Kentucky has some of the most fertile farmland in the country, especially the bluegrass region. Kentucky grows a significant portion of the nation’s produce and also staples like wheat, corn, and hay. Kentucky farming is diverse and many of the farms are also big producers of poultry and cattle.
Farming is one of the most dangerous industries for worker’s injuries accounting for over 30,000 significant injuries and around 500 deaths a year.
Ways to get Injured on a Farm
There are many ways to get injured on a farm, and most have to do with a piece of farm equipment. Some of the common ways Kentucky farmers get injured 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
Non-Worker Injuries
Not all injuries happen to farmworkers. If you’ve been in rural Kentucky, no doubt you’ve seen the farm equipment out on the highway working their way to the next tract of farmland. When these machines mingle with motorists, accidents happen. Some of the most common of these are:
- Tractor Vehicle Accidents
- Harvester/Combine Vehicle Accidents
- Passing Accidents
- Chemical Spills
- Farm Waste Contamination Injuries
Types of Injuries
The number one type of accident is a tractor (or combine) rollover. This causes serious injuries, and some of the more common of these are:
- Broken Arms/Legs
- Severed Limbs
- Back Injuries
- Rib Fracture/Displacement
- Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Torn Ligaments
- Sprains/Strains
- Repetitive Motion Injuries
Third-Party Farming Liability
When a farmworker is injured, the state of Kentucky has worker’s compensation that will pay the medical bills, some of the lost wages incurred and any permanent disability. However, if the injury is caused in part by someone other than the employer, the worker might be able to seek compensation against this third party.
An example is if the tractor rolled over and the roll cage failed, causing severe crush injuries, then the worker could possibly sue the manufacturer of the tractor for defective manufacturing or design. This is called third-party because the cause is not the workers or the employers, but a third party.
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney Today
Accident victims often wonder if they need an attorney, and the answer is almost always yes. The insurance company agents have years of experience and are good at their job which is to pay you as little as possible or nothing at all. You need someone just as experienced to help you level the field.
Talk to a Louisville Personal Injury Attorney you can trust to be on your side and get you what is yours under the law.The attorneys at Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC, have that knowledge and a combined 100 years’ experience in helping clients get the results they deserve. To discuss your case, call Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC today, at (800) 937-8443 or click here to contact them online.
