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Before the passage of the workmeas' compensaticn laws^ farmers, as v/ell as 

 other employers, were ljab3.e in nourt .for injuries to employees only v^hen negligence 

 vras proved against the employer. If, on the other hand the employee \>rere solely at 

 fault, his employer vras not liable. Because of the difficulty of deciding liability 

 viThen both employer and employee -v/ere at fault in some degree, it vras generally ruled 

 - under common-lav; doctrine - that if the employee contributed to the accident he 

 could not obtain a judgement, VJhen vj'orkmens ' compensation latrs do not apply to 

 farmers, this general rule may still apply. When, hov;ever, a farmer elects to take 

 worlanens ' compensation insurance even though he is not required to do so, then the 

 common-law rules on negligence do not apply. Payments are made under vrorlonens ' comp- 

 ensation insurance without regard to fault f 



Vforkmens' compensation laws were passed originally to protect industrial employ- 

 ees 1/orking in dangerous occupations. The law provides a schedule of awards to be 

 paid for each type of injury to an employee. The matter of negligence is disregarded, 

 The protection of Yforkraens Compensation laws has been extended over the years to 

 employees in less dangerous occupations. 



The increased use of machinery on farms has resulted in an increasing toll 

 of accidents among farm workers, 



A farmer should find out if he comes under the worVcraens' compensation lav;, 

 in particular if any part of his operatj.on is covered by the law, 



TvTo Types of Employer's Liability InGurance 



There are tvro types of liability iusui-ance available to farmers as protection 

 from suits resulting from injury or death to employees, 



(1) Employers Liability Coverage 



(2) Workmens' Compensation Insurance Policy 



E mployers' Liability Policy Coverage 



Under the laws governing employers' liability, a farmer ordinarily vrould not 

 be held liable in court if his injured employee were found negligent. If the farmer 

 were fcund negligent, the amount of the award to the employee might be substantial, 

 A farmer might be in great difficulty, if he had no liability insurance coverage, 

 since he would have to pay costs of defense as well as pay a judgement against hira, 



. The significant thing about the employers liability policy is that it protects 

 the farmer against suits by his hired help, Vlliether the farmer is liable or not is 

 largely governed by who is a fault, the farmer or his employee. 



Usual basic coverage provided by an employers Ij.ability policy if ^^,000 for 

 bodily injiory or death to one employee, and (?10,000 if two or more employees are 

 involved in the same accident. Medical payments of r;250 for each person injured 

 are usually included in the basic policy. Higher limits may be obtained for extra 

 premiums , 



Workmens' Compensation Insurance Policy 



A workmens' compensation insurance policy guarantees payj-^ents to an injured 

 employee in accordance with a schedule of awards, by type of injury, established 



