Wisconsin Farm Accidents and Injuries Attorneys

Gregory Wright Law Offices, S.C., provides professional farm/agricultural injury representation for those victims injured on farms or by farm equipment in Oshkosh, Madison, Montello and throughout the state.

As your farm accident attorney, we will fight diligently to ensure that justice is served and to see to it that you are compensated for your pain and suffering, lost wages, and medical bills. We work on a contingency basis, which means you never have to pay legal fees unless we are successful in helping you win your case. We believe in providing personalized services that are tailored to meet the unique needs of each of our clients to assure the most favorable outcome.

Common Farm Injuries

There are inherent risks associated with farming and with those risks come injuries that are unfortunately often tragic. Farm accidents encompass pretty much any activity involved in farm operations that affect laborers, employees, family and friends.

Farming accidents can even affect people not directly involved in the farming operations, such as a tractor operator on the highway that crosses the centerline and strikes an oncoming vehicle, debris falling from wagons or farm equipment, and loading and unloading operations on roadways, especially at night and without proper lighting.

Common Risks Associated With Equipment On The Farm

• Equipment negligently maintained
• Protective guards removed
• Defective design features
• Operator error

Tractor rollovers are common farm injuries, as are serious injuries or death when dealing with or handling equipment such as belts, chains and PTOs. Additionally, the handling of livestock, especially bulls or cows, can result in serious injury or death, and our office has successfully litigated these cases in the past. Farms and farm injuries in Wisconsin are not typically subject to the Wisconsin Workers’ Compensation System if the farm is small enough that it has five or fewer employees.

This means, if you were injured in a workplace farming accident, your only recourse for compensation may be a personal injury lawsuit. It is also important to note that federal workplace safety requirements under OSHA often do not cover smaller family farming operations.

Common Farm Accidents Not Involving Equipment

It’s not just heavy equipment that poses a threat. Serious farm accidents and injuries can also happen due to:

• Slip-and-fall accidents or falls from heights
• Electrocution from faulty wiring or power lines
• Chemical exposure from pesticides, herbicides and more
• Injuries in confined spaces like grain silos or trenches
• Fires and explosions due to the use of combustible materials or stored fuel
• Injuries from handling animals such as horses, pigs or cows, which can cause injuries from stampedes, kicks, or bites.

Our team can help injured parties explore their legal actions after any of these events.

How Wisconsin Farm Liability Laws Affect Injury Claims

Wisconsin farm liability laws provide protection, but they do not eliminate responsibility in all situations. When a farm accident occurs, liability depends on how state statutes apply to the facts. A skilled farm accident attorney evaluates these laws carefully, especially in cases involving third-party injuries.

Wisconsin’s recreational immunity statute, Wis. Stat. § 895.52, and safe place requirements can limit liability in certain scenarios. However, these protections do not cover negligence. If a farm owner fails to correct a known hazard or allows unsafe conditions, liability can still apply. Several key factors influence these claims:

• Whether the injured person was a worker, contractor or visitor
• If the farm owner knew about and ignored a dangerous condition
• Whether faulty or poorly maintained equipment contributed to the injury
• If third-party negligence played a role in the accident

Farm accidents can involve overlapping responsibility. For example, a tractor rollover or PTO incident may involve both human error and equipment failure. In these situations, liability can extend beyond the farm itself to include manufacturers or outside contractors. 

Investigating Complex Equipment Failures 

When machinery fails, the cause may involve design flaws, maintenance issues or improper use. Our farm accident lawyer can examine the full history of the equipment to determine liability. This investigation relies heavily on the equipment paper trail. Without it, proving fault becomes much more difficult. Key documents include:

• Purchase agreements and warranties
• Maintenance logs and repair invoices
• Manufacturer safety warnings and recall notices
• Inspection reports and operator manuals

These records help us identify where the breakdown occurred. If maintenance was neglected, a service provider may be responsible. If a manufacturer ignored a known defect, they may share liability.

The Impact Of Farm Accidents On Family-Run Operations

Farm accidents have consequences that extend beyond the injured person. In Wisconsin, many farms are family-run, so one injury can affect the entire household and business. The financial and physical impact can be significant:

• Lost income during planting or harvest seasons
• Ongoing medical and rehabilitation expenses
• Hiring outside labor to keep the farm running

The emotional toll can be just as heavy. Families may worry about losing their farm, which may have been passed down through generations. This creates both urgency and stress when pursuing a legal claim.

Our experienced farm injury attorneys in Oshkosh can help hold responsible parties accountable, allowing families to focus on healing while protecting their future.

Who Can Be Held Liable For Injuries?

Multiple parties may be responsible, depending on the unique circumstances of the incident, such as:

• The property owner, if they negligently allowed dangerous conditions to exist
• The farm owner or operator
• A maintenance company working on the site
• Equipment manufacturers in product liability cases
• Other machine operators also working on the farm

It is important to properly gather evidence to demonstrate fault and liability.

What Should You Do After A Farm Accident?

Immediately after a farm accident, you should seek medical attention. It is also important to:

• Report the incident to the employer or the farm owner
• Contact the authorities when necessary
• Take pictures and videos at the scene
• Gather witness statements
• Keep medical records, police reports and expense receipts

As you do this, do not sign anything or make definitive statements – especially regarding fault – without talking to your legal team.

What Type Of Compensation Do You Deserve?

You may deserve compensation for the pain and suffering you had to endure, lost wages while you recover and medical bills and expenses incurred due to the accident. Other types of compensation include:

• Future medical care
• Rehabilitation costs
• Reduced earning capacity
• Vocational rehab
• Emotional distress
• Disfigurement or disability
• Loss of enjoyment in life

If a loved one passed away in the accident, family members can also seek wrongful death damages, such as funeral expenses, burial costs, loss of financial support or loss of consortium.

What Is The Statute Of Limitations?

Wisconsin does have a statute of limitations of three years for personal injury lawsuits and wrongful death cases. If the injured party was a minor, in many cases, they have one year to file a claim after reaching 18 years old. It’s important to act quickly and begin looking into your legal options.

Ensure The Best Results For Your Case

When you choose Gregory Wright Law Offices, S.C., you can rest assured knowing you are receiving the highest quality legal services for your injury claim. We bring passion and drive to every case, ensuring the best chance of a successful outcome for each of our clients. Trust in our dedication and skill to help you get the most positive resolution to your injury claim.

We have over four decades of experience, and we are ready to provide the cutting-edge legal services you need to ensure the success of your farm injury case. We cater to your specific needs to ensure the most favorable results for your injury claim.

Meet With Our Team For The Help You Deserve

Contact us to schedule a consultation for farm injury representation in Oshkosh, Madison, Montello and the nearby areas. Give us a call at 608-909-6000 or email us here to meet with us.