Farming is an essential industry in California and across the United States. Thousands of people work in agriculture, and it is important for everyone working in this sector to acknowledge the risks they face at work. It is also vital for all individuals to know what to do after a farming accident of any kind. If you were recently injured in a farming accident at work in the Sacramento area, your employer may or may not have workers’ compensation insurance that could aid your recovery. If you were injured in a farming accident while visiting as a guest or customer, you could have grounds for legal recourse against the owner of the farm, depending on how your injury occurred.

Farming is an essential industry in California and across the United States. Thousands of people work in agriculture, and it is important for everyone working in this sector to acknowledge the risks they face at work. It is also vital for all individuals to know what to do after a farming accident of any kind. If you were recently injured in a farming accident at work in the Sacramento area, your employer may or may not have workers’ compensation insurance that could aid your recovery. If you were injured in a farming accident while visiting as a guest or customer, you could have grounds for legal recourse against the owner of the farm, depending on how your injury occurred.

Sacramento Farming Accident Injury Lawyer

Farming is an inherently dangerous industry for several reasons. People who work in this industry face numerous risks every day, and some of the most commonly cited types of farming injuries reported in the Sacramento area include:

  • Tractor accidents. Tractors are specialized vehicles designed for agricultural work, but they lack the safety features found in most standard passenger cars. Tractors are also used offroad, sometimes on uneven terrain. Tractor accidents can potentially cause severe injuries when they malfunction, roll over, or tip over. Additionally, many tractors are equipped with auxiliary machines that can easily cause catastrophic injuries in some situations.
  • Injuries from exposure. Working outside in direct sunlight for long periods is dangerous. Dehydration and heatstroke can be medical emergencies that are life-threatening if the victim does not receive prompt medical care.
  • Injuries from livestock. Working with or near farm animals can be very dangerous in some situations. It’s important for all agricultural workers who work with or near animals to remain alert, as any animal can potentially cause injuries unpredictably.
  • Slip and fall accidents. Anyone visiting a farm has the right to expect the property owner to have maintained the premises. When a property owner notices any foreseeable safety hazard, they are legally required to fix it immediately or warn lawful guests about the hazard if they are likely to encounter it. Failure to do so can lead to liability for resulting injuries under the state’s premises liability
  • Injuries from farming equipment. Farming often requires the use of specialized machinery, tools, and equipment that can cause serious injuries if they malfunction or if they are mishandled. It’s also possible for defective equipment to cause injuries, in which cases the manufacturers face liability for resulting damages.
  • Fatal injuries. Unfortunately, it is possible for fatal injuries to occur in the agricultural field in many ways. If a loved one died while working on a farm, you and your family could claim death benefits through their employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. If the victim would have had grounds for a personal injury claim if they had lived, their loved ones could instead file a wrongful death claim against the party responsible for their fatal injury.

These are just a few examples of farming accidents that might result in personal injuries. No matter how your accident happened, the first steps you take in the aftermath can significantly impact the results of any recovery efforts you pursue.

California upholds robust workers’ compensation laws that require almost all employers in the state to have workers’ compensation insurance. This insurance comes into play whenever workplace injuries happen, providing legal protection for employers and financial relief for their injured workers. If you work in agriculture and sustain an injury while working, you may have the ability to file a workers’ compensation claim through your employer.

Workers’ compensation functions similarly to most other types of insurance, but the injured worker faces the additional challenge of their employer’s involvement in the claim filing process. While most Sacramento employers handle their employees’ injury claims in good faith, others do not, and some go as far as retaliating against their injured workers due to the expectation that their insurance premiums will increase.

A successful workers’ compensation claim for a farming injury can yield two forms of benefits. First, the insurance carrier will cover the cost of all medical treatment the claimant requires to fully heal from their injury. This includes immediate and future medical expenses if they suffer a serious injury. Second, the claimant can receive disability benefits for the time they are unable to work. It’s possible to qualify for partial disability benefits if you can work, but your earning power is reduced by your injury, or you could qualify for total disability benefits if you cannot work at all until you recover. An experienced Sacramento farming accident attorney can help navigate the claim filing process and secure as much as you can through workers’ compensation insurance.

Workers’ compensation alone may not fully cover an injured agricultural worker’s damages, and if you suffered a ranch injury while visiting a farm as a guest or customer, then workers’ compensation will not be available to you. If you believe another party, such as the farm owner, is liable for your injury, a personal injury claim can hold them accountable and help secure compensation for the damages you suffered.

The state’s personal injury statutes give plaintiffs the right to claim repayment of all economic damages they suffered because of a defendant’s negligence, intentional misconduct, or failure to maintain reasonably safe premises for lawful visitors. Your claimable economic damages may include medical expenses, lost income, and property damage if the incident in question resulted in the loss of any personal property.

When it comes to your medical expenses and lost income, it is vital to remember that you can claim damages in your civil suit against the defendant. For example, if you suffered a serious injury requiring multiple surgeries and physical therapy, the defendant is liable for both immediate medical expenses resulting from the injury and future medical expenses arising from it. Lost income can be more difficult to calculate, especially if you are left disabled and cannot return to work in the future. An experienced Sacramento farming accident attorney can help determine how much income you will no longer be able to earn because of the defendant’s negligence or intentional misconduct.

After your attorney helps you calculate the full amount of your economic damages, both immediate and future, you may discover that your claim is worth far more than you initially expected. However, you also have the right to claim pain and suffering compensation from the defendant, and California law places no limits on this aspect of your recovery.

When it comes to calculating appropriate pain and suffering for a client, a Sacramento farming accident attorney is likely to weigh several factors. The overall amount of the client’s economic damages, the prognosis of their medical condition, whether they face significant long-term or permanent harm from the incident, and the impact of the accident on their quality of life will all factor into a pain and suffering determination. Your attorney may elect to seek a large lump sum to reflect the severity of a life-changing injury, or they may choose an amount based on the time it will likely take for you to recover from your injury as fully as possible.

If your injury occurred through intentional misconduct or any illegal activity, the at-fault party could face criminal prosecution for their actions. In this situation, they may owe the victim restitution as part of their sentence, or a judge handling the civil claim from the victim may award the plaintiff punitive damages. Your Sacramento farming accident attorney can help you understand the legal variables of your case and assist you in determining what you can expect from the legal proceedings ahead of you and your final recovery.

You have a limited time in which to pursue your recovery efforts after any personal injury. There is a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims that begins on the date an injury occurred. If you intend to file a workers’ compensation claim, you must do so within one year of the date of your injury, and it is generally optimal to start this claim much sooner. One of the most important steps to take in the aftermath of any farming accident in the Sacramento area is to reach out to reliable legal counsel as soon as possible.

Guenard & Bozarth, LLP, has the experience and professional resources necessary to handle the most challenging personal injury claims, including those arising from farming accidents in the Sacramento area. Contact us today and schedule a free consultation with a Sacramento farming accident attorney you can trust to learn more about the legal services we offer.

Sacramento Practice Areas

VEHICLE ACCIDENTS

We will promptly investigate your car, motorcycle or truck crash to pursue maximum damages.

INJURIES ON PROPERTY

If you were injured by someone’s animal or unsafe property, we hold that owner accountable

Wrongful Death

Wrongful death is a legal term referring to a person who is fatally injured as a result of the negligence of another person or entity.

PERSONAL INJURY

We fight back when legitimate claims are unfairly denied by insurance companies.

INSURANCE BAD FAITH

Bad faith litigation is becoming more common as the insurance industry continues to engage in dishonest practices that trample the rights of policyholders.

INSURANCE COMPANIES KNOW US BECAUSE THEY’VE PAID OUR CLIENTS OVER $130 MILLION DOLLARS.

$2.9

MILLION

CAR ACCIDENT INJURY

Guenard & Bozarth llp obtained a $2,962,903 jury verdict in the Sacramento County Superior Court for plaintiff David Schoonover, who suffered head and neck injuries and fractures in a head-on accident on Roseville Road in Roseville on July 22, 2012

$300

THOUSAND

HAIR SALON INJURY

Guenard & Bozarth LLP recently settled a case for $300,000 involving a hair weave that went terribly wrong. Our client was a young lady, and aspiring model, who experienced pressure necrosis from a tight weave and it changed her life.

$500

THOUSAND

SLIP & FALL INJURY

Guenard & Bozarth LLP recently settled a slip and fall case for $500,000 a couple weeks before trial. The client slipped and fell on a wet piece of cardboard in a grocery store and sustained a serious shoulder injury that required surgery.

$300

THOUSAND

NEGLIGENCE INJURY

On February 13, 2013 Maricela, a Certified Nursing Assistant presented to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Emergency Room with complaint of neck and back pain. She was diagnosed with a neck strain and was given Ibuprofen and instructed to return if her symptoms did not subside.

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Never in my life did I think I would recommend an attorney. Somehow God sent this angel of an attorney to assist me in my personal injury lawsuit. I was told by lawyers in Bakersfield that my lawsuit was frivolous because there was money in it.
– Bill
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I live in Elk Grove where we don’t always have a lot of choices. Lawyers are one area where we have few good choices. I wanted to work with a local law firm after my motorcycle accident, and I chose Glenn Guenard and Ross Bozarth.
– Lloyd
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My daughter was involved in an automobile accident in an intersection on her 17th birthday. The other person said it was her fault and my daughter said her light was green. I am not the sort of person who sues but my insurance
– Sharon
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