North Carolina has a long history of agriculture. This long-history does not come without dangers to both the farmers and others. Recent data from the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center indicates that in 2015 and 2016 combined, there were 431 crashes involving farm equipment and tractors in North Carolina. Of these crashes, 22 resulted in death or a very serious injury.
Of the types of crashes, a rear-end collision is the most common. During 2015 and 2016, 111 crashes were of the rear-end collision type. This is not surprising because many drivers on rural roads fail to appreciate the speed of a tractor or farm vehicle.
Here are a few steps that everyone can take to ensure safe operation of vehicles on roads frequently used by farm vehicles:
Farmers are the lifeblood of North Carolina. Eliminating collisions with farm equipment will be very difficult but there steps everyone can take to reduce the number of crashes.
If you or a family member have a question about a farm equipment accident in North Carolina, contact the lawyers at Hendren, Redwine, & Malone. Our lawyers have significant experience navigating the complex liability and insurance issues that are frequently encountered in a farm equipment collision case.