Farm Accident Lawyer – Know Your Personal Injury Rights!
September 12, 2023 | Personal injury
A farm environment presents many risks to both guests and workers on the farm. Farm accidents can result in severe and potentially life changing injuries. Fortunately, the law allows those injured in farm accidents to seek compensation for their injuries. Below, we explore some of these options and reasons why anyone injured on a farm should see an experienced attorney as soon as possible after the accident.
What are Your Options after a Farm Accident?
If you have been injured in a farm accident, you may be wondering what your options are for compensation. Speaking with an experienced attorney is the best way to identify the options available to you. Below are some common avenues farm accident victims use to recover compensation.
- Worker’s compensation
If you are an employee on the farm, you may be eligible to recover workers compensation benefits. Employers are required to provide workers compensation insurance for their employees. This insurance provides compensation for medical expenses and even wage replacement for employees that are injured on the job. It is a no-fault system. Therefore, workers are eligible to recover compensation regardless of who caused the accident.
It is important to note that not all workers are eligible for workers compensation. If you are classified as an independent contractor by your employer, you will not be able to recover workers compensation benefits.
- Personal injury lawsuit
This is the most common way people recover compensation for farm accidents. This involves suing another party for compensation or your damages. It is only possible to do this if the farm accident that caused your injuries was a result of the negligence or reckless actions of another party. For example, you may be able to sue the manufacturer of faulty farm equipment that caused your injury.
Workers may also be eligible to recover compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. This is true even if you have already received workers compensation benefits for your injuries. Workers can pursue a personal injury claim against a third party that was responsible for the accident that caused their injuries. Workers may also pursue a personal injury claim against their employer if the employer does not provide workers compensation insurance.
Reasons to See an Experienced Attorney after a Farm Accident
If you have been injured in a farm accident, it is vital that you seek the counsel of an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible after the accident. There are various reasons why this is important.
- Learn about your rights and the options available to you
Unless you have studied and practiced personal injury law, you won’t know what your legal options are after a farm accident. Farm accidents can be complex. The laws and regulations applied to the agricultural industry are unique. You also have to consider other laws such as labor laws and personal injury laws. An experienced attorney will have a deep understanding of these laws. They will review the circumstances of your case and provide expert guidance on the laws that apply to your case. They will explain your rights and the legal options available to you.
- Help with determining who is liable for the accident
Determining liability is vital when pursuing compensation for an accident. This can be challenging in a farm accident case. An experienced attorney will have the expertise, knowledge, skills and access to the resources needed to determine liability in your case. They will investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident and gather evidence to support your claim. They will interview witnesses and work with experts in various fields to establish liability. This is crucial in pursuing compensation.
- Representation when dealing with insurance companies
Dealing with insurance companies can not only be intimidating but also frustrating. This compounded with the fact that you are recovering from an injury can prove to be overwhelming. It is best to leave this to an experienced attorney. Your attorney can help you navigate the claims process. They will handle all communication with the insurance company and represent you in the negotiations process. This will allow you to focus on other areas of your life including recovery.
- Maximizing your financial recovery
It isn’t uncommon for insurance companies to try and minimize the payout to accident victims. It is highly likely that they will use all manner of tricks to minimize the amount they are required to pay as compensation. It helps to have an experienced attorney fighting in your corner. Your attorney will fight to ensure maximum recovery. They will also explore other options available for compensation to ensure you recover the full amount you deserve.
Farm accidents can have lifelong consequences. Speak with an experienced personal injury attorney and fight to recover the compensation that is rightly yours. Contact us to schedule free consultation.