Those of a certain age remember the television series Green Acres, about a New York attorney who throws it all away to become a simple farmer. But in the real world, there’s nothing simple about farming, and the truth is that it can be quite dangerous. Today’s farmer must understand high-tech modern machinery as well toxic modern pesticides and other dangerous chemicals. While those of us who spend our weeks in Los Angeles or San Diego may not realize it, farming is one of California’s largest industries. In 2012, there were more than 20 work-related deaths for every 100,000 agricultural workers, which makes farming one of the most dangerous of all modern occupations. If you’re injured in an agricultural accident in southern California, speak at once with an experienced Los Angeles personal injury attorney.
About 160 farm workers a day suffer injuries that force them to take time off from work; about five percent of those injuries become permanent disabilities. Tractors turning over on farmworkers are the leading cause of farm-related deaths – about 275 fatalities a year. Anti-rollover technology and protection is available; it improves the survival rate in tractor rollovers from 38 to 99 percent. But in 2012, only 59 percent of the tractors on U.S. farms were equipped with anti-rollover technology. If you or someone you love has been injured – or worse – in a farm accident in southern California, speak at once with an experienced Los Angeles personal injury attorney. If a defective tractor or a dangerous chemical is responsible for an accident or death, you have the right to seek compensation by filing a personal injury claim.
Farmers use a number of chemicals to care for livestock, enhance soil, and treat produce. Prolonged and recurrent exposure to many of these chemicals can have severe health consequences. Depending on the cause of a farm accident, the injured victim or survivors may have grounds for a product liability claim or a wrongful death suit. If a tractor, tractor part, or safety device was defectively manufactured, or if a chemical manufacturer fails to offer appropriate directions and warnings, you may be compensated for medical expenses, lost income, and related damages. If you’ve been injured doing farm work in southern California, get legal help and consult with an experienced Los Angeles personal injury attorney as quickly as possible.