Whilst riding a horse, horse riders become much more vulnerable in situations due to a lack of protection as well as situations that often arise due to other people’s negligence.
Horse-riding injuries can be very serious and can have long term effects such as a loss of earnings, losing the ability to care for others and increasing anxiety associated with the sport you once loved.
If you have suffered injuries due to a horse-riding accident as a result of someone else’s negligence, you may be eligible to make a horse-riding accident claim.
Common horse-riding accident claims
There are common horse-riding accidents that are associated with horse-riding claims; these include:
· Road traffic accidents involving horses and road users
· Being kicked or bitten
· Whilst working with horses
· While out riding with a riding school
· Whilst at competitions and equestrian accidents
· Being crushed by a horse
· Injuries caused by mismanagement of horse-riding activities
· Falls from a horse
· Injuries and falls caused by riding on an unsuitable surface
It is also possible to make a horse-riding accident claim if you have suffered an injury after being provided with an unsuitable horse or defective equipment such as broken reins, riding hats or saddles. If you have been injured in a horse-riding accident due to any of the reasons above, you may be eligible to make a personal injury claim.
Common injuries associated with horse-riding accidents
Horses can be unpredictable, and due to the size and nature of some horses, they can cause serious injuries to their riders or the people around them.
Horse-riding accident injuries range widely from mild bruising or scarring to more severe injuries such as broken bones, fractured limbs, brain damage, spinal injuries and, in some unfortunate circumstances, can even be fatal.
Alongside physical injuries, psychological injuries can also be sustained as accidents can be traumatic. Depression and increased anxiety are common following an accident, as well as frustration due to the fact that riders may never be able to participate in the hobby they once loved ever again.
What should I do following a horse-riding accident?
Following the initial accident, you should seek medical attention immediately to assess the extent of your injuries and to determine whether any further medical treatment is required. You should receive a detailed assessment of your injuries which could be used as evidence to prove your injuries in your claim.
You should then report the accident to the owner of the horse or the manager of the place in which the incident occurred. After this, make a note of any details of the accident which may help to strengthen your claim such as, a description of the horse, details of how the accident happened, who was involved, and details of any medical treatment required after the accident.
You should also take photographs of your injuries and, if possible, photographs of the horse involved. These photographs may also be used as evidence to strengthen your claim. Also, you should exchange contact details with anyone that was involved or witnessed the accident happening as they may need to provide statements further into your case.
Then, contact Wildwood Legal to discuss the circumstances of your case with one of our experienced personal injury solicitors and begin the claims process in order to get the compensation that you deserve.
Who will your horse-riding injury claim be made against?
Horse riding accident claims will usually be brought against the organisation or person with the duty of care to take reasonable steps to prevent you from being injured by a horse. Any person that can be deemed responsible for your horse-riding accident will depend on the circumstances in which the accident occurred.
In the majority of circumstances, the owner of the horse will be held responsible for any accident their horse is involved in. This claim can be brought under the Animals Act 1971
and other pieces of legislation that provides protection to victims of any animal attack and ensures that their owner is held accountable.
If the horse-riding accident happened when you were learning to ride the horse, the claim could be brought against the manager or owner of the horse-riding school.
If you were injured by a horse at work, your employer could be held accountable, and the compensation claim may be made against them as they have a duty of care towards their employees and must ensure that proper procedures are put into place to avoid accidents in the workplace.
In usual circumstances, such as being injured whilst spectating an event, the claim may be brought against the organiser of the event.
How will my horse-riding accident claim be calculated?
The amount of compensation you receive will be split into general damages for your injuries and special damages for any additional losses.
General Damages – This is the amount you will receive for your pain, suffering and loss of amenity. To calculate this amount, we look at previous cases which are similar to yours, together with guidelines that are issued to Judges who decide the outcome of such claims if they go to Court. Your case will be valued on the basis of your injuries as described by suitably qualified medical professionals.
Special Damages – These are any direct financial losses that you may have suffered as a result of your injuries. Typically, these may include loss of earnings up to the settlement, loss of earnings in the future or the costs of care provided to you as well as medical treatment costs and travel costs.
For more information on how your compensation will be calculated, contact Wildwood Legal today to get in touch with a personal injury solicitor to find out more.
Time limits for making a horse-riding accident claim
The general rule on time limits for making horse-riding accident claims is that you have three years from the date of the injury to have either settled your claim or started court proceedings once the accident occurred.
The three-year deadline begins on the date that the accident happened or from the date on which you realised that your injuries were associated with the horse-riding accident.
How much will it cost to make my claim?
We will always be 100% transparent about what our charges are, and if we take on your case, we will almost always do so on a Conditional Fee Agreement (also known as a no-win, no-fee basis).
This means that if you do not win your case, you do not pay us any fees at all. If we win the case, we take a small percentage of your financial compensation, which we will agree with you beforehand, to cover our costs.
We will never ask you to sign anything until you are completely happy with what it is that we are proposing. For more information on this, contact us today to get in touch with a member of our team.
How can Wildwood Legal help with horse-riding accident claims?
At Wildwood Legal, our core strength is in personal injury claims. Our personal injury lawyers are experienced in assisting claimants with animal injury claims. Contact us if you have been involved in an accident involving horses and are looking to start a claim.
We aim to give you not only quality aid but flexibility and clarity as we know that these qualities are just as important.
Our aim is to obtain the compensation you deserve for your case, we value the opinion of our clients, and we will always listen to you and take on board what you say. Most importantly, we are on your side.
Our law firm is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority; therefore, we provide everything that is needed to meet their high standards, meaning that we are a trusted law firm. We offer services to individuals located in England and Wales.
With 25 years of experience in personal injury law, we can help you with your claim. We always strive to put you at ease and explain the process clearly.
Visit our page for more information on Animal Injury Claims.
Our aim is to obtain a great outcome for your case, we value the opinion of our clients, and we will always listen to you and take on board what you say. Most importantly, we are on your side. To make an enquiry, get in contact with us either email us info@winstonsolicitors.co.uk or call us 0113 320 5000.
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