Operating a farm tractor can be extremely dangerous, even for those who are experienced. If a piece of equipment malfunctions, and accident can happen that leaves someone seriously hurt.
That’s exactly what happened to a Reno County man who was planting wheat. The man was operating a tractor pulling a 30-foot “no-till” drill. He reportedly got off the tractor and began spreading the wheat seed. The tractor was designed to automatically shift into park when there is nobody in the driver’s seat. However, the shift feature malfunctioned, and the man was run over by the tractor. The man was airlifted to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, where he was listed in critical condition.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that farming is one of the most dangerous occupations. In 2016 alone, 417 farmers and farm workers were killed in work-related accidents. The majority of these deaths were attributed to transportation incidents. According to the National Agriculture Safety Database (NASD), accidents involving tractors are the leading cause of death among farm workers.
Filing a product liability claim
If you were hurt in an accident involving farm equipment that failed to do what it was designed to do, you may be eligible for a product liability claim. This means that you can sue a farm equipment manufacturer or distributor for a dangerous defect. However, one of three factors must apply:
- The equipment design itself resulted in the accident;
- The quality of the materials used to manufacture the equipment was inadequate and caused the accident; or
- There was a failure to warn the operator of potential hazards.
Common injuries caused by defective products include (but are not limited to):
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Spinal injuries
- Cuts, bruises and lacerations
- Organ damage
- Paralysis
- Death
The attorneys at Bretz & Young have decades of experience representing injury victims across the state of Kansas. We understand how devastating a farm tractor accident can be.
If you were injured in an accident that may have been caused by a defective product, contact us today to learn more about how we can help.
