CAR AND TRACTOR ACCIDENTS
When someone thinks of a tractor they think, farm or ranch. Usually when someone thinks about tractor accidents, the first thing that many might think is accidents occurring on the farm, like rolling a tractor, falling off a tractor etc. However, there are many accidents that occur on the roads or highways where cars and trucks crash into tractors. Remember in more rural areas of the country like Chico, Oroville, Woodland, Yuba City, Marysville, Wheatland, Lincoln, Auburn, Davis, Corning, Redding and even rural Loomis and Penryn, tractors use the roads. All a tractor has to have is a farm equipment triangle on the back of it in order to travel on the same roads that cars, trucks and motorcycles drive on.
The problem occurs when people drive on roads and do not look for slow moving hazards such as a tractor. This can cause a deadly accident where people can be seriously injured. For example, in Carlisle New York, the driver of a passenger car struck a tractor head on when the driver of the automobile veered over into the lane of traffic that the tractor was in. The impact caused the tractor to flip over and land on the farm worker that was operating the tractor. The farm worker died from his injuries. This is what attorney’s call a wrongful death case. The driver and front passenger of the car suffered minor injuries but the back seat passenger did not have her seatbelt on and flew forward hitting the windshield. It is always important to wear your seat belt to protect you from injuries from a car accident. (Some information obtained about this accident was from www.the390.com ).
What is important to remember when driving on the road is to watch out for the unexpected tractor that might be moving slowly on the road. Make sure you leave plenty of room while you pass the slow moving hazard.
The NASD (National Ag Safety Database) is a good source to review concerning tractor accidents and injuries and how one can prevent from being seriously injured while operating a tractor. However, most drivers involved in a car accident or car wreck with a tractor do not read information concerning tractor and automobile accidents from the NASD, like personal injury lawyers. Always remember whether you are riding a motorcycle, driving a car, truck or big rig, always watch for slow moving tractors on the road in rural areas or heavily farmed areas. Following this simple suggestion may prevent a serious and tragic auto accident.
Fred Penney is managing attorney of the personal injury firm of Penney and Associates (sometimes misspelled Penny) with offices located throughout California including Loomis, Chico, Fairfield, Newport Beach, Sacramento, Santa Clara, Roseville and Rocklin. See www.penneyandassociates.com ; 1-800-616-4529.