LEGAL LIABILITY RISKS AIID INSUiLll'iCB PROTECTION FOR FARIiSRS 



A farmer runs a greater risk now than ever before of becoming involved in a 

 lawsuit, because of injury or death to another person, Povier machinery has in- 

 creased rapidly on farms and has been accompanied by an increase in accidents o 

 More cars and trucks on farms, the need to go more frequently to town on business, 

 increase your chances as a farmer of becoming a party to a traffic accident, 

 1''armers' net worth has increased so farmers stand to lose inore today if called 

 into court, A court judgment could mean the loss of lifetime savings. 



Liability insurance, therefore, is more necessary to a farmer than ever before. 

 In general, the legal liability risks a farmer runs, by virtue of being in business, 

 fall into three groups (l) personal liability, (2) liability to employees, and (3) 

 motor vehicle liability. 



(l) Personal Liability of Farmers 



As an ovmer or occupier of property, a farmer must maintain his holdings with 

 due regard to the safety of others. This duty applies particularly to the upkeep of 

 buildings , in the control of his livestock on the farm, in the wholesomeness of the 

 products he sells, as well as to woric undertaken by him both on and off the farm. 



Under personal liability, a farmer is responsible, among other things, for the 

 following! 



1* To safeguard visitors on his premises. (His highest responsibility is to 

 those he directly or indirectly invites to his place ; he is less responsible for 

 licensees, such as salesmen] and he ov-es trespassers at least the duty of not 

 knowingly harming them.) 



2. To keep his livestock off highways where they may cause accidents resulting 

 in injury to motorists or to property, 



3. To provide safeguards in handling vicious animals, 



U. To warn his tenant of any hazard on the premises that would not ordinarily 

 be detected, 



f^. To prevent fire from spreading from his property to the premises of another, 



6, For his othi negligence if an employee is injured while at vj-ork, 



7. To his own employees and, ixnder certain circumstances, those of a contractor 

 doing work on his farm, even though the contractor might carry insurance. 



Two Types of Personal Liability Insurance Policies 



There are tvio types of personal liability insurance policies available to 

 farmers : 



