From April 2009 until March this year, there were 38 deaths recorded as a direct result of a farming accident, making agriculture officially one of the single most dangerous industries to be involved in.
Regularly working with tractors, combine harvesters, balers and threshers, not to mention unpredictable livestock, one of the main causes of injury and death appears to derive from insufficient training with regard to handling not only animals but heavy farm machinery, which often amounts to neglect on the part of the farm owner.
With some farm items weighing several tons, being trapped under or within these machines is a life threatening issue, one that worryingly seems to be on the increase.
It does appear though that, finally, Personal Injury specialists have reached this once isolated sector of the working public, as claims too are growing in number.
The consequences of such an accident can be life-changing, with victims being afflicted with permanent side-effects from injury, or life-shattering effects to families, in the unfortunate event of a death.
If you are employed on a farm and involved in an accident that you believe to have occurred as a direct result of poorly maintained equipment or lack of appropriate supervision or training, then contact Bott & Co now. Lost income, lifestyle and medical expenses are all taken into account when assessing a claim.
The Health and Safety Executive is keen to make agriculture a responsible industry and is advocating strict guidelines for working practices which offer the appropriate levels of protection and care to anyone employed in this sector.
If you are unsure as to whether your circumstances are appropriate to make a claim, contact Bott & Co today on 0800 083 0110. We deal with a number of agriculture and farming claims and can advise you if you have a case, and the likely outcome.
For too long, agricultural workers have simply accepted injury as a way of life. Those perceptions are it seems now changing and the increase of numbers in Personal Injury claims will certainly help to teach irresponsible farm owners that they must take steps to safeguard their workers.
