While there are of course innumerable ways in which a person can be hurt in Pennsylvania, car and other motor vehicle accidents are likely the most cited causes of personal injuries.

While most do not look forward to feeling pain and therefore try to avoid situations where a motor vehicle accident causing injuries might occur, if one has to happen, when given a choice, a majority of people would likely opt for a minor injury over one that is catastrophic. Unfortunately, in some instances accidents result in such serious injuries that they result in death.

Sadly this was the case for a Wayne Township man involved in a tractor accident earlier this month. The 73-year-old man was reportedly driving the tractor when something caused it to rollover. When it did so, the man was trapped underneath the heavy piece of machinery.

It is believed the Ellwood City man was trapped under the tractor for a little over two hours before he was discovered by a neighbor. He was apparently still alive when rescue crews were summoned, but died a short time later. According to the coroner in Lawrence County, the cause of the man’s death was blunt force trauma to the chest.

As was mentioned earlier, the cause of the accident is not known. It is possible that another person or entity’s negligence is to blame. When tragedies such as this happen and the individuals involved survive, it is not uncommon for the injured person to file a personal injury lawsuit against that person or entity. Should a person’s death be the fault of another, a wrongful death lawsuit brought by his or her family may instead be appropriate.

Source: EllwoodCity.org, “Man dies from overturned tractor,” April 20, 2012