Hickory Agriculture Work Injury Lawyer

Hickory Agriculture Work Injury Attorney

Catawba County features a robust agricultural scene. Local farmers produce eggs, meat, vegetables, and other artisanal products, often featured at the Hickory Farmers’ Market. The downside to this, however, is that individuals working on these agricultural sites run the risk of injuries. Whether you run a livestock farm outside of Hickory or use heavy equipment at a farm near Conover, when an injury happens, a Hickory agriculture work injury lawyer can help.

Trust Law Office of Lyndon R. Helton, PLLC: Over 23 Years of Service

For over 23 years now, the team at Law Office of Lyndon R. Helton, PLLC has been helping farm workers and other agricultural employees recover compensation following serious accidents and injuries. Our lead attorney Lyndon R. Helton, enjoys raising Angus cattle and understands the dangers of owning livestock and running a farm. He also knows how to help you recover workers’ compensation benefits following a serious agricultural accident.

Common Cases of Agricultural Injuries in Hickory, NC

In the United States, farmwork ranks in the top three most dangerous occupations. In 2025, there were a total of 2,225 individuals aged 16 and over working in the agriculture industry, and between 2021 and 2022, there were 21,020 injuries in the agricultural industry that required the injured individual to take days off work.

On an agricultural jobsite, there are countless hazards that can all lead to serious injuries and even death. However, there are two main reasons why these accidents take place: the presence of heavy equipment and livestock. If you have suffered a farm worker injury, a Hickory Workers’ Compensation Lawyer can help you understand how these two types of accidents happen and what legal options may be available to you.

• Heavy equipment accidents and failures. Most farms employ heavy machinery. Large tractors, combines, and other machines are part of the farm ecosystem, but they can also cause devastating accidents. For example, you may be entitled to tractor rollover workers’ compensation if you suffered injuries in a rollover accident while operating a tractor on the farm that employs you. You might also suffer a landscaping injury in North Carolina. North Carolina farms are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance if they employ a certain number of full-time, non-seasonal workers. If this applies to you, then when you suffer broken bones, a spinal cord injury, a crushing or pinning injury, brain damage, or other injury due to a heavy farm equipment accident, you are likely entitled to file a claim for benefits to allow you to rest and recover.
• Livestock injuries. When most people think of farm animals, they picture sweet lambs, milking cows, and horses. The fact of the matter is that many farm animals are simply that: animals, and they are not being raised as pets, but rather as livestock. Livestock can be unpredictable and pose a serious threat. The most common livestock-related injuries we have handled in agricultural workers’ compensation cases include:
  • Diseases. There are several diseases that livestock can pass on to humans, including the avian flu, the swine flu, tickborne viruses, Orf virus, Q fever, and leptospirosis, to name a few.
  • Blunt-force injuries. When a large animal, such as a horse or cow, kicks, rears up, or tramples farm workers during any kind of handling or breeding process, this can cause severe injuries to the bones and internal organs, and can even lead to brain injuries and death.
  • Falls. Many farm workers need to handle repairs to livestock barns, enclosures, pens, and other similar structures. When a ladder collapses or a surface is not stable, a worker can fall and suffer serious injuries.
  • Bites. When an animal bites a farm worker, it can cause the worker to suffer an infection, disfigurement, permanent scarring, and emotional injuries, such as PTSD.

The truth of that matter, when it comes to agricultural workers, is this: securing workers’ compensation benefits can prove difficult. For example, you might be hired on as a contracted worker rather than a full-time employee. Because these benefits typically only apply to full-time employees, this can raise a significant legal challenge.

However, despite this, you may still be eligible to recover benefits if a third party can be held liable for negligence. This could be the case if a land owner or the manufacturer of defective farm equipment is to be held liable for your injury.

At Law Office of Lyndon R. Helton, PLLC, we can review your agricultural accident and injury and determine how you might be able to recover compensation.

FAQs About Hickory, NC Agriculture Work Injury Laws

Do Farm Workers Experience Heat Stress in NC?

Yes, one of the most common injuries associated with agricultural work in North Carolina is heat stress, or heat stroke. Heat stroke can prove to be potentially fatal, and if a farm worker does not receive immediate medical attention for said heat stroke, it could result in their death or in suffering a life-long disability.

What if I Am Exposed to Pesticides and Herbicides?

If you are an agricultural worker and have been exposed to pesticides or herbicides, you may develop a short or long-term illness from the consistent exposure. If you work in a field where chemicals have been used to spray crops, are eating contaminated crops, or are washing your hands in irrigation canals where pesticides have gathered, and this exposure leads to illness, you could be entitled to compensation.

What Kind of Compensation Could I Recover in a Third-Party Work Claim?

If a third party is to blame for your agricultural work injury in Hickory, you may be able to file a claim against them. In this claim, you may have the ability to recover damages such as all medical bills related to your injury, lost wages or the loss of future earnings, pain and suffering, wrongful death, and even punitive damages, though this is very rare.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire an Agricultural Work Injury Lawyer?

The costs involved when hiring an agricultural work injury lawyer will depend on your case and the lawyer you hire. However, there are some factors that will impact costs across the board. These factors include the duration and complexity of your case, whether or not a third party is involved, and the education and skill level of your lawyer.

Hire a Hickory Agriculture Work Injury Lawyer Today

If you have suffered an injury while working on an agricultural job site in Hickory, NC, you need to hire an agricultural work injury attorney right away. The team at Law Office of Lyndon R. Helton, PLLC, is here for you. Contact us today and schedule your initial consultation.