If you or a family member suffered a serious injury in an accident on an Iowa farm due to another’s negligence, you might have a personal injury claim. An Iowa farm accident lawyer from our firm can help you understand the legal process and pursue the fair compensation you deserve.
In this Article
Do I Need a Lawyer After a Farm Accident in Iowa?
Common Types of Farming Accidents in Iowa
Iowa workers face significant farm injury risks around machines, on agricultural acreage, in barns, and in other facilities. Leading causes include heavy agricultural machinery, large livestock, chemicals, and grain-handling equipment. Severe injuries and fatalities most often result from tractor overturns and roadway crashes, entanglements in grain augers, struck-by incidents from equipment or falling objects, falls from ladders or structures, grain-bin suffocation, and exposures to hazardous chemicals.
Common Injuries from Farm Accidents
Victims of farm accidents often sustain severe, life-altering injuries. These can include broken bones, amputations, spinal cord injuries (SCIs), and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Workers may also suffer from respiratory harm due to breathing dust containing pesticides and herbicides, as well as dangerous burns. The recovery process is often long and expensive, impacting your ability to work and enjoy life.
Who Is Responsible for Farm Accident Injuries?
Figuring out who is at fault for agricultural injuries can be complicated. A thorough investigation could reveal negligence on the part of several parties, such as:
Manufacturers of defective farm machinery
Farmers, farm owners, or operators who failed to maintain a safe environment
Agribusiness employers who did not provide proper training or safety equipment
Other contractors or drivers whose actions contributed to the incident
An experienced personal injury lawyer can investigate the accident to identify if a failure to follow safety regulations or another form of negligence caused injuries to you or a loved one.
Are Iowa Farm Workers Covered by Workers’ Compensation?
In Iowa (according to Code §85, 85A, and 85B), workers’ compensation coverage for agricultural workers can be limited and often depends on the specific employer. While many employers are required to provide benefits for their employees, some smaller farm operations may be exempt from the state’s requirements.
If a person is hurt on the job, they may be able to access benefits to pay for medical expenses and a portion of lost income. To start a claim, it is crucial to report your injury to your employer right away. Your employer will then coordinate with their insurance carrier and the Iowa Workers’ Compensation Division.
If non-employer negligence caused your injury—for example, a defective part from an agriculture manufacturer—you might also have a third-party claim. This allows you to seek damages not covered by workers’ comp. Consult a Des Moines attorney to understand your eligibility and explore all potential paths for recovery.
What Damages Can Injured Farm Workers Recover?
Depending on the details of your case, you may be able to recover damages for medical treatment, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, permanent disability, pain and suffering, and loss of quality of life. If a farm worker is tragically killed on the job, no amount of money can heal the loss; however, their family may be able to file a wrongful death claim to seek compensation for their losses.
What Should I Do After a Farming Accident?
After a farming accident occurs, it is essential to seek immediate medical attention for your injuries. Then, if possible, take these important steps:
Report the incident to your employer as soon as you can.
Document the accident scene with photos or videos and get contact information from any witnesses.
Preserve any evidence, such as the faulty equipment involved.
Contact an Iowa farming accident law firm to discuss your legal options and protect your rights.
How an Iowa Farm Accident Attorney Can Help
An experienced attorney can manage your claim from start to finish. We will investigate what happened, review your medical records, build a strong case, negotiate with insurance companies, and fight for full compensation for your medical bills and other losses. If a fair settlement is not offered, we are prepared to take your case to trial.
Schedule a Free Case Review
The legal team in our office is here to support you and your family as we navigate the legal process. In your free consultation, we examine the facts of your case, explain your rights, and speak to you about how we pursue justice on your behalf.
An Iowa farm accident lawyer can help you understand the legal process and pursue the fair compensation you deserve.
$7.5 Million
Recovery for a construction worker injured when a support wall fell and struck him. (Highest award on record for a construction injury in DuPage County at the time).
$3.2 Million
Recovery for a construction worker injured when he fell in an uncovered foundation trench, ranking as the highest award on record for a construction injury in McHenry County at the time.
$3 Million
Recovery for the family of a man struck by a garbage truck that was making an illegal turn.
$2.2 Million
Recovery for a salesman injured in an automobile collision.
$2 Million
Recovery for a man struck by a speeding vehicle as he waited for the CTA bus.
$1.5 Million
Recovery for a truck driver that was struck by another car on the expressway while his vehicle was disabled.
$1.4 Million
Recovery for a computer programmer that slipped and fell in the washroom at work.
Recovery for a pedestrian struck by a vehicle in a parking lot. At the time, this was the second-highest recovery on record in DuPage County for a similar injury.
$800,000
Recovered for a disputed wrongful death claim against a trucking company. The company denied they were involved in the collision.
$660,000
Recovery for a truck driver that was injured while unloading his trailer.
$550,000
Recovery for a person who slipped and fell in a grocery store.
$550,000
Recovery for a woman who injured her neck in a motor vehicle collision.
$500,000
Recovery for a pedestrian that was struck by a vehicle while standing on the sidewalk.
$500,000
$500,000 Policy limit settlement for a 48-year-old woman injured in a Cook County head-on collision after another driver made an unsafe left turn into traffic.
$460,000
Recovery for a truck driver that tripped and fell in the parking lot while making a delivery.
$450,000
Recovery for a dental assistant who slipped and fell at work on an unnatural accumulation of ice.
$425,000
Recovery for a union worker struck by a speeding vehicle.
$425,000
Recovery for a passenger in a vehicle struck by an inexperienced driver.
$415,000
Recovered for a woman that required neck surgery after aggravating an existing neck injury in a truck accident.
$400,000
Recovery for a lab technician injured while transporting equipment.
$370,000
Recovery for a construction worker injured on faulty equipment at a construction site.
$315,000
Recovery for a motorist struck by a falling utility pole.
$310,000
Recovery for a person injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$300,000
Recovery for a bicyclist struck by a vehicle.
$250,000
Recovery for a young woman struck by another vehicle.
$250,000
Recovered for a woman who sustained a partial finger amputation and other injuries in a rollover car accident. (Policy Limits)
$250,000
Recovered for a man injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$250,000
Recovered for a 60-year-old woman involved in a car accident. (Policy Limits)
$250,000
Recovered for a man hit by a semi-truck while operating a go-cart.
$240,000
Recovery for the injured party struck by another vehicle.
$235,000
Recovery for a person injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$235,000
Recovery for an inventory clerk injured when shelving toppled onto her.
$219,000
Recovery for a restaurant patron that slipped and fell in the bathroom.
$200,000
Recovered for an airline employee struck on the runway at O’Hare International Airport.
$190,000
Recovery for a person injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$175,000
Recovered for a child injured by fireworks at a fourth of July celebration.
$170,000
Recovered for a person injured when she slipped and fell exiting a major retail store.
$150,000
Recovered for a woman who fractured her leg when she was struck by a vehicle.
Latisha S.
Great service. They helped me get my money, and everyone was very pleasant even though the health insurance took a while. Everything was on point on Kryder’s side.
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