Farming is a hazardous occupation with some of the nation’s highest injury and death rates. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports roughly 877,000 people work in the agricultural industry,  with duties ranging from crop planting and harvesting to breeding, herding, and managing livestock. These labor-intensive jobs are risky. The BLS reported 23.1 deaths per 100,000 workers in the agricultural sector in a recent year. However, research supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) suggests the number of nonfatal and fatal injuries in agriculture is higher than those statistics show.

If you are a farm worker in California, you could be entitled to compensation if you suffered an injury on the job. The state workers’ compensation program should provide financial support if the injury or illness is job-related. But sometimes third parties are at fault. When they are, an experienced farm accident attorney from Demas Law Group can step in and fight for the money you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation. 

Common Injuries in the Agricultural Sector

The agricultural industry comprises a wide range of job duties. Many are related to food production, including planting, harvesting, pruning, irrigating, and packing crops for transportation. All of these responsibilities can lead to injuries. Common agricultural-related injuries include: 

  • Musculoskeletal injuries – Farm workers can suffer sprains and strains from bending, crouching, and lifting heavy crops and equipment. 
  • Crush injuries – Tractor rollovers or other machinery accidents can lead to crush injuries impacting bones, muscles, nerves, and vital organs.  
  • Transportation injuries – Sometimes, farm workers must drive tractors, fertilizer spreaders, and other machinery on public roads to travel from field to field. Injuries can also happen on roadways when motorists try to pass the slower-moving farm machinery, leading to a collision.
  • Toxic exposure – Using fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides puts agricultural workers at risk of chemical exposure linked to various cancers, neurological disorders, respiratory illnesses, and other diseases. 
  • Heat stroke – Working under the hot sun for hours may cause heat stress if workers do not drink enough water or rest. In the worst cases, heat-related conditions can progress to heat stroke, a potentially fatal condition.

Common Livestock Injuries on California Farms

Working with animals is always unpredictable, especially with livestock like cattle, horses, hogs, and sheep. However, it’s not only the animals that pose a threat. Common livestock-related injuries include: 

  • Animal-related diseases – Farm animals can pass some diseases onto humans, such as brucellosis, Orf virus, tickborne illnesses, avian flu, swine flu, leptospirosis, and Q fever. 
  • Blunt-force injuries – Large animals can kick, rear up, or trample farm workers during breeding or handling. The force of impact can cause broken bones, internal injuries, head injuries, and death.
  • Bites – Animal bites can lead to infections, scarring, disfigurement, and emotional injuries. 
  • Falls – Farm work often entails repairs to livestock barns, pens, enclosures, and other structures. A ladder collapse or faulty power tool could seriously injure a farm worker.
  • Electrocution – Electric shock injuries can happen on farms when workers come in contact with electric fencing on livestock enclosures.

How Demas Law Group Can Help

Demas Law Group handles third-party liability claims related to farming accidents. If someone other than your employer is responsible for the accident that injured you, we can file a personal injury claim demanding compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses. 

Examples of potentially liable third parties include: 

  • Manufacturers of faulty farm machinery, equipment, and power tools
  • Drivers
  • Pesticide and herbicide companies 
  • Independent contractors 

Unsure of whether you can file a lawsuit? The first step is determining whether you have grounds for a third-party claim. A fault is a complex issue in agricultural and livestock injury cases. A farm accident attorney from Demas Law Group can advise on whether you have a personal injury claim beyond what your California workers’ compensation benefits will pay.

Farm work is hard work. If you’ve been hurt, you deserve money to get back on your feet again. Call or contact Demas Law Group today for a free case review.