Accident Risks & Common Injuries In Farming

Each day, Pennsylvania's farm workers labor in dangerous conditions to help supply our communities with a steady food supply. They frequently work long hours in blisteringly hot temperatures and are at risk of various heat-related illnesses, as well as injuries from falls, heavy equipment, and repetitive motion stress - just to name a few.

If you've been injured while working on a farm, it's important to recover financial compensation during the period that you're out of work. Depending on the circumstances of your employment and your work accident, you may be eligible for Workers' Compensation, Social Security Disability, or a personal injury claim.

Can Injured Farm Workers Get Workers' Comp?

Some farm workers qualify for Workers' Compensation benefits, but there are different rules than in other industries. In Pennsylvania, farm employers are only required to provide Workers' Comp coverage for their workers if they pay one agricultural worker wages of $1,200 or more OR if they employ at least one worker for 30 or more days in a calendar year.

So, if you were working on a farm as a day laborer with other day laborers, you may not qualify for these benefits. But if you were employed for more than 30 days or paid more than $1,200, you would be entitled to the same Workers' Comp benefits as workers in all other industries. There is an exception for undocumented workers, as PA state courts have rules that these workers may receive compensation for medical expenses but not for lost wages.

Determining your eligibility can be a bit complicated and often requires the assistance of a work injury lawyer.

Third Party Negligence

Even if you get injured and you're not covered under Workers' Comp, you may pursue financial compensation via a personal injury claim if someone else's careless behavior caused your accident and injuries.

For example, if you were injured by a defective piece of farming equipment or machinery, you could potentially hold the manufacturer liable for injury-related expenses. Or if the farm owner failed to provide proper safety equipment which directly lead to your injuries, you could possibly file a personal injury claim against the owner.

Personal injury claims allow you to recover damages for:

• Medical expenses
• Past and future lost wages
• Loss of life's pleasures
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress

Common Types Of Farming Accidents

Agricultural work has many inherent hazards. According to an article by Bradley K. Rein with the US Department of Agriculture, agricultural workers are at an increased risk of contracting respiratory illnesses, noise-induced hearing loss, skin disorders, certain cancers, chemical toxicity, and heat-related illnesses.

Many farming accidents could be prevented with better safety standards and training. If you're out of work after an agricultural injury, it's important to ask what could have been done to prevent your accident. Other common farm work accidents include:

• Falls
• Musculoskeletal injuries
• Equipment and machinery accidents
• Grain bins and silos
• Unsanitary work conditions

Our dedicated work injury lawyers are prepared to evaluate the circumstances of your accident in order to determine the best plan for compensation. If your injury could have easily been prevented if not for someone else's negligence, there is a good chance you could recover compensation in a personal injury claim. Workers who are eligible for Worker's Compensation benefits should apply for benefits first before investigating other compensation options.

How Work Injury Lawyers Earn Compensation

Earning compensation for a farming work injury is often more complex than claims for other industries. In Pennsylvania, almost all other workers are entitled to Workers' Comp benefits after being injured on the job. In exchange for this right to coverage, they are usually prohibited from suing their employers, even if the employer caused the injury or illness through negligence.

Farm worker claims are different, since the rules for coverage are different. Many injured farm laborers may be confused about whether they qualify for government benefits or not, and if a personal injury claim is on the table or not.

At Monheit Law, we have lawyers who specialize in these matters and have experience earning fair compensation for all types of injured agricultural workers. We understand the financial stress injured workers face, and that's why we offer free consultations and only ask for payment if we win. We're prepared to help you find all possible avenues for compensation so that you can recover from your injuries and return to work as soon as possible.

Extra Resources

• The function of the Workers' Compensation system
• Work injury compensation for farm laborers
• Workplace injuries involving heavy machinery