Farming and agricultural work is some of the most valued work in this country. Unfortunately, it’s also some of the most dangerous.
The ways you can get hurt on a farm are endless. But if you got hurt because of faulty equipment, unsafe working conditions or someone else’s mistake then the owner, manufacturer or another party may be liable. If you’ve been injured on a Wisconsin farm or doing work for an agricultural operation, it’s in your best interest to talk to a reputable and experienced farming accident attorney.
Madison, Wisconsin is in the heart of an agricultural community where family farms and big operations coexist. While farming is the backbone of Wisconsin’s economy it’s one of the most hazardous professions in the state with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics ranking agriculture as one of the deadliest industries in Wisconsin.
A farming accident is any unplanned event on agricultural property that causes injury, illness or death. These accidents involve the tools, machinery or environmental hazards of farming. In Wisconsin where dairy, crop and livestock operations dominate, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) says agriculture is a high risk sector due to its unique hazards. Common scenarios include:
Farming accidents are different from typical workplace injuries. For example, Wisconsin exempts small farms (with fewer than 6 employees) from mandatory workers’ compensation coverage leaving many injured workers to rely on personal injury claims.
Farming injuries range from acute trauma to chronic conditions caused by physically demanding work. Here are the most common we see in Madison and surrounding areas:
Heavy machinery like augers, balers and combines can trap limbs leading to partial or full amputations. These injuries require extensive surgeries, prosthetics and occupational therapy.
Falls from equipment, livestock attacks or machinery rollovers can cause head trauma, concussions or paralysis. The CDC says TBIs are a leading cause of disability among agricultural workers.
Exposure to pesticides or anhydrous ammonia leaks while conducting farming work can cause severe burns, lung damage or chronic conditions like asthma. Wisconsin’s Division of Public Health has flagged respiratory illnesses as a growing concern among long term farmworkers and those working in agriculture.
Slipping on wet or icy surfaces (especially during winter work), falling from heights or being struck by falling objects often results in broken bones, sprains or torn ligaments. These kinds of injuries are debilitating for any kind of worker, but especially in the case of farmworkers.
Years of repetitive motion—milking cows, using hand tools, or operating machinery—can cause degenerative joint conditions, chronic back pain or nerve damage.
The aftermath of severe farming accidents can trigger anxiety, depression or PTSD especially when a farm accident disrupts a family’s livelihood or involves the loss of a loved one.
Wisconsin’s agricultural sector is governed by a patchwork of state and federal laws, creating obstacles for injured workers:
Small family farms often lack workers’ comp coverage, so injured workers must file personal injury lawsuits against employers or third parties.
Wisconsin has a “51% rule”, if you’re more than 50% at fault you can’t recover damages. For example, not following safety protocols might reduce compensation.
Defective equipment (e.g. malfunctioning tractor parts) may warrant claims against manufacturers. Successful cases often require expert testimony to prove design flaws or inadequate warnings.
Our Madison-based team combines local agricultural knowledge with decades of personal injury experience. Here’s how we approach farming accident cases:
We work with agricultural safety experts to reconstruct accidents, analyze equipment and identify safety violations (e.g. missing OSHA-mandated guards on machinery).
We partner with occupational health specialists to connect injuries like chemical exposure or repetitive stress damage to workplace conditions.
Farm insurers will often dispute claims by arguing “assumption of risk” (i.e. workers knew the dangers). We counter these with evidence of negligence, such as unmaintained equipment or inadequate training.
If you’ve been hurt on a Wisconsin farm, do these:
Compensation could cover:
Farming isn’t just a job—it’s a lifestyle. When accidents threaten that lifestyle, you need attorneys who know Wisconsin’s land, laws and people. Both of the attorneys at Atterbury, Kammer & Haag, S.C., have been awarded the very highest trial lawyer rating attainable in this country. When you hire Atterbury, Kammer & Haag, S.C., you get an attorney who has been proven capable and skillful. Even if your Madison area farm injury seems complex, call us. We are in Middleton at 608-821-4600 or 1-866-449-7210. You can also fill out our online contact form to tell us a little about your farm accident, work injury or construction injury and we will contact you.
