A serious farming accident occurred in Farwell, Minnesota at the end of October. A worker was found deceased in a farm field in the area. Law enforcement responded to the accident and determined that the worker had been chisel plowing when he was run over by the plow and dragged. The worker had been alone at the time of the accident and the accident was only discovered after the man did not return home that night. The man was transported to a nearby medical examiner’s office. Law enforcement is still investigating exactly how the accident occurred. Statistics reveal that somewhere between 500 to 600 individuals are killed each year in farm tractor accidents, with a large number of these deaths being caused by tractor rollovers.
Common Types of Farm Accidents
Anyone who works on a farm, including part-time help and full-time employees, must be aware of the many ways in which farm accidents can occur. Some of the most common types of farm accidents include:
- Agricultural equipment accidents involving augers, barn cleaners, combines, corn pickers, hay bailers, and power drives.
- Car crashes that occur while workers are on the farm.
- Electrocution from equipment that is used improperly.
- Exposure to hazardous chemicals.
- Falls from heavy equipment, which could include combines or tractors.
- Falls from horses.
- Falls from ladders and other types of heights.
- Farm structure emergencies including grain bin and silo entrapments.
- Four wheeler accidents.
- Improperly maintained farming equipment.
- Injuries due to being kicked by animals.
- Machinery accidents that result in crushing or the loss of limbs.
- Pesticide exposure and burns due to fertilizer usage. Exposure to these substances can cause a variety of serious toxic reactions. Some of the signs of adverse reactions include dizziness, fatigue, headaches, skin rashes, and vomiting. Even more serious conditions can also arise, including central nervous system damage, Hodgkin’s disease, leukemia, lung cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and soft tissue sarcoma.
- Removal of guards, shields, and other safety devices from farming equipment.
- Spills and fires, which result in burns and serious falls.
- Tractor rollovers that involve crushing accidents and internal organ damage.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration creates standards for workers in the agricultural field. These standards are designed to make sure that workers use equipment in the safest manner possible. Unfortunately, not all equipment meets these standards. Sometimes workers also do not take all the proper precautions.
Contact a Knowledgeable Farm Accident Lawyer
Farmers provide an invaluable service in the states of Minnesota and North Dakota, but are unfortunately faced with a large number of risks while on the job. If you or a loved one is harmed in a farming accident, it is not uncommon to be faced with serious injuries that follow you for the rest of your life as well as lost wages and large medical bills. The personal injury attorneys at our law firm understand how to best fight for the compensation that you deserve. Contact Tatum O’Brien, Tim O’Keeffe or Sara Monson at O’Keeffe O’Brien Lyson Foss by calling 701-235-8000 or 877-235-8002.
