Can You Claim For Serious Tractor Accidents?

About Our Legal Expert: This content is produced with oversight by Michael Jefferies, Managing Director who has over 30 years’ legal experience.

Written by Tanya Waterworth, Digital Content Writer

Farm Safety Week : Highlighting Human Stories

Tractor accidents remain one of the most serious causes of injury and death on farms across England and Wales, but when can you claim for a serious tractor accident while working on a farm? Modern tractors are powerful, heavy machines, so if something goes wrong, it may end in catastrophic injuries. However, if there has been employer negligence or faulty machinery, you may be able to claim compensation. A personal injury claim covers not only pain and suffering, but also financial losses, for example both current and future income as well as rehabilitation.

Tractor Accidents: A Leading Cause of Serious Harm in Agriculture

Agriculture consistently ranks as the most hazardous industry in Great Britain. According to the latest headline figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), there were 29 fatal injuries in the 2025/26 reporting period. While seven of this number were members of the public (including children), there were 22 fatalities involving farm workers. This includes employed and self-employed.

Tractors and farm vehicles remain a major cause of accidents which may often involve:

• Rollovers
• Crush accidents
• Run‑overs
• Collisions with other machinery
• Entanglement in moving parts

These accidents frequently occur during routine tasks such as towing, loading, transporting goods, or working on uneven ground

Farm Safety Week Highlights Tragedy

The annual Farm Safety Week took place  at the end of July which also highlighted the HSE statistics over the last five years on agricultural fatalities, including the startling finding that: “measured per 100,000 workers, the fatal injury rate is five times higher than construction and 21 times higher than the all-industry average.”

During the same week was the inquest for a 26-year-old farm worker, Daniel Sowerby, who was fatally crushed by a tractor when its handbrake failed. Mr Sowerby had parked the tractor next to a barn to load manure. The handbrake failed causing it to roll down a slope and crush the young worker against the barn wall. The coroner found that the handbrake failure “was caused by a manufacturing defect”. The coroner said that while an inquest was to determine how a person had died, it was not his duty to apportion blame. But he did highlight that the farm’s owner was not to blame as  “his equipment was up to spec, well maintained and looked after”.

During Farm Safety Week, Richard Bate, the president of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) highlighted the risk of injury  to agricultural workers, which all involved ‘”human stories that truly bring home the consequences”. The included a Suffolk farmer in his 70s who died after falling into a grain silo and 22 year-old shepherdess who passed away in an accident when her quad bike overturned, according to the foundation.

Why Tractor Accidents Are Often So Severe

Tractors weigh several tonnes and often operate with attachments such as loaders and trailers, when accidents occur, injuries are typically severe, including:

• Spinal injuries
• Crush injuries
• Traumatic amputations
• Severe fractures
• Head and brain injuries
• Fatal trauma

The seriousness of these injuries means victims may often be dealing with

long‑term rehabilitation, permanent disability, or loss of earnings. For families, fatal tractor accidents can cause overwhelming emotional and financial hardship.

Common Causes of Tractor Accidents on Farms

Here are some of the most frequent factors behind farm accidents, which can form the basis of a personal injury or fatal accident claim.

• Poor maintenance: faulty brakes, worn tyres, defective hydraulics
• Lack of training : inexperienced workers operating complex machinery
• Unsafe terrain: steep slopes, unstable ground, or poor visibility
• Rushed work: pressure during harvest or peak seasons
• Inadequate supervision
• Failure to follow HSE tractor safety guidance

How to Start a Claim If Injured in a Farm Accident

If you were injured through no fault of your own while working on a farm, you can start a claim by taking the following steps:

Seek medical attention immediately

Your health must always come first. Medical records will also form vital evidence.

Report the accident

Notify your employer and ensure the incident is recorded in the accident book.

Gather evidence

Collect photos, witness details, machinery information, and any available CCTV or vehicle data.

Check whether the tractor was properly maintained

Maintenance failures are one of the most common causes of liability.

Speak to a specialist solicitor

We partner with solicitors experienced in agricultural injury claims. They can assess liability with an initial, free consultation. If you have a valid claim, they will help to gather expert evidence and carry out negotiations to get maximum compensation for your injury.

Claim compensation for your losses

As each case is different, your solicitor can estimate for your specific claim. Typically, this may include compensation for:

• Pain and suffering
• Loss of earnings
• Future loss of earnings
• Rehabilitation and physiotherapy
• Adaptations to your home
• Care and support

If You’re a Bereaved Family Member After a Fatal Tractor Accident

Fatal tractor accidents are devastating. If you have lost a loved one, you may be able to pursue a claim under the Fatal Accidents Act:

• A dependency claim (for financial support lost due to the death)
• A claim for funeral expenses
• A claim for loss of services (such as childcare or household support)

You can also seek a Statutory Bereavement Award if eligible.

A solicitor will help you:

• Obtain the HSE investigation report
• Secure witness evidence
• Identify failures in safety procedures
• Pursue compensation to protect your family’s future

Why Tractor Accident Claims Require Specialist Expertise

Tractor accidents generally involve complex issues such as:

• Machinery engineering
• Vehicle stability
• PTO (Power Take-Off) safety
• Agricultural workplace regulations
• HSE compliance
• Employer liability
• Contractor responsibility

We work with highly experienced personal injury lawyers who understand  these complexities and who can build a strong case using expert evidence, accident reconstruction, and HSE guidance.

Your Rights as a Farm Worker in England & Wales

Even if you are:

• Self‑employed
• Working seasonally
• On a casual contract
• Helping a family farm

You still have rights. Employers and landowners are required to provide:

• Safe equipment
• Proper training
• Adequate supervision
• A safe working environment

If they fail in these duties and you are injured, you may be able to pursue compensation.

Getting Started

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a farm accident because of someone else’s negligence or unsafe working conditions, we can help you with everything you need to know about claiming compensation with a personal injury claim.

To discuss your potential claim in confidence and arrange a free, no-obligation consultation: contact our friendly team on 0333 358 3034. Alternatively, or complete our online contact form.