Wisconsin Farm Accident Attorney - When Someone Else's Negligence Put You at Risk
Farm accidents in Wisconsin are often more than a workplace injury. If defective equipment, a negligent contractor, a reckless driver, or a dangerous chemical caused your harm, you may have the right to pursue compensation well beyond what workers’ compensation provides.
For over five decades, the attorneys at Nowlan Injury Law have helped injured Wisconsin families recover what they are owed – more than $86 million and counting. We are ready to do the same for you.
Farm Accidents and Third-Party Liability in Wisconsin
Wisconsin is home to more than 58,000 farms spanning nearly 14 million acres, and farming is one of the most hazardous professions in the state. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics consistently ranks agriculture among the deadliest industries in Wisconsin.
But not every farm injury is simply a workers’ comp matter. When a manufacturer ships defective equipment, a contractor installs faulty safety systems, a commercial driver fails to yield to slow-moving farm machinery, or a chemical supplier delivers a dangerous product without proper warnings – injured workers and farm operators may have the right to pursue a third-party liability claim.
At Nowlan Injury Law, our Wisconsin farm accident attorneys investigate the full picture of your injury. We identify every party whose negligence contributed to your harm and pursue the maximum compensation you are entitled to under Wisconsin law.
Our legal team brings fierce trial experience and personalized attention to every case. We come to you. We fight for you. And we do not get paid unless you win.
Why Third-Party Liability Matters for Wisconsin Farm Accident Victims
Wisconsin’s workers’ compensation system provides important protections, but it also limits what you can recover. A third-party personal injury claim is different – and often worth significantly more.
Workers’ compensation typically covers medical expenses and a portion of lost wages. A successful third-party claim can also recover:
- Full lost wages and future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent disability compensation
- Damages for your family’s losses
Wisconsin exempts small farms with fewer than six employees from mandatory workers’ compensation coverage, leaving many injured workers to rely entirely on personal injury claims. Even when workers’ comp does apply, it may not be your only path to recovery.
See how our case results reflect the difference a third-party claim can make for injured victims across Southern Wisconsin.
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Farm Accident Cases We Handle in Wisconsin
Defective Farm Equipment and Product Liability
Many farm accidents are the result of defective equipment, safety violations, and other forms of negligence. Tractor rollovers, grain auger malfunctions, PTO shaft entanglements, and harvester failures can cause amputations, crush injuries, and death. When the cause is a design defect, a manufacturing flaw, or a failure to warn, the equipment manufacturer, distributor, or seller may be held liable.
A farm accident is not always just a workplace incident. If your tractor malfunctioned, your harvester failed, or a piece of machinery was poorly designed or already recalled, our attorneys can investigate whether a product liability claim applies to your situation.
Common scenarios include:
- Defective tractor or harvester components
- Failed rollover protection systems (ROPS)
- Improperly labeled chemicals or pesticides
- Recalled equipment still in operation
- Inadequate or missing warnings in operator manuals
Our attorneys understand product liability law and know how to go up against large equipment manufacturers to recover what your family deserves. Learn more about how we approach serious personal injury cases.
Grain Bin and Confined Space Accidents - Contractor and Vendor Negligence
Grain entrapment – a suffocation risk in storage facilities – is a well-documented hazard, with Purdue University’s 2022 data showing more than 20 U.S. cases annually. When entrapment, structural collapse, or a failed safety system is the cause, a contractor’s or vendor’s negligence may be at the root of the tragedy.
If a contractor negligently installed your grain bin, a repair vendor created an unsafe condition, or a defective ladder or platform led to a fall, you may have a viable third-party claim – separate from and in addition to any workers’ compensation benefits.
Common scenarios include:
- Negligent grain bin installation
- Defective ladders, platforms, or fall protection systems
- Failed aeration or confined space safety systems
- Contractor-created confined space hazards
- Repair or service vendor negligence
Review our case results to see how our team has recovered compensation for seriously injured Wisconsin workers.
Roadway Accidents Involving Farm Equipment
Wisconsin farmers routinely operate tractors, hay wagons, combines, and other slow-moving vehicles on public roads. Transportation incidents are among the leading causes of farm fatalities in Wisconsin. When a commercial truck driver, a distracted motorist, or a logistics company fails to account for farm equipment on the roadway, the results can be life-altering.
These crashes often involve multiple liable parties – including commercial drivers, their employers, logistics companies, and in some cases municipalities responsible for road design or signage.
Common scenarios include:
- Farm tractor struck by a commercial truck
- Rear-end collisions with slow-moving vehicles
- Hay wagon and equipment transport crashes
- Collisions involving oversized or wide farm implements
- Logistics company liability for driver conduct
Our team handles serious truck accident and commercial vehicle cases throughout southern Wisconsin. If a collision involving farm equipment injured you or killed a family member, we want to hear from you.
Chemical Exposure and Agricultural Product Liability
Pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, and anhydrous ammonia are used across Wisconsin farms daily. Wisconsin’s Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection regularly cites improper chemical storage as a recurring safety issue. When these chemicals are misapplied, improperly stored, or defectively manufactured, the health consequences can be severe and long-lasting – including chemical burns, respiratory disease, neurological damage, and cancer.
Liable parties may include manufacturers, chemical applicators, suppliers, and contractors who failed to follow established safety protocols.
Common scenarios include:
- Pesticide or herbicide misapplication
- Chemical drift affecting workers or neighboring properties
- Anhydrous ammonia explosion or leak
- Defective or improperly maintained storage systems
- Supplier failure to provide adequate safety data or warnings
These cases are complex. Our team brings the investigative resources and expert networks needed to build a strong chemical exposure claim.
Dairy and Agricultural Facility Contractor Negligence
Modern dairy and processing operations rely on a constant flow of third-party contractors – refrigeration technicians, electrical crews, equipment installers, feed delivery operators, and maintenance vendors. When those contractors perform careless or substandard work, the people employed in the facility are the ones who pay the price.
Common scenarios include:
- Negligent third-party maintenance crews on the premises
- Refrigeration system failures caused by faulty installation
- Electrical contractor errors resulting in shock, arc flash, or fire
- Feed delivery vehicle hazards and operator negligence
- Equipment installer negligence leading to mechanical failure
Whether you were injured at a large dairy operation or a smaller family facility, Nowlan Injury Law represents workers across Madison, Janesville, Beloit, and Sun Prairie and the surrounding communities.
Livestock-Related Injuries Involving Third-Party Negligence
Working with large animals carries inherent risk. But when that risk is compounded by a defective gate, a poorly installed restraint system, or negligence by a veterinary contractor or transport company, injured workers have options.
Common scenarios include:
- Defective livestock gates or chutes
- Poorly installed or maintained animal restraint systems
- Negligent veterinary or care contractor conduct on the property
- Transport contractor negligence during animal loading or delivery
If you were injured while working with livestock and believe a third party was at fault, speak with one of our Wisconsin injury attorneys as soon as possible.
Electrical and Utility Negligence on Wisconsin Farms
Overhead power lines, underground utilities, and farm electrical systems are a consistent source of serious injury and death across Wisconsin farms. When a utility company fails to maintain safe clearances, a contractor damages underground wiring, or a negligent electrician creates a hazard, third-party liability may be available to the injured worker or their family.
Common scenarios include:
- Contact with overhead power lines during grain bin work or equipment operation
- Faulty wiring installed by an electrical contractor
- Contractor trenching accidents from inadequately marked utilities
- Electrical maintenance negligence resulting in fire, shock, or arc flash
Electrical negligence cases on farms can overlap with construction and contractor injury law. Our team knows how to identify every liable party and pursue the full value of your claim.
The Scope of Farm Injuries in Wisconsin
Wisconsin hosts more than 58,000 farms on nearly 14 million acres, with agriculture accounting for nearly 10% of jobs throughout the state
Tractor accidents are the number one cause of farming fatalities nationally, accounting for 44% of all farm accident deaths
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports more than 21,000 agricultural work injuries in the United States between 2021 and 2022
Wisconsin exempts small farms with fewer than six employees from mandatory workers' compensation - meaning many injured farm workers must pursue personal injury claims entirely on their own
Wisconsin's statute of limitations for personal injury cases is three years from the date of injury - do not wait to speak with an attorney
Our case results reflect more than $86 million recovered for injured Wisconsin families. Farm accident victims are among those we fight hardest for.
Why Wisconsin Farm Accident Victims Choose Nowlan Injury Law
Farm accident cases are complex. They require a deep understanding of agricultural operations, product liability law, third-party negligence standards, and Wisconsin’s specific workers’ compensation exemptions. Our attorneys bring the investigative resources, expert networks, and courtroom experience needed to pursue every avenue of recovery for injured farm workers and their families.
What sets us apart:
- Over five decades of helping injured Wisconsin families recover what they are owed
- More than $86 million recovered for clients across Southern Wisconsin
- Personalized, concierge-level service – we are over-communicators and will always pick up the phone
- We come to you – home visits, hospital visits, and flexible appointments are available
- Fierce trial lawyers who are not afraid to take a case to court when insurers refuse to pay fairly
- No fees unless we win – you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you
Meet our team and see why injured workers across Madison, Janesville, Beloit, and Sun Prairie trust Nowlan Injury Law with their most serious cases.
Frequently Asked Questions - Wisconsin Farm Accident Claims
Is a farm accident always covered by worker's compensation in Wisconsin?
Not always. Wisconsin’s workers’ compensation laws do not require coverage for all farm workers. Farms with fewer than six employees are exempt from mandatory coverage, leaving many injured workers to rely entirely on personal injury claims. Even when workers’ comp applies, it may not be your only option.
Who can be held liable in a Wisconsin farm accident case?
Depending on how the accident occurred, liable parties may include equipment manufacturers, installation contractors, chemical applicators, commercial vehicle drivers, logistics companies, utility providers, and repair or service vendors. Our attorneys investigate every angle to identify all responsible parties.
What is the statute of limitations for a farm accident claim in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin’s statute of limitations for personal injury cases is three years from the date of injury. That window can pass faster than you expect – especially when evidence needs to be preserved and witnesses need to be identified. Consulting an attorney as early as possible is critical.
Can I file both a workers' compensation claim and a personal injury lawsuit?
In some cases, yes. If a third party’s negligence caused or contributed to your injury, you may be able to pursue both a workers’ compensation claim and a separate personal injury claim at the same time. Our attorneys can help you understand which options are available in your specific situation.
How much does it cost to hire Nowlan Injury Law?
Talk to a Wisconsin Farm Accident Attorney
compensation is your only option. The attorneys at Nowlan Injury Law are ready to evaluate your case, identify every liable party, and pursue the full recovery you deserve – with no fees unless we win.
Call or text: (866) 971-9124 | (608) 830-0606
Serving Madison, Janesville, Beloit, Sun Prairie, and communities throughout Southern Wisconsin.