When Farm Equipment Causes Crashes on Rural Roads, Injured Victims Deserve Answers
Our Arkansas Lawyers Can Help You Demand Justice and Accountability
In rural parts of Arkansas, it’s not uncommon to come around a bend on a county road and find a slow-moving tractor, harvester, or sprayer taking up the lane. Farm equipment on public roads poses real hazards, especially when it isn’t properly lit, marked, or secured. And when that equipment causes a serious crash, the consequences can be life-altering.
At McDaniel Law Firm, PLC, our attorneys represent injured drivers, passengers, and families after collisions involving farm vehicles and implements on public roads. Whether the equipment was unmarked, had no escort, or was driven recklessly, we know how to investigate the farm accident, prove fault, and fight for the full compensation you’re owed.
Arkansas Law Requires Proper Marking of Farm Equipment on Public Roads
Agricultural vehicles can legally travel on county roads, but they must comply with state and local safety regulations. These include:
- Slow-Moving Vehicle (SMV) Emblems: Equipment operating under 25 mph must display a reflective orange triangle visible from the rear.
- Lighting Requirements: Vehicles operated after dark or during poor visibility must have functional headlights, taillights, and reflectors.
- Flags and Escorts for Oversized Loads: Wide machinery or equipment transported on trailers may require red flags, escort vehicles, or additional warning signage.
- Safe Driving Practices: Farm vehicle operators must follow the rules of the road, including yielding when appropriate and avoiding sudden turns into traffic.
When these basic safety steps aren’t followed, the results can be catastrophic for unsuspecting drivers on narrow, unlit county roads.
Common Farm Equipment Hazards on Arkansas Roads
Some of the most serious wrecks we’ve seen involve:
- Unlit or unmarked tractors at dusk or dawn
- Implements too wide for the lane, crossing center lines
- Vehicles turning into private drives without signaling
- Equipment falling off trailers due to improper securing
- Rear-end collisions caused by a lack of brake lights or SMV emblems
In counties like Craighead, Greene, Mississippi, and Lawrence, drivers often have just seconds to react — and when farm vehicles are not properly marked, the risk of a deadly collision goes up.
Who’s Liable in a Crash With Farm Equipment?
Depending on the circumstances, several parties could be held responsible:
- The farm vehicle operator, if they failed to mark, light, or signal properly
- The equipment owner, if the vehicle was poorly maintained or not roadworthy
- The farm or employer, if the operator was on duty and acting within the scope of employment
- A transport company, if the equipment was being hauled unsafely
Establishing liability in a farm equipment crash takes a detailed investigation. Our team can secure crash reports, inspect the equipment, review maintenance records, and interview witnesses to build a strong case on your behalf.
Why Rural Road Farm Equipment Wrecks Are So Dangerous
County and rural roads across Arkansas aren’t designed for sharing space with oversized tractors, combines, or towed implements. Many of these roads:
- Lack shoulders or passing lanes
- Are poorly lit or unmarked at night
- Have hills, curves, or blind intersections
- Aren’t regularly patrolled or maintained
That combination creates a high-risk environment, especially when large farm machinery moves slowly or straddles both lanes. Drivers may not have time to slow down, especially when cresting a hill or coming around a curve. If the equipment has no lights or warning indicators, the chance of a high-speed rear-end crash or head-on collision increases dramatically.
Farmers and equipment operators must take reasonable precautions to account for these risks. When they don’t — and someone gets seriously hurt — that negligence can form the basis of a strong injury claim.
We Fight for Full Compensation After Rural Road Crashes
If you were hurt or a loved one was killed in a crash involving farm machinery on a county road, you may be entitled to significant compensation for:
- Medical bills and rehabilitation
- Lost income or reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
- Wrongful death damages (in fatal cases)
Don’t let anyone suggest that these crashes are “just part of living in the country.” You have legal rights — and we’re here to help you protect them.
Contact McDaniel Law Firm After a Farm Equipment Road Crash
McDaniel Law Firm, PLC has decades of experience standing up for accident victims across Northeast Arkansas. From county road collisions to defective equipment cases, we know how to uncover negligence and fight for what you deserve.
If you or someone you love was hurt in a wreck involving farm equipment on a public road, contact us today for a free consultation. We serve clients in Jonesboro, Craighead County, Greene County, and beyond.