Farming Equipment Accident Caused By Allegedly Defective Safety Device

Case Overview

This case involves a plaintiff who was crushed by a truckload of equipment. The plaintiff was driving an open-bed truck that was transporting heavy-duty agricultural equipment. When the plaintiff picked up the truck at the facility, there were no instructions or warnings provided to him as to how to properly secure the equipment. A pin was placed between the hinge of the equipment to keep the pieces falling while in transport. Upon arriving at his destination, the driver began to unload the equipment. As the driver released the strap restraining the equipment, the pin holding the hinge undid itself, causing the equipment to fall and crush the plaintiff. He suffered a traumatic brain injury and died in transport to the hospital. An expert in agricultural equipment was sought to discuss the potential product defect in the safety devices used to prevent the equipment from falling while in transport.