Dothan, Alabama Farm Injury Attorney
Farming and the broader agriculture industry are some of the largest contributors to Alabama’s economy, accounting for over $70 billion in the state each year, according to the Alabama Department of Agriculture. Workers in Alabama’s ag industry raise all types of livestock – from cattle to poultry – and produce a wide variety of crops, including cotton, corn, soybeans, and wheat.
Farm work is often dangerous, and it can leave the people who work so hard to raise Alabama’s livestock and produce with permanent and even fatal injuries. If you were in serious farm accident, you might be entitled to significant compensation to cover the damages of this tragedy.
At Gartlan Injury Law, an experienced and compassionate Dothan farm injury attorney can evaluate your case, fight for the compensation you deserve, and stand beside you during this painful time. We truly care about the devastation you’re facing, and we want to do all we can to seek the best possible outcome for your case.
Don’t wait to get on the road to recovery after a farm accident. Contact Gartlan Injury Law today to pursue the results that matter. Schedule your free case evaluation today by calling us or contacting us online.
Contents
What Are Some Common Farm Accidents?
Farm laborers work with a variety of hazardous substances and many different kinds of dangerous equipment. Some of the most common types of serious farm accidents include:
- Attacks by livestock and other animals
- Getting crushed, run over, caught, or some other accident involving a tractor, combine, or other type of large vehicle
- Explosions and fires
- Falls, including falling off a tall surface like a barn loft or tripping and falling
- Exposure to toxic gas, hazardous chemicals, or other elements
- Being hit by a falling object or machinery
- Getting trapped in a confined space, such as a silo
- Electrocution
Are Farming Accidents Covered Under Workers’ Compensation?
Many farm accidents are not covered under workers’ compensation because Alabama’s workers’ comp laws do not require employers to carry this insurance for farm laborers or for contractors. Despite the lack of a legal requirement, it’s possible that your employer chose to purchase workers’ comp insurance on their own.
To find out if you are covered under workers’ compensation, ask your employer. It’s also critical to contact a farm injury lawyer in Dothan, who can fully investigate your case and help determine the compensation options that might be available to you.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Farm Accident?
A variety of different parties might be liable in a farm accident, such as:
- The worker’s employer if they did something reckless or wrongful, such as disregarding state or federal laws on workplace safety, neglecting to properly train or supervise workers, or failing to provide adequate protective gear
- Another farm worker or independent contractor
- A third party, such as the manufacturer of defective farm equipment
What Evidence Needs to Be Provided for a Farm Accident Case?
If you are suffering from a serious farm accident injury, it’s critical to see a medical professional as soon as possible. Your health is the most important thing. Prompt treatment can give you the best chance of improving. Your medical provider can give you the treatment you need and help reduce the risk of your injuries causing long-term harm.
Your treatment will also result in the creation of medical records. The medical report will be a critical piece of evidence if you decide to file a farm accident claim. It will help you prove the cause of your injuries, as well as any impact that your injuries have on your ability to do your job.
Some of the other types of evidence that victims need to provide in most farm accident cases include pictures of their injuries and the accident scene. If anyone else saw the accident happen, it’s also important to document testimony from these witnesses and gather their names, their contact information, and any pictures or videos they have of the accident.
What Compensation Is Available for Victims of Farm Accidents?
What compensation might be available after a farm accident will depend on the circumstances of the case.
If you suffered injuries in a work-related farm accident, then it’s important to notify your employer about the accident as soon as possible. This is especially critical if your employer provides workers’ comp insurance for farm laborers. Notifying your employer in a timely manner will help you access any benefits available through worker’s compensation, such as coverage for medical expenses and lost wages.
Otherwise, if your employer does not provide workers’ compensation insurance, then you might be eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit against your employer or another responsible party. Through this type of suit, victims can often recover damages, such as:
- Current medical expenses, including ambulance transportation, hospitalization, medications, and diagnostic exams
- Wages lost during recovery
- Partial or total disability
- Future medical costs, such as surgeries, follow-up visits, rehabilitation, specialized medical equipment, therapies, and other treatments
- Disfigurement
- Pain and suffering
- Lost capacity to earn future income
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life, loss of consortium, and lost companionship
If your loved one died in a farm accident, nothing can ever fully make up for your loss. However, you might be eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit that could help cover some of the costs of this tragedy, including the loss of your loved one’s income, funeral costs, and burial expenses.
A knowledgeable farm injury lawyer can evaluate the circumstances of your personal case, help determine the legal options that might be available to you, and help you fight for the compensation you deserve.
Talk to a Dothan Farm Injury Attorney
If you were seriously injured or a loved one was killed in a farm accident in Alabama, Gartlan Injury Law is here to help you stand up for your rights and seek the full compensation you’re owed.
Contact us right away to schedule your free case evaluation and learn more about how we can help with your case. Contact us today by phone or online.
