42 BEI,GIUM - IMSURANCE AND THRIFT 



to this assertion : there are many accidents in agriculture and not only 

 such as have no serious consequences. In this respect Belgian statistics 

 are in complete agreement with those of other countries. 



It is to be observed that in connection with mortal accidents in agri- 

 culture, very often there is nothing to be paid beyond the 75 fr. for funeral 

 expenses; as we have said, the law makes provision for a pension equal 

 to 30% of the yearly wages of the victim to be paid to certain persons 

 within certain limits of relationship, but it often happens that the ser- 

 vants are old and unmarried and have not the family contemplated in 

 the law, or young people still unmarried who cannot be considered as 

 supporting their parents. Now the law requires that they shoued be 

 supporting them. 



In all European countries where there are laws similar to this Belgian 

 one, it has been observed that, during the first years of their operation, 

 the number of accidents reported constantly increases, within certain 

 limits. 



It has even been inferred that the number of accidents increases just 

 on account of the compensation granted to the victims. The labourers, 

 it was alleged, were less prudent, and there were even those who courted 

 accidents or simulated them. 



One fact is certain with regard to the agricultural accidents in Belgium ; 

 there is an increase in the number of those known. But what is the 

 reason? At present, the accidents are known, while previously many were 

 not and we cannot even yet say that all are ; we know only those 

 reported. Now, how often does it not happen that the victim thinks that 

 he has had a slight accident which wiU not absolutely prevent his continu- 

 ing his regular business ? It is only some days or weeks later that the dis- 

 ablement becomes evident, and then, very often, the master or the insurance 

 company wiU no longer accept the report of the victim, as he is unable to show 

 that the disablement he sufEers from is really due to the accident. But it 

 is only once that the victim will sufEer from this severity, afterwards he 

 will naturally be careful to report every insignificant accident, as well 

 as more serious ones and his companions in labour will also be induced by 

 the example they have before them to report ever}'- accident immediately. 

 So more accidents are known than formerly, but the figures scarcely allow us 

 to say as yet that the number of accidents has really increased in con- 

 sequence of the compensation assured to the victims. Yet, in Belgium, as 

 elsewhere, complaint is made of simulation of accidents. 



It was imagined that accidents did not occur on small farms; experience 

 contradicts this idea. And this is easy to understand, when we consider 

 the causes of accidents. It was said that the principal accidents were due 

 to agricultural machinery; these are evidently a cause of very serious accid- 

 ents, but they are not the chief cause of accidents, as is seen in the httle 

 table we reproduce from the Reports of the Caisse Commune d' Assurance des 

 Cultivateurs Beiges: 



