Moreno Valley Agricultural Accident Lawyer

What Types of Agricultural Accidents Are Common in Moreno Valley, CA?

Part of Riverside County within the Inland Empire, Moreno Valley is known to have agricultural roots, especially in less-developed areas and on the outskirts of the city. Moreno Valley fields are home to citrus fruits, vegetables, and avocados. With our open fields and orchards, this agricultural area sees many farm worker injuries, ranging from moderate to quite severe. The most common injuries suffered at work include:

• Tractor overturns, resulting in crush injuries
• Machine entanglements
• Falls from structures
• Environmental dangers like pesticides, fertilizers, and other toxic chemicals
• Hip, back, and knee injuries through repetitive movements
• Sprains and strains
• Injuries sustained due to defective farming equipment
• Grain entrapment
• Livestock incidents
• Injuries because of being trapped under falling

This is a small sample of injuries often sustained in agricultural accidents in California.

Unfortunately, some agricultural industry accidents are fatal. If a loved one suffered a preventable death, a knowledgeable local attorney can discuss a wrongful death claim.

How Long Do I Have to Bring a Claim?

In California, you have two years to file a workplace accident or a wrongful death claim. While that may seem like a substantial time period, it’s recommended that you seek immediate legal help before memories fade and evidence becomes more challenging to obtain. An agricultural accident lawyer can discuss the timeline for your specific case and help you file a claim in a timely manner.

How Do I Prove Negligence for an Agricultural Accident Case?

To meet your burden of proof and win a negligence case, you must establish someone owed you or a loved one a duty to keep them reasonably safe at work. Then, you need to prove that the same entity breached their duty, which directly resulted in the workplace accident. In order to prove negligence, an attorney typically conducts an investigation into the accident and gathers evidence like videos, eyewitness testimony, photographs, etc.

An experienced attorney can further discuss how to succeed with your claim and can help evaluate the likelihood of success with your case. Although you can handle an agricultural accident claim yourself, an attorney can help maximize the amount of recovery you receive and increase your likelihood of a winning claim.

What Are My Legal Options?

There are a few legal options for injured agricultural workers who want to pursue recovery from their losses. They can consider the following avenues:

• An accident case. A civil case allows recovery for medical bills, funeral expenses, pain and suffering, etc.
• A claim for a defective product. If the accident was caused by a defective piece of farming equipment, you might be able to file a defective product case.
• A workers’ compensation benefits claim. You might also be able to file for workers’ comp, which can help with costs you’ve incurred.

While you may currently feel overwhelmed, an attorney can discuss the right option for your recovery based on your specific injuries and the cause of your workplace accident. Consult an attorney familiar with California’s farming industry and who can help explain where to start to pursue recovery. Call English Lloyd & Armenta to schedule an initial consultation.