Fatal Farm Accidents in New York: Estimates of Their Costs

A telephone survey of all of the surviving families of people killed in farm accidents in New York between 1985 and 1987 (52 of 87 families interviewed, 60 % response rate) found the average total annual present value of expected income foregone because of fatal farm accidents in New York is over $8.6 million (in 1987 dollars). Less than five years after the accidents, 6770 of the families who operated the farms where the accidents occurred no longer operate them and 44 % no longer live‘on the farms Agricultural workers have a greater chance of dying in a work-related accident than people in any other occupation, including other traditionally dangerous occupations such as mining and construction (Na-tional Safety Council). The National Safety Coun-cil estimates that over 1,500 people die each year in agricultural accidents, Despite the high rate of injuries and death, and the recognized need for economic research about these issues (Daberkow and Fritsch), there is only anecdotal evidence about the consequences of fatal farm accidents on farms and farm families. Exist-ing economic studies of farm accidents have pri-marily concentrated on nonfatal accidents, while studies on fatal accidents have generally considered only the causes of accidents and to whom they occur. It is important to gain perspective on the income losses such accidents inflict on the surviv-ing families. Much research has been conducted to determine the number, rates, and khds of fatal farm accidents that occur (Fritsch; Smith, Rogers, and Sikes; Mur-phy; Stallones). The cost-of-farm-accident litera-ture has concentrated on consequences of permanent disabilities (Stout and Darbee; Tormoehlen and Field; Tormoehlen) and nonfatal farm accidents (Pfister