Claiming for Horse Riding Injuries
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Claiming for Horse Riding Injuries | No Win No fee
Equestrian and Horse Riding Injury Compensation
Claiming for Horse Riding Injuries
Horse-riding is very popular in the UK, with an estimated 3 million people who ride horses regularly either as a sport or as a past-time.
There is risk in every sport, but the risk of injury is higher when the sport associates a horse. Most horse riders have got injured in at least one if not more equestrian accidents during their career. Some of the accidents were inevitable, whereas others were due to somebody else’s mistake or negligence. By the size and power of horses, accidents can happen to cause potentially genuine injuries. Horses can be involved in road traffic accidents because motorists do not always take great care of horses being ridden on public roads.
Horse riding accidents include:
- You are injured when a motorist collides with your horse while you are riding on a public road.
- You have got injured in an accident at work or during an equestrian competition.
- The trainer gives you a horse that is not suitable to your skill level or even your riding style, causing you injured while trying to control the horse.
- The trainer provides you with riding gear ( saddle, reins, girth, bridle) that is defective or damaged.
- The girth is fastened incorrectly, causing you to fall off the horse.
- You are injured in an accident because of poor management or lack of proper precautions while participating in a game.
- You are injured as a spectator while attending an equestrian event.
Deciding if you have a claim (Claiming for Horse Riding Injuries)
Whether you are a rider or ordinary public and have been injured by a horse, you will need to consider whether someone else was at fault. There are very few horse riding cases where the animal is dangerous. Even if it does, the fellow contestant has a statutory defence of ‘violence whereby the rider is allowed to have accepted the risk of injury when agreeing to perform such a dangerous activity.
The Accident Act doesn’t apply. It is essential to show that the negligence caused the accident. That will depend on the evidence of the particular case. The instructor, riding school, stud, or event organizer must carry insurance to cover this risk. If you are responsible for your horse-riding gear, no one else can be held responsible.
Superficial injuries are common, but if someone makes a deliberate mistake and this caused your injury, you can make a personal injury claim.
If you know who was at fault, you can make a claim. For example, if your horse trainer was responsible for your injury because of his ill-fitting girth or reins or other gear, then there will be the trainer against whom you file a claim.
If you get injured at a horse racing event, the organizers could be held answerable, but you surely need legal advice.
Starting a horseman injury claim
If you have been injured in an equestrian accident, the first thing you should do is to discuss with a personal injury solicitor. An experienced solicitor will be able to let you know if you have sufficient grounds for filing a compensation claim after getting all the details about the incident that caused your injuries.
Although horseman injuries are maximum settled out of court, it can take a long period to reach court if the other party defends your claim.
If you have been involved in a horse riding accident and intend to seek compensation for your injuries, it is always advisable to gather as much evidence as you can from the outset.
Report your accident to the Police ( Claiming for Horse Riding Injuries)
Obtain a copy of the Accident Report Form if the accident occurs at a riding centre, event, or your place of work
see if anyone has experienced a similar accident
- Take photographs of your injuries.
- Take photographs of the area where your accident occurred and the horse.
- Obtain details of any witnesses to the accident
- Get your injuries treated asap.
- Retain receipts for any financial losses incurred.
If you win your horse riding claim, then this compensation can cover any costs you are claiming in addition to the money awarded for your injuries, pain, and suffering. But you do need proper evidence, such as travel costs and prescription charges. Make sure you keep all receipts, invoices, evidence of loss of earnings if you want to claim such damages.
Our aim is not to disturb your happiness of riding horses, and we are just putting a concern point. Most of the cases we operate are funded using a No Win No Fee agreement.
No Win No Fee means there is no financial risk to you when making a claim. You will be charged when your claim is successful. Hence, your opponent will pay most of our fees.