How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 151 severe cases involving agricultural tractors over the past decade. Fractures are the most common injury, occurring in 42% of all incidents, often resulting in complex, long-term medical needs.
These injuries frequently involve the fingers and pelvic region, leading to significant physical impairment. The severity of these accidents often requires extensive rehabilitation and time away from work.
How these injuries happen
Tractor injuries typically stem from nonroadway noncollision incidents, which account for 22% of all reported cases. You are frequently struck by rolling machinery or caught in running equipment during routine operations. These incidents often occur when tractors lose stability on uneven terrain or when you are pinned during maintenance tasks.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nonroadway noncollision incident | 33 |
| 2 | Struck by rolling powered vehicle or machinery | 32 |
| 3 | Other fall to lower level | 21 |
| 4 | Pedestrian struck by vehicle in nonroadway area | 18 |
| 5 | Caught, entangled in running powered equipment— normal operation | 11 |
| 6 | Compressed between running equipment and other object(s) | 9 |
| 7 | Nonroadway collision with object other than vehicle | 7 |
| 8 | Struck by running powered equipment— unspecified | 5 |
Where injuries happen most
Agriculture accounts for 30% of all tractor-related injuries, reflecting the high frequency of heavy machinery use in the field. Wholesale trade and construction also report significant numbers, as these sectors rely on tractors for material handling and site preparation.
Real cases like yours
Common patterns in these incidents include equipment rollovers, unexpected movement during repairs, and recoil injuries from towing equipment. These reports highlight failures in machine guarding and operator safety protocols. If any of these scenarios sound like what happened to you, an attorney can help you review the specifics of your incident.
| Year | State | Industry | Incident summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | FL | Agriculture | "An employee was operating an agricultural tractor when the tire was punctured and the tractor rolled over onto the employee. The employee was hospitalized with a fractured back and bruising to their heart and lungs." | |
| 2025 | NJ | Transportation & Warehousing | "An employee was descending from a tractor when they fell backward and struck their lower back, left elbow, and head on the pavement, resulting in lumbar and scalp contusions." | |
| 2025 | WI | Other Services | "On May 29, at approximately 2:00 PM, an employee was installing a carburetor and adjusting the idle on an open station tractor. While working to start the tractor, the employee was standing on the concrete floor at the left side of the tractor. He placed his left hand on the clutch and used his right hand to turn the ignition key. When the employee removed their left hand from the clutch, the tractor drove forward, knocking him to the floor and pinning him under the left rear tire. The employee sustained fractures to their spine and multiple ribs, internal bleeding, and punctures to their lung and spleen." | |
| 2025 | WI | Wholesale Trade | "An employee was operating a tractor and utilizing a 2.5-foot kinetic rope and a 1-inch soft shackle to pull another tractor that was stuck in the mud. An additional 30-foot kinetic rope with a soft shackle was hooked up to provide distance from the soft soil. While pulling, the loop end of the terminal shackle on the stuck tractor frayed and released the rope, causing it to recoil back at the pulling tractor. The rope(s) struck the back of the pull tractor, broke the rear window, and struck the employee. The employee was pushed forward into the steering wheel and sustained severe lacerations to the head and a collapsed lung." | |
| 2025 | AL | Administrative Services | "An employee was moving a mower with a tractor bucket when the bucket slipped and struck another employee on the hand. The injured employee sustained a partial amputation of their left little finger." | |
| 2025 | TX | Mining | "An employee was starting a tractor when it ran over their left leg. The employee suffered a crushing injury and fractures to the leg." | |
| 2025 | GA | Manufacturing | "An employee was repairing a tractor. The employee was using a screwdriver on the tractor, causing it to roll. The tire ran over the employee, who suffered seven broken ribs." | |
| 2025 | NY | Agriculture | "An employee was circulating liquid manure using a manure pump hooked to a tractor and became entangled in the power take-off and hydraulic hoses resulting in hospitalization for a right fibula fracture, two rib fractures, three fractures in the thoracic and lumbar spine, a scalp laceration and other abrasions." | |
| 2025 | MO | Manufacturing | "An employee was performing maintenance on an agricultural tractor. The tractor was started and moved forward. Its rear tire struck the employee, who suffered a broken leg, broken ribs, and a broken jaw." | |
| 2024 | PA | Real Estate | "An employee was backing up a tractor when it struck a dead tree, causing a tree limb to fall and strike the employee's head. The employee sustained facial lacerations and head trauma." |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.
Frequently asked questions
Seek immediate medical attention and report the injury to your employer as soon as possible. Document the scene, the equipment involved, and any witnesses to the incident. An attorney can help you understand your rights and ensure your claim is filed correctly.
Employers are required to maintain safe equipment and provide proper training for all machinery operators. If a failure to guard equipment or provide adequate safety instructions contributed to your injury, your employer may be liable. An attorney can help you evaluate whether safety standards were violated in your case.
Workers' Compensation typically covers medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, and a portion of lost wages. If your injury resulted in permanent impairment, you may be eligible for additional benefits. An attorney can help you review your situation to ensure you are receiving the full compensation you are entitled to.
Many tractor rollovers are preventable through the use of rollover protective structures and proper terrain management. When employers fail to implement these safety measures, they may be held accountable for the resulting harm. An attorney can help you investigate the circumstances of your accident to determine if negligence played a role.