Jury orders John Deere to pay $5 million for Stillwater man's tractor death

[ovrszd]

And a tractor IS an extremely dangerous piece of machinery. Which can kill you in a heartbeat. Just like a firearm.

James, I think it's more dangerous than a firearm. When I have a firearm in my hand I know it's designed intent. When I'm cruising along on my tractor I lose sight of it's danger.

 

[k0ua]

James, I think it's more dangerous than a firearm. When I have a firearm in my hand I know it's designed intent. When I'm cruising along on my tractor I lose sight of it's danger.

That's a good point. A false sense of security. A tractor in a novices hands can bite him if he does something silly. If he lives, he learns from it (at least the smarter ones do ) A tractor in an experienced operators hands can bite him for doing something he has have done a thousand times before, and never was a very safe thing to do, but he got away with it all that time. Hopefully he will learn from that too. Of course the dead sadly don't learn anything.

 

[ovrszd]

That's a good point. A false sense of security. A tractor in a novices hands can bite him if he does something silly. If he lives, he learns from it (at least the smarter ones do ) A tractor in an experienced operators hands can bite him for doing something he has have done a thousand times before, and never was a very safe thing to do, but he got away with it all that time. Hopefully he will learn from that too. Of course the dead sadly don't learn anything.

When I'm on the seat of any equipment I am bonded to it and it becomes an extension of my hand and is treated as such with respect.

I'm sure you feel the same way when you have a firearm in your hand.

 

[WranglerX]

This page from my FEL (DL 95) manual for my MV GC 1715.... Seem to cover manufacturer/dealer liability quite well...

Guess my wife is going to be out of luck with her lawsuit....

Dale

 

[dougtrr2]

I have owned my Kubota BX24 since 2004 and I am willing to learn. When I use my loader I usually have some ballast on the back. I can see and feel how that gives me front to back stability. But even if I am fully ballasted in back does it really add much to the side to side stability, especially if I fully raise a loaded bucket on a slope? It seems like the leverage in that direction could easily overmatch the ballast.

Doug in SW IA

 

[ovrszd]

I've never raised a fully loaded bucket on a slope. Some things ballast can't fix. This thread is about a man that learned that too late.

 

[Redlands Okie]

The tractor did have a brush hog attached at the time of the accident according a LEO on the scene.

Stillwater Man Killed In Weekend Tractor Accident - 16 KUSH

A link above implied a box blade was attached so no telling.

The operator was NOT wearing the seatbelt according to court documents. Otherwise he would not have been found under the tractor.

Cannot find the info but I believe I read somewhere a hill or pond dam was also involved. Not sure though.

 

[3gunr]

dID IT SAY ANYWHERE IF HE WAS EVEN USING THE FEL AT THE TIME OR WHAT WAS IN IT?

 

[k0ua]

I have owned my Kubota BX24 since 2004 and I am willing to learn. When I use my loader I usually have some ballast on the back. I can see and feel how that gives me front to back stability. But even if I am fully ballasted in back does it really add much to the side to side stability, especially if I fully raise a loaded bucket on a slope? It seems like the leverage in that direction could easily overmatch the ballast.

Doug in SW IA

The big question of the day is why on earth would you ever raise a fully loaded bucket on a slope? I don't like raising an empty bucket on a slope. Fully loaded buckets are to be carried a few inches off of the ground. Then when stopped on relatively flat ground OR a slope that that is is in the same direction as your tractor is pointed, you can raise the bucket to dump it in something if needed. never raise the bucket when cross slope. It is just asking for a side roll over. You have to have common sense. Yes I know it is not all that common, but IF you do something stupid and you survive, then LEARN from those mistakes and don't do them again. Do you think I have ever raised tractor rear wheels off of the ground? Heck yes!. BUT LEARN from those almost incidents and don't do that any more.

 

[oosik]

I lift exceptionally heavy rocks and chunks of my Ponderosa pine with the grapple on the FEL. Anything much beyond 3000# and I get that "light in the loafers" feeling. When I move with theses heavy loads I always lift just enough to leave "knuckle drag marks" in the dirt.

I had a "falling off to the side" experience with my previous tractor. The bucket was full of wet sand - I was on dead level ground. I DID NOT have enough counter balance on the 3-point. I felt it coming and was able to drop the bucket - like a hot potato. It was close but did not go over.

I got off the tractor and it took a good ten minuets before my legs quit shaking.

It's not a good way to learn. However, I will never forget and NEVER get myself in a position like that again.