Especially if you live in rural areas, you probably know all about it. The harvest season is in full swing. This means extra caution for both farmers and civilians. It results in busyness in the fields and a higher risk of fatal accidents on the road. There are many tractors on the roads, which also leave a trail of mud. This can cause slippery conditions. The combination of agricultural vehicles and other road traffic is a dangerous one. It can lead to severe accidents, and reducing the number of deaths and injuries from traffic accidents involving agricultural vehicles has proven to be challenging.
Statistics
In total, there are 750,000 agricultural and forestry vehicles in our country. Agricultural vehicles include both agricultural and forestry tractors as well as self-propelled work equipment: machinery for use in agriculture, construction, civil engineering, and green maintenance.
You might not have known this, but in the Netherlands, there are on average 16 fatalities and 250 injuries each year in accidents involving agricultural vehicles. The victims are rarely the drivers of the vehicles themselves, but mostly other road users, such as cyclists or motorists.
Measures
Despite various measures, such as the introduction of a tractor driver’s license, mandatory vehicle inspections, and necessary education on safely handling agricultural traffic on public roads, the number of deaths and injuries from collisions with agricultural vehicles has remained constant in recent years. Over the long term, there has even been an increase: compared to the early 1990s, the average number of traffic fatalities from an accident involving an agricultural vehicle has increased from 1 to 2 percent of the total number of traffic fatalities in the Netherlands. More than half of the victims are in the provinces of Gelderland, Noord-Brabant, Zuid-Holland, and Overijssel.
Personal Injury
Have you suffered a personal injury due to a collision with an agricultural vehicle? In many cases, you can seek compensation for your damages from the party at fault. It is advisable to consult a specialized personal injury lawyer. The costs of legal assistance can also be recovered.