Here at Cuming & Gillespie LLP, one of Calgary’s premier personal injury law firms, we have made it our goal to give Calgary’s citizens the best and most relevant information regarding personal injury law, how to protect themselves, and what their rights are when they or a family member has been seriously injured in an accident due to someone else’s negligence. This includes providing basic understandings of the law and helping form more in-depth understandings of issues presented by the popular media.
To that end, recent news of a tragic occurrence on a Calgary-area farm warrants some mention here, as a word of caution to anyone who owns and/or operates farm equipment, and to inform those who might be around farm equipment of their rights. Incidents like these serve as stark reminders that the agricultural industry that helped build our province comes with certain risks. When the owners and/or operators of dangerous farm equipment fail to properly deal with those risks and someone else gets hurt, the owner/operator could be liable for damages.
Preventing Farm Accidents is Every Owner’s Responsibility
Just as anyone who owns a home or business in Calgary is responsible for any hazards on their property that may cause injuries to others, and is liable for the injuries themselves should they occur, so too are the owners of farms responsible for hazards on their property that might cause injury, including any farm equipment.
If others who have a lawful and legitimate reason to be on the property end up being injured by the farm equipment or other hazards, they can hold the owner responsible and seek compensation for their medical costs, any impact to their earning capabilities including wages lost during periods of debilitation and treatment, diminished quality of life, and pain and suffering. In cases of wrongful death, the family members of those killed in an accident can seek compensation instead of the decedent.
Not all cases of farm injuries are necessarily grounds for a law suit. A competent adult who behaves recklessly with farm equipment and causes their own injury would likely not have a case against the owner of the equipment, and “freak” accidents that could not have been predicted or prevented by a reasonable duty of care might also not be grounds for a legal case. When owners fail to correct known problems, though, or don’t take steps to properly secure equipment away from children and others, this is when the law is a useful tool for intervention and correction.
Calgary Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help with Your Farm Injury
If you or a family member has been seriously injured or killed in a farm accident, you have the right to speak with a legal professional about your case. The lawyers at Cuming & Gillespie LLP, Calgary’s premier personal injury law firm, help accident victims and their families every day, and are happy to offer free consultations to anyone in need. To schedule your no-obligation discussion with a top Calgary personal injury lawyer, contact our office today.