy load can compound the danger by causing poor equilibrium.
Rollover protective structures (ROPS) became standard in the US along with safety belts. Yet, despite the safety measures, tractor deaths keep climbing. The reason for this is many farms still use older tractors without rollover bars. Farmers also remove ROPS since the bars make it hard to maneuver tractors into sheds and other farm buildings. Only 60% of the 4.6 million tractors in the US have ROPS.
In order for ROPs to protect the 60% of farmers who use it, he or she needs to use the provided safety belt. If not, they can slip past the roll bar and into harm’s way. Unfortunately, most farmers neglect to buckle their seat belt, or they have and the belt malfunctioned.
Farming Equipment Accidents Compensation is Available
As a farm worker, you help feed the nation. It is simply not right that you are exposed to such hazards to do your job−especially when so many accidents could be prevented if manufacturers produced safe equipment and included warnings on their products.
Yet corporations continue to manufacture equipment that fails to adequately protect you. Instead, equipment injures or kills hard-working farmers every year.
You deserve compensation for your suffering, and the Farm Injury Resource Center wants to help you get it.
If you are an injured farm worker, if one of your family members has been injured or died working on a farm, or if you have lost wages due to injury, you are entitled to payments to help you recover medical and other costs.
Farmers injured or killed by farm equipment may be also eligible to receive payment for several types of compensation, including:
- Medical bills
- Skills training
- Lost income
- Physical suffering
- Emotional distress
- Disability benefits
- Death
No matter what state, work status, or nationality, help is available. For a free and totally confidential consultation, contact the Farm Injury Resource Center. Let us help you win the compensation you deserve.