Common Farm Injuries

Agriculture is a vital industry in Illinois, but it can also be a hazardous one. Farm injuries are very common and can be caused by unsafe equipment, long-term exposure, poor training, chemical exposure, and preventable hazards. If you get injured while working on a farm, you may be eligible for compensation, depending on the cause of the agricultural injuries. 

IL Work Injury Lawyer is a firm that specializes in workplace accidents. Our team has decades of experience serving injured workers, including those in agricultural settings. We have experience with workers’ compensation claims and third-party injury lawsuits. 

What Are the Most Common Agricultural Injuries?

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, this industry is one of the most dangerous occupations in the country. Between 2015 and 2019, farm injury statistics revealed that approximately 60,000 people were treated in emergency departments for agriculture-related injuries. 

Tractor Overturn Accidents

Tractors are among the most common culprits in agricultural injuries. These vehicles weigh thousands of pounds and are used for various tasks on the farm. When a tractor overturns because of a slope, attachment, or improper use, it can crush or pin a worker. 

Tractor overturn accidents often cause crush injuries, internal bleeding, and compartment syndrome. Rollovers can happen due to uneven terrain, equipment defects, or a lack of rollover protection. All these circumstances could arise due to negligence, especially when workers or employers attempt to cut corners. 

Falls from Heights

Many farm workers get hurt because they fall from heights. Whether they are climbing a ladder, barn rafter, silo, tractor, grain bin, grain elevator, or aerial lift, slipping and falling could cause serious injuries. 

Elevated work on farms can be very hazardous due to these fall hazards. Unstable platforms, exposure to weather conditions (such as rain or snow), and a lack of fall protection can increase the risk of a farm accident. Lift accidents are very common in agricultural settings. 

These falls can lead to fractured bones, head injuries, back injuries, and organ damage.

Machinery Entanglements and Amputations

Farms rely on numerous pieces of heavy machinery to carry out operations. Tractors, combines, harvesters, augers, PTO shafts, attachments, and other types of farming equipment are essential for farm workers to perform their jobs, but they can also cause entanglements and mechanical issues. 

Many of these agricultural injuries involve hands, arms, or fingers getting caught or severed. Some common agricultural injuries caused by machinery include traumatic amputations, deep lacerations, and long-term disability. Potential causes may include a lack of safety protocols or improper maintenance. 

Suffocation in Grain Bins and Silos

Grain silos and bins can cause devastating accidents involving farm workers. If someone falls into one of these receptacles while entering or unloading, they could suffocate. The risk of engulfment and shifting grain can lead to severe injuries and even death. 

Victims of silo accidents can run out of air in seconds. This is why the Occupational Safety and Health Administration(OSHA) enforces strict rules for entering silos. Unfortunately, these standards are violated frequently in the name of speed and efficiency. 

Burn Injuries and Farm Explosions

Fires cause some farm accident injuries. Engines, pesticide chemicals, manure gas, grain dust, and other hazards can start fires that cause serious burns. Explosion risks can arise from the storage of chemicals and the presence of multiple ignition sources. When farm workers cut corners, the likelihood of a fire increases.

Burn injuries can be life-altering, causing disfigurement, mobility loss, and long-term pain. Even if the burns are not too severe, they may require multiple skin graft surgeries to repair the damage, resulting in higher medical attention costs. 

Chemical Exposure

Farmers consistently use chemicals for various agricultural tasks. The most commonly used chemicals on farms are pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. Unfortunately, improper storage or use of these materials can lead to significant health problems for farmers who experience long-term exposure. 

Proximity to chemicals can lead to skin irritations, breathing problems, illnesses, infections, and even cancer. These chemicals do not just affect farm workers; they can also impact those living near farms. Toxic exposure, pesticide poisoning, and chemical inhalation present dangerous risks for agricultural workers and neighbors. 

Animal Injuries on Farms

Many farms raise and produce livestock, such as cows, pigs, goats, and horses. These animals are not always under complete control. Animal kicks and bites are common agricultural injuries. In severe cases, workers may even be trampled by cows or other large animals.

Common accidents involving farm animals can lead to brain injuries, broken bones, and organ damage. Bites can also become infected if they are not treated properly. Animal mouths typically contain a lot of bacteria. Even “tame” animals can behave unpredictably and cause serious injuries. 

Vehicle Accidents Involving Farm Equipment

Another significant risk on a farm is vehicle accidents. The use of a tractor, truck, or semi can lead to accidents if operators or nearby workers aren’t careful. Runovers, collisions, or reverse accidents can be caused by a lack of visibility or coordination, especially on large farms. 

If you get injured in an accident involving machinery, you could suffer from fractures, crush injuries, nerve damage, abrasions, amputations, and other injuries. Both vehicle operators and bystanders must be vigilant around these large vehicles. 

Are Agricultural Workers Covered by Workers’ Compensation?

Under the Workers’ Compensation Act (820 ILCS 305/3), many small farms are exempt from providing workers’ compensation insurance. This would mean employees who are hurt or get sick while on the job cannot receive workers’ compensation benefits through their employer. 

However, farms that use enough labor are required to pay for this insurance. If a farm operates with at least 400 working days of labor per quarter (excluding family members), then it must invest in workers’ compensation insurance. Farms that are exempt from this requirement may choose to pay for workers’ compensation anyway to protect their workers. 

How an Illinois Farm Accident Attorney Can Help

Whether your injuries occurred due to farm animals, a malfunctioning grain elevator, contact with heavy machinery, or toxic exposure to chemicals, IL Work Injury Lawyer can guide you through the claims process. A Chicago farm accident attorney can make all the difference in securing compensation to cover your losses, including lost income, medical bills, emotional distress, and other legal damages. 

Our firm’s services can help farm workers across rural and urban Illinois. We have experience with:

• Agricultural accident cases
• Filing third-party farm accident lawsuits
• Investigating defective farm equipment
• Obtaining medical documentation for the treatment of animal kicks
• Gathering evidence to establish negligence, such as incident reports, witness statements, and physical proof
• Assessing the long-term impact of life-altering injuries
• Holding negligent parties accountable for allowing dangerous conditions
• Negotiating with insurance companies for fair compensation
• Litigating work injury cases in local courts if a settlement cannot be reached
• Helping clients recover compensation when workers’ comp does not apply

Our Chicago work accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. This means you owe nothing unless we win, and our payment is extracted directly from the farm accident settlement amount. Our team also offers free consultations, allowing you to ask questions about the legal process and your specific situation.

Contact our team today to schedule a free case evaluation with a professional agricultural accident lawyer.