Farm Equipment Accidents

Workers’ Compensation Attorneys Assisting Agricultural Workers in Massachusetts

As those involved in the industry know, farm work is one of the most physically grueling professions around, and agricultural laborers are subjected to demanding physical requirements and hazardous environments on an almost daily basis. Central to many farm jobs is the operation of large industrialized equipment, which often requires some expertise and a strong knowledge of safety to use properly. When accidents with farm equipment occur, the effects can be severe, even resulting in death. If you or a loved one has recently been hurt as a result of an agricultural accident in Massachusetts, Kantrovitz & Associates is here to help. Our workers’ compensation lawyers understand the significant risks that farm workers face and are committed to providing dedicated legal representation to people involved in accidents.

Addressing Farm Equipment Hazards

Agricultural work necessarily involves the use of large equipment, including tractors, processing machinery, harvesters, shredders, and sprayers. These types of equipment require experienced and trained operators in order to be used safely and effectively, and, even in such circumstances, accidents can occur. Farm workers may experience lost limbs as well as back, neck, and head injuries or possibly a sudden death. Because of these risks, the agricultural industry has been specifically selected as a sector worth closely monitoring for safety risks. In 2006, a specific national safety agenda was set forth to target the industry. Under this agenda, employers are charged with reducing the number and severity of injuries and deaths arising from agriculture by reducing tractor-related fatalities and installing roll-over protective structures and seat belts in existing tractors, reducing the possibility of run over by farm equipment, improving safety information and training, and improving surveillance of existing farm operations to better understand the risk of accidents.

While this research agenda does not mandate that agricultural employers implement certain protections for their employees, a failure to provide proper known safety precautions can have an impact on your workers’ compensation claim. If you believe that your employer is not adequately addressing farm equipment safety concerns, this is an important issue to discuss with your attorney.

Filing a Claim for Benefits After an Accident

If you or a loved one has recently been injured due to an agricultural accident, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits under Massachusetts law. The first step that you should take is to file a claim with the state Department of Industrial Accidents. If your employer does not contest your claim, you will be entitled to receive benefits to cover your medical bills and support you while you are out of work. If your employer or employer’s insurer argues that your injury did not arise from a workplace accident, you will be entitled to further hearings to prove your claim and provide evidence of how your injury occurred and any failures by your employer to provide necessary safety precautions.

Discuss Your Work Injury with a Knowledgeable Massachusetts Lawyer

If you have recently experienced a farm equipment accident while on the job, you may be facing hefty medical bills and the prospect of extended time off work, and even the risk of permanent disability. At Kantrovitz & Associates, our work injury attorneys understand these concerns and have helped many Massachusetts agricultural workers seek the benefits and compensation they deserve, as well as holding employers accountable for unsafe work environments. We have assisted injured individuals from throughout the Boston region as well as communities in New Hampshire and Rhode Island. You can contact us at 800-367-0871 or online.