What Should I Do After A Farm Equipment Accident?
Farmers must use special equipment such as tractors, harvesters, and seeding machines while tending to their land. This equipment is difficult to use, which is why farmers must undergo training to learn how to safely operate it. But unfortunately, farm equipment accidents can still occur. If you are ever involved in an accident with farm equipment, it’s important to understand what you should do to protect yourself. Follow these steps:
See A Doctor
Your first priority following any sort of accident should be seeking medical attention. This is true regardless of whether or not you believe your injuries are serious. Remember, an injury may not seem serious at first, but it can slowly become worse over the next several hours or days. By this point, it could be more difficult for the doctor to treat. Avoid serious health complications by visiting a doctor as soon as possible after the accident.
Seeking medical attention immediately following a farm equipment accident is also important if you plan on filing a personal injury claim. If you wait too long to see a doctor, the at-fault party’s insurance company will question the seriousness of your injuries. The insurance company could also argue that there’s no way for them to know if your injuries were actually sustained in the accident since you waited too long to see a doctor. You can avoid running into these problems by simply taking the time to see a doctor right after the accident.
Follow the doctor’s instructions closely. This means making follow-up appointments, taking prescription medications, and undergoing recommended treatment. Failing to follow the doctor’s orders could affect your ability to recover compensation from the at-fault party’s insurance company.
Take Control of the Farm Equipment
The farm equipment could hurt others who rush to the scene if it is not turned off right away after the accident. If you are not severely injured, make an effort to disable the farm equipment so it cannot hurt anyone else.
Think strategically about the best way to turn off the farm equipment. You should never approach it from an angle where it is capable of hurting you. Take a few moments to analyze the situation to determine if it is safe for you to move closer and turn the equipment off. If it’s not possible, or if the farm equipment is on unstable ground, focus on getting everyone out of the area instead of turning the equipment off.
Collect Evidence At the Scene of the Accident
The key to recovering compensation in a personal injury claim is evidence, and the strongest evidence often comes from the scene of the accident. Therefore, if it is possible to safely do so, stick around the scene of the accident to collect evidence. Use your smartphone to take pictures of the scene of the accident. If there were other factors involved in the accident, such as traffic signs or road hazards, snap photos of these as well. Be sure to take pictures of everything from various distances so you can capture every little detail of the accident.
There are often witnesses who can provide important information regarding the events leading up to the accident. If someone witnessed the accident, ask them for their contact information before they leave the scene. You may need to get in touch with them later to find out if they can help in your personal injury case. Keep the conversation with witnesses as short as possible and do not discuss the details of the accident or the extent of your injuries.
Do Not Speak to the At-Fault Party’s Insurance Company
Shortly after the accident, the at-fault party’s insurance company will most likely try to contact you to discuss what happened. No matter how friendly the insurance adjuster seems on the phone, it’s important to politely decline speaking with them.
It is the insurance adjuster’s job to lower the value of your claim in any way possible. Insurance adjusters often accomplish this goal by getting you to agree to provide a recorded statement. As you are being recorded, the insurance adjuster will ask misleading or confusing questions. Then, the insurance adjuster could twist your words around and use them against you to lower the value of your claim. Don’t let their sneaky tactics affect your right to compensation for your injuries. To protect yourself, it’s best to let a personal injury attorney communicate with the insurance company.
The insurance adjuster could make an offer to you immediately after the crash. It may be tempting, but you should never accept an offer without speaking to an attorney first. If the insurance adjuster is already making an offer, it usually means they want to close your case before you find out how much it could be worth.
Hire A Personal Injury Attorney
Farm equipment injuries are serious and can severely affect your life. There’s no need to put yourself through the stress of handling a personal injury claim while you are trying to recover from these devastating injuries. Let a personal injury attorney with extensive experience representing clients in farm equipment accident cases handle the legal aspect of your claim. A personal injury attorney can represent you from the start to the finish of your personal injury claim. This will allow you to focus solely on your path to recovery while your attorney fights for every penny of compensation you deserve.
If you have been injured in a farm equipment accident, contact Carpenter & Zuckerman today to schedule a free consultation with our team of experienced personal injury lawyers. Our skilled personal injury attorneys will work tirelessly to maximize the compensation you are awarded for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.