Farm vehicles often have to traverse public roads in order to complete work on the farm’s entire property or to transport materials to local agricultural partners. Heavy farm equipment can not only cause major damage to a passenger vehicle, but it can also cause complex injuries to the operator.
Combine harvesters, a type of large truck that is sometimes known as a combine, is an agricultural vehicle used to harvest grain crops. The process of harvesting such crops historically requires three steps: reaping, threshing and winnowing. Combine harvesters simplify the process by performing all three steps at once, allowing for mass production of a wide variety of crops.
Harvester accidents are not as uncommon as one may think. If a farming vehicle has caused harm to you or a loved one, the attorneys at Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers are here to help. You may be eligible to pursue compensation for the damages you have suffered.
Find out about your legal options and determine whether you have a case. Fill out our Free Case Evaluation form to get started now.
What Is A Harvester?
The process of using a harvester combine usually leaves waste on the farm’s fields, in the form of straw, dried leaves and stems. This natural debris provides a limited number of nutrients and is often spread along the field or used as feed or bedding for livestock. Some of the most common grains harvested using a combine include:
- Barley
- Corn
- Flax
- Oats
- Rye
- Soybeans
- Wheat
Combine harvesters have benefited from many advancements and developments in machinery. Electronic abilities have allowed farmworkers to improve ground speed, increase crop yields and give a boost to productivity. In the rural areas of Connecticut that boast farmland, combines are a common sight, and many Connecticut drivers would recognize these large vehicles while on the road.
The attorneys at Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers are dedicated to helping injury victims across Connecticut. We are passionate about providing comprehensive legal services with personal attention, courtesy and a drive to succeed. We are proud of the verdicts and settlements we have earned for our clients in the past. If you have been involved in an accident with farming equipment and are seeking representation, we are here to help.
Hazards In Harvester Accidents
Although harvesters play an important role in the American agricultural industry, accidents involving such vehicles are a concern across the country. Any type of large machinery involves hazards to persons in close proximity, and farm equipment is no exception. Unfortunately, combine accidents happen too often, and usually result in catastrophic accidents that can cause life-altering injuries and permanent damage. A harvester involves many large moving parts and accidents usually involve an incident with the larger mechanisms in a combine. Harvester operators must be vigilant and maintain awareness while using the machine; even a small mistake can lead to a fatal accident. Some risk factors that can lead to harvester accidents include:
- Improper use of straw chopping or spreading mechanisms
- Entanglement with discharge or leveling in grain tank
- Being run over by the machine
- Entanglement with cutting mechanism
- Improper contact with knife, reel or stripper rotor
- Adverse effects of automatic sensor operations
- Falling from machine
There are several dangers that may befall an operator of a combine harvester. It is important for anyone around farm equipment like a harvester to exercise caution, and for farm workers to be properly trained in operating such vehicles in order to prevent injuries of this nature.
Contact Our Truck Accident Law Firm
Although accidents involving farm equipment are less common than those involving 18-wheelers or dump trucks, the injuries that are often sustained during such trauma are severe and may be life-threatening. As with any equipment, farmers must be careful while in the fields on a combine harvester. If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident with a harvester or other farm vehicle, you may be eligible for financial recourse for the damages you have suffered.
Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers is an experienced law firm with the resources you need to build a case and the experience to litigate on your behalf, in pursuit of a positive outcome and in the interest of serving justice. Our truck accident attorneys are here to defend the rights of Connecticut residents. We have offices in New Haven, Bridgeport, Hartford, Waterbury and New London, and serve clients throughout Connecticut.
Call 800-PERKINS today to discuss the details of your case with one of the professionals on our intake team. After a brief interview, you will be connected to one of our attorneys. To submit your details directly to our legal team, simply fill out the Free Case Evaluation form.