Vineyard and Winery Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento personal injury lawyer and I want to warn you of the dangers of local wineries and vineyards. As the weather improves and people flock to visit local businesses, it’s important to be aware of the risks of wineries and vineyards and to seek experienced legal help in the event of an accident.
Winery? Vineyard? What’s in a name?
Vineyards and wineries have different functions that create different hazards. A vineyard, as the word implies, is where the grapes are grown. A winery, conversely, is where the wine is actually made. The outside vineyards pose many dangers associated with agricultural areas while wineries pose several risks due to their internal industrial nature.
Common Vineyard Accidents and Associated Injuries
Several local vineyards allow visitors to actually enter the vineyard. The most common accidents at these types of operations involve the terrain and/or vehicles or machinery.
The land of vineyards are uneven, often with steep hills and tilled ground. Visitors risk sprained ankles on these uneven surfaces, and other injuries consistent with minor falls. Injuries arising from the terrain, though, are relatively expected and most vineyards make visitors sign liability waivers.
The larger hazard is the machinery used to maintain and harvest a vineyard. Many visitors are caught unaware by the machinery used on vineyards, forgetting that these areas are active farms. Most serious injuries sustained in vineyards arise from visitors being struck by vehicles surveying the vineyards, like ATVs or small pickup trucks. These accidents can cause broken legs, back injuries, and even internal injuries.
Poor Reporting of Vineyard Accidents
Many people are not aware of the risk of injury at vineyards because their is no reporting mechanism. Injuries are often unreported and handled quickly by the company to prevent media attention. This makes it essential that injured people seek experienced legal advice after being injured at a vineyard.
Common Winery Accidents and Associated Injuries
Wineries pose more hazards than vineyards because of the industrial nature of many operations. Decorative facades at many wineries hide some of these risks, but the danger persist.
The most common winery accidents are slips and falls. Wineries often have smooth floors that risk getting wet due to the surrounding winemaking operation. As a result, winery surfaces tend to be slippery and visitors risk slipping and falling. These types of accidents can cause a wide variety of injuries, including broken wrists, back injuries, and head and brain injuries.
Perhaps the most dangerous parts of a winery, though, are the fumes produced during the winemaking process. Several aspects of the winemaking process produce noxious and potentially fatal fumes. Exposure to these fumes can cause eye trauma, respiratory distress, nausea, and dizziness. If you, or someone you know experiences any of these symptoms while at a winery, seek medical attention.
Poor Reporting of Winery Accidents
As with injuries at vineyards, injuries sustained at wineries are often underreported. This makes it essential for victims to seek experienced legal advice to ensure they are treated fairly.
Vineyard and Winery Accident Attorney
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento personal injury attorney. If you, or a loved one, have been injured while visiting a vineyard or winery, please call me at (916) 921-6400 for free, friendly advice. You may also call toll free at (800) 404-5400.
While the above information applies to vineyard and winery visitors, workers face the same risks and several more. If you, or a loved one has been injured while working at a vineyard or winery, please call me.
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Image: Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons – Public Domain
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