If it just happened
Emergency? Call 911- 1Call 911 and give the clearest location you can: road, field, landmarks, or GPS from your phone.
- 2Turn off the engine if you can safely reach the key. Watch for leaking fuel, fire and moving parts like a running power take-off.
- 3Do not try to lift or drive the tractor off someone. Wait for responders unless there is an immediate danger.
- 4Keep an injured person still, warm and talking. Do not remove a helmet or move their neck.
- 5Have someone notify the farm owner or manager.
- 6Later, photograph the tractor, the slope or ditch, and whether a rollover protective structure and seatbelt were installed and in use.
General information only — not medical or legal advice.
Reporting it and the claim process
Rollovers often happen on slopes, ditches, embankments or when a tractor tips sideways while turning or pulling a load that is hitched too high. Whether a rollover protective structure was installed and the seatbelt worn is an important detail. Describe what happened without guessing at fault. Mowing along ditches, pulling stumps, towing heavy implements and turning on slopes are common situations.
Coverage for farm workers varies a great deal by state and type of farm. Some agricultural workers are covered by workers' compensation and some are not, depending on state rules and the size or type of operation. Ask the farm owner and your state's workers' compensation agency how it applies to you. Seasonal or family workers should ask too. If you are not sure whether the farm carries workers' comp insurance, ask directly and write down the answer. Some farms carry other kinds of coverage for workers.
Deadlines to report and file vary by state. A family member can help make calls if you are hospitalized. If the person injured cannot speak for themselves, family members can gather records and ask questions.
Keep the medical records, photos, names of witnesses, and information about the tractor's make, any recent repairs, and who did them. Write down who has the tractor now and whether it has been moved or repaired.
Getting medical care
Rollover injuries can include crush injuries, broken bones, spine injuries and head injuries. Emergency teams decide what is needed first. Follow-up may involve orthopedics, spine care and rehabilitation. A licensed clinician decides what is appropriate. Rural emergencies often involve long distances and helicopter or ambulance transport. Keep every record from each hospital and clinic.
Tell every provider the injury happened at work on the farm. Some states and employers have rules about which provider you see for follow-up care, so ask once the emergency is over. If you are far from specialists, ask how travel to appointments is handled on your claim.
Ask the pharmacy and the adjuster or farm owner how work-injury prescriptions are handled. Home delivery is especially helpful in rural areas. Ask also how medical equipment like walkers or braces is provided.
Prescribed medication? Learn about prescription home delivery, common medications after work injuries, or find pharmacies near you. Your doctor and pharmacist decide what is right for you.
When people often talk to an attorney
- There is uncertainty about whether farm work is covered in your state.
- The tractor or a part like the rollover structure may have been defective, raising third-party questions.
- You have a spine injury, crush injury or other serious injury.
- You cannot return to farm work and are considering long-term options, including Social Security disability.
- You are a seasonal, family or migrant worker and are told you are not covered.
- A settlement is offered before you know your long-term needs.
Learn more: what a workers' comp attorney does. Many offer a free first consultation; fees in workers' comp are often regulated by the state.
Recovery and going back to work
Recovery from a rollover can be long. Keep every appointment and follow the care plan. Physical therapy and help at home are often part of recovery from serious injuries.
Ask about restrictions and whether operating equipment will be safe again. If you cannot return to farm work, ask whether your state offers vocational help. Some people return to lighter farm tasks, such as bookkeeping, marketing or supervising others, with restrictions.
It is common to feel fear or anxiety around tractors after a rollover. Tell your clinician if that happens; support is available. Talking with other farmers who have been through serious injuries can help too.
Questions to ask
- Is farm work covered by workers' comp in my state?
- Did the tractor have a rollover protective structure and seatbelt?
- Who maintains and repairs the tractor?
- Doctor, what does recovery look like?
- Will I be able to operate equipment again?
- How are prescriptions handled, and can they be delivered to a rural address?
- Attorney, could the tractor maker be responsible?
- Attorney, how do workers' comp and Social Security disability fit together?
Frequently asked questions
What should I do after a tractor rollover on the farm?
Call 911 right away with the clearest location you can. Do not try to lift the tractor, and do not move someone with neck or back pain unless there is immediate danger. Turn off the engine only if it is safe.
Are farm workers covered by workers' comp after a rollover?
It depends heavily on your state and the type of farm. Some agricultural workers are covered and some are not. Ask your state's workers' compensation agency.
What is a rollover protective structure?
It is a frame designed to protect the operator if a tractor tips over. Whether one was installed and used is an important detail. Note it in your records.
Can I sue the tractor manufacturer?
In some situations, a defective tractor or part may raise third-party questions. This is a legal question for an attorney. Many offer a free first consultation.
What if I am a seasonal or family worker?
Coverage can be different for seasonal or family workers, depending on your state. Do not assume you are not covered. Ask questions.
Is it normal to feel afraid of tractors after a rollover?
Yes, many people feel anxious after a frightening accident. Tell your clinician. Support is available.
Related situations
Industries where this often happens
Prescriptions.plus is an educational portal. We are not a pharmacy, law firm, medical provider, insurer or claims administrator, and nothing here is medical or legal advice. Educational purposes only. Workers' compensation rules and deadlines vary by state — check with your state's workers' compensation agency. Medical emergency? Call 911. Hurt outside of work? Personal-injury legal help: attorneys.plus (coming soon).