Employed as an applicator for a multi-state agricultural services company, the claimant was using an augur tender to apply fertilizer at a farm in Surry, Virginia on June 4, 2020. When excessive moisture in the fertilizer jammed the auger blades, the claimant shut off the power and climbed underneath the hopper with a longboard to loosen the fertilizer.  Unaware of the claimant’s positioning, a co-worker turned the auger back on.  The energized auger pulled the board and the claimant’s right arm into the blades, resulting in the traumatic amputation.

Incredibly resilient, the claimant returned to work for the employer within 4 months of the accident. At the time of the settlement, he was earning more than his pre-accident salary. The employer’s vice president waived the standard settlement term requiring the claimant to resign and indicated his desire for the claimant to remain a career employee. Attorney Craig Davis handled this successful case.