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Hay Baler Accident Lawyer
A hay baler is a piece of farm equipment used to compress cut, raked, and dried grass. While hay balers are very efficient farm machines, they can be dangerous if not used properly.
Many reports reveal the severe injuries and fatalities resulting from hay baler accidents. Unfortunately, many hay baler accidents go unreported since people don't know the legal course of action for farm accidents.
Are you or a loved one a victim of a hay baling accident, whether due to defective machinery or any other cause? You could be entitled to compensation. The personal injury attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC are legal advocates for workers injured through the negligence of others, including equipment manufacturers and employers.
Call our farm accident lawyers today at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone number) or use the contact form to schedule a free case review. All confidential or sensitive information you share with our legal team remains private through an attorney-client relationship.
What Is Hay Baling?
Hay baling refers to the process of compressing cut, dried grass into bales on the farm. The compressed hay bales are then stored in a barn or shed on the farm, where they can be used as feed for livestock.
How Are Hay Balers Used?
The process of bailing hay involves a tractor that pulls the hay baler. The tractor drives the baler across a field, picking up hay lying on the ground. The hay is then fed into the baler and compressed into bales.
A hay bale is typically square or rectangular and can be bound with twine or wire. The hay bale is then ejected from the back of the baler so that it can be pulled, collected, and stacked.
Hay balers are essential equipment for farmers who grow hay and straw. They help speed up the process of gathering and storing hay and make it easier to transport hay, especially when the bales weigh too much.
Most hay is used as animal feed for livestock such as cows, horses, and sheep.
Common Hay Baler Accidents
Hay baler accidents can be of different types, depending on the extent of injury they cause and the reason for the accident.
The following flawed designs, if unguarded, can cause incidents, including:
- Belts and rollers
- Compression rollers
Here are some other types of hay baler accidents:
Crushed Limb Injuries
In this type of accident, the injuries sustained are due to being caught in-between two heavy objects. The injuries could either be caused by the baling roller and another object or the hay baler's roller and the ground.
The injuries sustained in this type of accident are usually severe and may even result in death or other bodily mutilation. Proper training for operating the baler and adequate guarding of the machinery are essential.
Lacerations
Laceration injuries result from being cut by a sharp object or pulled behind the equipment. In the context of baler accidents, it usually happens when someone's clothing or body gets entangled in the baler's rotating parts, such as the knives or blades.
A laceration injury can be very problematic since they are often deep and may require surgery to repair. If the laceration is on the face, it can be particularly concerning since it can result in disfigurement.
The victim may suffer from deep cuts and gashes, which can be extremely painful.
Tractor Roll-Overs
If the hays weigh too much, the tractor can roll over in certain conditions. If the tractor operator does not follow appropriate instructions, lacerations can lead to death.
Amputations
A baler pulls crops at 4.4 feet per second, which is extremely fast. If the right expert does not operate the equipment, it can lead to an injury.
An injury can also occur if someone's clothes contact the equipment, getting stuck in the machine. In such cases, the injured person can lose one or more body parts.
The individual injured in such accidents is entitled to compensation in a personal injury case. Due to the likelihood of such severe injuries, baler users must exercise precautions.
If the operator does not know how to use the equipment properly, it can lead to someone getting crushed, injured, or dead. To ensure the safety of the operators and everyone else on the farm, it's vital that the operators are well-trained and experienced in every matter surrounding the usage of a baler.
Compensation for Hay Baler Accidents
If you or a loved one has been in a hay baler accident, you should contact a personal injury lawyer. Here are some things you can get compensated for damages:.
- Medical Costs: The first thing you should be compensated for is your medical bills. It includes hospital stays, surgeries, physical therapy, and psychological counseling. The victim's familycan file a case if the victim is too sick from injuries. It can cover the victim's cost for the time they are being treated at the hospital.
- Lost Wages: If you cannot work because of your injuries, you can get compensated for the wages you would have earned. Sometimes, hay baler accidents cause victims to take a lower-paying job due to the injury, like losing limbs when the machine crushes their legs.
- Pain and Suffering: You also get compensated for the physical pain and suffering you endured from the accident. It also covers any emotional trauma, such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
- Loss of Consortium: The loss of companionship, love, and affection from your spouse because of your damages.
Getting this money can secure you in the long run since you might not be able to continue your life as usual afterward.
Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer to Resolve Your Compensation Claim
If you or a loved one has been in a hay baling accident, you should contact a lawyer. Make sure to contact a law firm or a lawyer as soon as possible to meet the statute of limitations.
Call us at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone number) or the contact form to schedule a free consultation. We accept all cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don't pay any upfront costs until we obtain a financial recovery on your behalf.