Encountering farm vehicles on the roads is commonplace, especially during the spring planting and fall harvest seasons. Drivers may encounter tractors, combines, grain carts, or other farm implements on rural roads and highways. Unfortunately, accidents can happen as drivers encounter farm vehicles. If you were injured in a crash involving a tractor or other farm vehicle, it is important to understand your rights.
Our attorneys at Maschka Personal Injury have extensive experience representing people who have suffered harm in crashes involving agricultural equipment, and we can explain the complexities of tractor-versus-car accidents: why they happen and who may be liable. If you need help after a crash involving a tractor, combine, or other farm implement, we will work to uncover what happened and work to hold the at-fault party responsible.
State law allows implements of husbandry to use the public roads under specific conditions. Included in this category are farm tractors, combines, sprayers, trailers, and other self-propelled or towed equipment designed or adapted for farm use.
The speed limit for implements of husbandry is 35 miles per hour, but these vehicles often move much more slowly than traffic. There must be a slow-moving vehicle placard on these self-propelled vehicles and on any trailer they are towing. Minnesota Statutes § 169.55 requires these vehicles to have hazard lights visible in daylight, front and rear lamps, and rear reflectors.
If the farm vehicle’s owner did not comply with any of these requirements, that failure may contribute to a crash with a car, and the court may hold them at least partially liable. The allocation of fault depends on the circumstances of the crash and each driver’s conduct.
Getting stuck behind a farm vehicle can be frustrating. They are often huge, taking up an entire lane of travel, and so tall that it is hard to see around them to the road ahead. They move slowly and may have to travel considerable distances on the roads, significantly slowing your progress.
Under these circumstances, you might be tempted to pass the tractor even if you cannot see what is coming ahead. However, this decision can lead to serious accidents that cause severe injuries.
If you pass a farm vehicle with your car in an unsafe manner, it can cause an accident, and you may be held at fault. If you are primarily responsible for the accident, the law prevents you from seeking compensation for your injuries in court.
Determining how a crash between a car and a tractor occurred, who is responsible, and how fault is allocated among the responsible parties is often a matter of negotiation between the involved parties’ insurance companies. All parties will review the police report, which often contains valuable evidence. They may also hire accident reconstruction specialists to provide opinions about what happened and who is to blame.
If the fault is unclear or is clearly shared between you and at least one other party, working with an experienced lawyer is essential. The higher your degree of fault, the lower your damages. A skilled legal professional can advocate for you, ensuring you maximize the value of your potential claim.
If you have suffered injuries in a crash between a farm vehicle and a passenger vehicle, determining liability is key. You will need an experienced accident attorney to explain the legalities of tractor-versus-car accidents: why they happen and who’s liable.
Contact us at Maschka Personal Injury to discuss your potential claim. Our firm is based in Mankato but serves all surrounding areas. Schedule a free consultation to discuss the collision with a member of our team.
