Farm Accident Claims

Agricultural vehicles and machinery can be incredibly dangerous when the proper health and safety procedures aren’t in place. Tractor accidents, for example, can prove fatal.

Although being injured by farm machinery isn’t grounds for a case in itself, you may be able to claim compensation if there was any kind of negligence to blame.

When it comes to farm equipment accidents, the most common sources of negligence include:

• A failure to carry out a risk assessment
• A lack of fixed guarding to protect workers from dangerous parts on machinery
• An inadequate maintenance/inspection regime
• Workers being asked to operate machinery they are not trained to use.

If corners are cut, the effects of a farm machinery accident can be devastating. We have experience helping farm workers claim following accidents that involved:

• Balers
• Combine harvesters
• Mowers
• Sorting machinery
• Tractors.

Farm animals can be notoriously unpredictable, so it’s important that farmers do as much as possible to protect members of the public and workers alike from injury.

If certain animals are known to have dangerous tendencies, the owner can be held legally responsible for any injuries they go on to cause.

Cattle can become particularly aggressive during calving season, charging down perceived threats to their young. We have helped a number of people who have been attacked and trampled by cows and bulls while out walking on public footpaths, as well as representing the families of those who were tragically killed by cattle.

According to the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, employers have a responsibility to protect the public from any unnecessary risks, including the dangers posed by livestock. For example, the Health and Safety Executive advises that:

• Cattle are checked at least once a day for signs of aggression or illness
• Fences are checked at least once a day for damage
• Paths are clearly marked so that walkers don’t wander into a field without public access
• Signs are displayed to warn walkers of the presence of cattle

If you or a loved one was injured because of the animal owner’s negligence you may be able to make a claim.

Grain silos and slurry pits are among the most hazardous places on a farm. They must be treated with extreme caution, as any bad accidents could be fatal.

Unfortunately, many people have died or been seriously injured as a result of slurry pit accidents. The toxic nature of the gases released by a slurry pit can quickly cause workers to lose consciousness. Certain health and safety precautions should be followed to prevent a tragedy:

• Slurry pits must be well-ventilated (and work involving slurry should be done on a windy day)
• People working in the slurry pit should wear a harness attached to some kind of pulley ready to pull them to safety if they encounter trouble
• Farm staff shouldn’t work on their own around slurry
• The atmosphere around the pit should be tested for toxicity before anyone re-enters the area after the work’s been done

Grain silos can also be deadly if the right procedures aren’t in place for workers. If a farmhand enters a silo without the right safety equipment, the grain can quickly engulf them, causing suffocation and crushing injuries.

If you were injured as a result of a farm employer’s negligence, we could help you claim compensation. Investigating the circumstances leading to the incident, we will demand answers from those responsible.