Agricultural Vehicle Accident Claims*

Involved in an Agricultural Vehicle Accident?

Being involved in an accident involving an agricultural vehicle, such as a car accident with a tractor trailer, or being in a tractor accident, can be a very serious incident, and traumatic for all those involved.

In cases where you are involved in a collision that was not your fault, there may be a legal remedy. You can seek this by way of an agricultural vehicle accident claim.

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What are agricultural vehicles?

Agricultural vehicles are vehicles that are specially designed with at least two axles, a design speed of 6 km/h or more, and used for farming purposes. They may travel on public roads to move between farms or fields, or to transport goods such as crops or livestock.

Agricultural vehicles that are allowed on Irish roads include:

Tractors

• Standard agricultural tractors (2WD and 4WD)
• Compact tractors
• Vintage tractors (subject to conditions)

Self-propelled agricultural machines

• Combine harvesters
• Forage harvesters
• Beet harvesters
• Self-propelled sprayers
• Self-propelled slurry tankers

Agricultural trailers

• General-purpose trailers
• Grain trailers
• Silage trailers
• Bale trailers
• Slurry tankers (towed)
• Low loaders (for agricultural purposes)

Implements and attachments

Ploughs, harrows, seeders, sprayers, etc. (when attached to a tractor or towed safely)

Telehandlers and loaders

Teleporters and front loaders used in agriculture (must comply with lighting, braking, and weight regulations)

Quads (ATVs)

When used for farming purposes and properly taxed and insured (must also have appropriate safety equipment and lighting)

These vehicles must meet certain safety, lighting, and roadworthiness standards to be road-legal.

Roadworthiness

Roadworthiness refers to a vehicle’s ability to meet the safety and mechanical standards required for driving on public roads. A roadworthy vehicle is one that is in good working condition and can be operated without posing a risk to the driver, passengers, or other road users. In Ireland roadworthiness is checked through the National Car Test (NCT).

While most vehicles used for agricultural purposes are not required to undergo the NCT, they must meet road safety standards for visibility, brakes, tyres, lights, and other essential components.

Tractors must be roadworthy and comply with legal requirements, including vehicle registration, tax, and having the necessary lighting and signalling equipment for use on public roads.

In the Republic of Ireland, tractors are allowed to travel on motorways if they can reach a minimum speed of 50 km/h. The maximum legal speed limit for a vehicle towing a trailer is 80km/h. Tractors and vehicles towing a trailer or a horsebox are not permitted to use the outside lane of the motorway.

As of January 1^st, 2016, tractors and trailers must be fitted with a speed disc indicating their design speed.

And since 2018, all tractors over four years old with a speed capability of more than 40kph that are being used for commercial haulage purposes, must undertake a roadworthiness inspection once every two years via the Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness Test (CVRT).

For more, read the Road Safety Authority (RSA) Revised Standards for Agricultural Vehicles.

Driving risks of agricultural vehicles

Because of the weight and size of these large vehicles, road accidents involving tractor trailers, or towed farm equipment, are often quite serious accidents.

Tractors and trailers, for example, may not have the same safety features as regular road vehicles and can be difficult to stop quickly.

Collisions involving agricultural vehicles often happen on rural roads where visibility can be poor and road space is limited. These collisions can lead to serious injuries due to the size and weight of the vehicles involved.

In addition, agricultural vehicles may carry heavy or unbalanced loads, which can increase the risk of rollovers or make them harder to control. These vehicles are more common on roads during busy farming seasons such as spring, especially in the countryside.

Common Agricultural Vehicle Accident Claims*

Some common agricultural vehicle accident claims are:

• Rear-end Collision Claims*
• Roundabout Accident Claims*
• Passenger Injury Claims*
• Uninsured Driver Claims*
• Accident with an Intoxicated Driver Claims*
• Side Impact Collision Claims*
• Minor Impact Road Traffic Accident Claims*
• Head On Collision Claims*

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What do I do if I'm involved in a tractor trailer accident?

Following a tractor trailer accident or involving any agricultural vehicle, whether as a driver, passenger, pedestrian or cyclist there are several steps you should follow:

1. Seek medical attention

   Your health is your wealth and should be your first priority. Immediately after an accident, take a second to assess yourself to determine if you have any injuries. Then check if any passengers or anybody else involved in the accident need medical attention. If you or anyone else involved has sustained a serious injury ensure that you contact an ambulance to attend the scene.

   For minor injuries, you must remember that minor injuries where you ‘feel fine’ could progress to a more serious injury in the future. In this case it is always better to be safe than sorry and advisable that you go to your nearest accident and emergency (A&E) or local GP to be checked out.

2. Gather all relevant information at the scene

   It is important that you collect all the relevant information in connection with your accident:

   • Details of other driver(s)/people involved: name, address, contact information, vehicle registration number and vehicle insurance information. You can also offer your own information to the others involved in the accident.
   • Name and contact details of any emergency service workers at the scene – paramedic/Gardaí.
   • Take a picture of the scene, from different angles; this will help your solicitor understand how the accident happened.
   • If there are any CCTV recordings of the accident, such as CCTV cameras in a nearby shop, or dashcam footage for example, you should try to obtain this footage.
   • Record the time and date of the accident.
   • Weather conditions at the time.

3. Report the incident to the Gardaí

   Regardless of how minor or serious the accident was, it is important that you call the Gardaí to report the accident immediately.

   For minor accidents, the Gardaí may tell you that they will not be attending the scene. It may be a case where you can settle the issue yourself. In this scenario, the appropriate information should be exchanged. In these cases, it is also important that you visit your nearest Garda station to request that they take details of the accident and to take your statement about the accident.

   For more serious accidents, where an ambulance has been called, the Gardaí may arrive at the scene to assess, take statements from the people involved and any witnesses.

4. Contact your insurance company

   If you are the driver of the vehicle involved in a road traffic accident or a passenger onboard it is important to inform your insurance company so they have a record of the accident.

5. Speak to an agricultural vehicle accident claims solicitor

   If you are considering moving forward with an agricultural vehicle accident claim for any personal injuries sustained it is advisable that you speak with an accident claims solicitor as soon as possible. If you are proceeding with a claim, the first step will be submitting your claim to the Injuries Board for assessment. A  solicitor can help you in preparing your application to the Injuries Board and ensure that you follow the process in the correct format, meaning that you can move forward with your claim quickly without unnecessary delays.

   It is important to remember to keep copies of any expenses that you have incurred as a result of the accident. It is also imperative to retain copies of medical reports or Garda reports, where possible as you will need them when making a claim.