Legal Rights if Injured by an Agricultural Vehicle

Ohio Agricultural (Farming) Vehicle Accidents

As farms expand in size, farmers increasingly need to use trucks, tractors, and trailers to transport large agricultural equipment, supplies, farm products, fertilizers, and other chemicals. The difference in speed, size, poor lighting, operator inexperience, and inadequate signage are common factors in agricultural vehicle accidents.

Whether it was a tractor, combine, fertilizer truck, or some other piece of agricultural machinery, if you or a loved one are injured in a motor vehicle accident with a farming vehicle, you shouldn’t have to deal with the process alone. At Kisling, Nestico & Redick, you don’t have to.

With considerable experience and a reputation for getting the best possible outcomes, our farming truck accident attorneys will discuss all your options and can help you secure max compensation. Call us at 1-800-HURT-NOW or use our online form for a free consultation.

Types of Agricultural Vehicle Accidents

According to the National Safety Council, agricultural vehicles are involved in an estimated 15,000 crashes each year in the United States. Accidents involving agricultural vehicles or equipment can be devastating and are largely preventable if the proper precautions are taken.

The most frequent accidents involving farming vehicles involve:

• Rear-end collisions – These types of accidents most often occur because of the difference in speed between the agricultural vehicle and other motor vehicles on the road. The result is that faster-approaching vehicles tend to misjudge the speed of the slow-moving vehicle and fail to reduce their speed appropriately. In Ohio, farm vehicle operators are required to use slow-moving emblems to identify their equipment so that motorists can adjust their speed accordingly.
• Left-turn collisions – These types of accidents usually occur when the agricultural vehicle slows down or stops to make a left turn and the driver behind them attempts to pass.
• Passing collisions – Farm equipment and machinery can be extra wide or long, meaning that the vehicle may take up more than half of the road. Motorists can underestimate the size or width of the vehicle when attempting to pass and sideswipe the vehicle.

Agricultural Vehicle Accidents: Common Causes

• Poor visibility or lighting on the road
• Difference in speed between agricultural vehicles and other motor vehicles
• Inexperienced operators
• Lack of slow-moving-vehicle signs
• Failure to properly secure equipment
• Poor road conditions
• Inadequate maintenance of equipment or machinery
• Operator negligence
• Oversized equipment or machinery

Agricultural Vehicle Accident Laws

Agricultural vehicle drivers that take their farming equipment onto public roads are required to obey state laws and operate their vehicles in a safe manner, just like any other motorist.

Liability & Negligence for Farm Vehicle Accidents

Establishing liability in an accident involving an agricultural vehicle can be complicated. These types of accidents can require complex investigations to determine liability, which is why it is important to work with an experienced personal injury lawyer as early as possible.

If you are pursuing an insurance claim or lawsuit after being injured by a farm vehicle, you must prove negligence caused the collision. To do this, you must show how:

• The defendant owed you a duty of care
• The defendant breached their duty of care
• This breach of duty caused the accident and your injuries
• You suffered injuries and substantial damages

For example, if you were hit by a large combine vehicle while it was on a public road because the operator was reckless, the driver would have owed you a duty of care like any other driver but breached that duty by driving too fast. You may be entitled to compensation if their action or inaction caused the accident and your resulting injuries.

Evidence in Agricultural Accident Cases

In addition, the driver may not be the only party who can be held accountable. For example, if the combine driver was working for a large commercial farm at the time of their accident, their employer could also be liable for your agricultural vehicle accident.

Some of the most compelling evidence used to prove negligence are:

• The accident report
• Witnesses
• Forensic evidence
• The driver’s social media profiles and posts
• Photos of the accident victim’s injuries
• The driver’s medical records
• Expert testimony

Agricultural Vehicle Accidents: Damages & Compensation

If you have been seriously injured in an agricultural vehicle accident because of another party’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for:

• Medical costs
• Loss of income
• Pain and suffering
• Disfigurement
• Mental anguish
• Loss of consortium

Whether through an insurance claim or lawsuit, you can and should seek the maximum compensation possible for the losses related to your accident. A favorable insurance settlement can help get you the proper medical care, make up for the time you’re off work, or otherwise help you put a collision with a large farming vehicle behind you.

Hurt By a Farming Vehicle? Call KNR

At Kisling, Nestico & Redick, our lawyers, have centuries of combined legal experience and are here to make your claim go as smoothly as possible. After an accident with a farming vehicle. When you work with us, we’ll immediately begin building a case to support your claim for max compensation.

Let KNR investigate your agricultural vehicle accident, find evidence of negligence, and use expert witnesses when necessary to help you get the fair and full amount you deserve.

Call 1-800-HURT-NOW or use our online contact form to schedule your free consultation today. KNR proudly serves Ohio’s rural counties & conducts consultations via Zoom.