Horse Riding Accident Claims

If you’ve been injured in an accident while riding a horse or at a riding stables, and it wasn’t your fault, you may be entitled to make a compensation claim.

Horse riding accident claims can be made in a number of situations, such as after falling from a horse, suffering a crush injury because of the actions of a horse, or being injured when a horse is out of control. In all cases you have to show that the accident was the fault – or part fault – of someone else.

We know that claiming compensation can never truly make up for being injured, but it could make it easier to concentrate on your recovery, as well as ensuring that your injuries don’t have a negative financial impact on your life.

If you’ve been injured in a horse riding accident that wasn’t your fault then contact our personal injury solicitors today to discuss the possibility of making a claim for compensation.

What kind of horse riding accidents can I claim compensation for?

Horse riding accidents can happen for a wide range of reasons, and some of the more common causes we deal with at Beacon Law include the following:

• Horse tack such as saddles or reins which hasn’t been fitted correctly
• Being given a horse which isn’t suitable for you to ride – i.e. an unpredictable horse being given to an inexperienced rider
• Suffering a crush or kicking injury against a structure such as a fence or the wall of a stable
• Injuries caused by an instructor failing to monitor activity properly
• Being asked or allowed to ride a horse in poor weather conditions or on an unstable or dangerous surface
• Being allowed to ride a horse without being given appropriate training and instruction first

What are the most common injuries sustained in horse riding accidents?

The height and weight of horses means that injuries caused by falling from one can range from broken bones to head and spinal injuries. The injuries sustained can also be made worse if the horse in question steps on you after you’ve fallen from it.

Other common injuries include those caused by bites and kicks administered by horses as well as crush injuries when a horse moves unpredictably in a confined space. Some of the more common horse riding injuries we deal with at Beacon Law include the following:

• Crush injuries
• Fractured or broken bones
• Injuries to the head and brain
• Spinal trauma leading to paralysis in the worst cases

The fact that horses can run at up to 40mph means that many of the injuries sustained in horse riding accidents can be fairly serious, particularly if suitable safety equipment wasn’t supplied.

The amount of compensation we claim on your behalf will always be directly linked to the nature and extent of the injuries you suffer.

How much compensation could I receive for a horse riding accident claim?

Compensation for injuries sustained in a horse riding accident can range from a few thousand pounds for minor injuries, up to hundreds of thousands and more in the most serious of cases where permanent injury occurs. In all cases the total will be made up of ‘general damages’ and ‘special damages’.

General damages

General damages are the portion of a compensation payment which is intended to reflect the injuries caused by a horse riding accident. The amount will be decided on the basis of factors such as:

• Which parts of your body were injured
• The nature and severity of those injuries
• The prognosis for any recovery
• The impact your injuries have had on things like your ability to pursue interests and hobbies and enjoy family life as you used to

The amount of general damages relate to the bands of compensation set out by the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG).

Examples of compensation amounts in the latest edition of the JCG include:

• A back injury with permanent serious symptoms – £26,050 to £36,390
• Serious jaw fracture – £15,320 to £26,010
• Paraplegia (loss of leg function) – £267,340 to £346,890

Once we have a clear picture of the injuries you suffered we’ll be able to make an informed estimate of the amount of general damages we think you could be entitled to.

Special damages

Special damages are calculated on the basis of the financial impact of your horse riding accident, with the intention of returning you to the financial position you would have been in if the accident had never happened. They will include compensation for any earnings or pension provision you lose if your injuries stop you from working as you used to or would in the future.

Special damages also compensate directly for any money you only have to spend as a result of your injuries. These expenses could include the following:

• Money you have to spend on medical treatment because of your injuries, now and in the future
• Money you have to spend on care requirements, now and in the future
• Money you have to spend on adapting your home or vehicle as a result of your injuries
• Money you have to spend on specialist equipment such as mobility aids in order to live with your injuries
• An amount to cover any time friends or family spend providing care free of charge
• Travel costs to and from any medical appointments relating to your injury
• Money you have to spend on counselling or therapy to cope with your injuries

Can I make a no win no fee horse riding accident claim?

Yes, if you make a horse riding accident claim with Beacon Law we work on a no win no fee basis. This means you don’t have to pay anything as we process your claim and negotiate on your behalf, and we take out After the Event (ATE) insurance to cover any costs if you lose your claim.

We won’t charge anything unless your claim is successful, and it will never be more than 25% of the compensation you receive. Our no win no fee approach means that you can start a horse riding accident safely in the knowledge that you’ll never be left out of pocket.

Is there a time limit to making a horse riding accident claim?

Yes, there is usually a time limit of 3 years on making a horse riding accident claim. The 3-year period dates from the day on which the horse riding accident takes place, and once the 3 years are up you’ll no longer have the right to start a claim.

The exceptions to this 3 year time limit include the following:

• If you don’t have the ‘mental capacity’ to start a claim during the 3 year period then the time limit will run from the date on which you regain capacity
• If you were under 18 at the time of the accident then the 3 years will run from your 18th birthday to your 21st

It is also possible to claim on behalf of someone else injured in a horse riding accident, such as a child if you are a parent or guardian, or a family member unable to claim on their own behalf.

Although the 3-year limit is in place, we always recommend starting a compensation claim as soon as possible after any horse riding accident. The sooner you start a claim, the sooner you’ll get any compensation you’re entitled to, and the details of how your accident happened will still be fresh in your mind and the minds of any witnesses.

What is the process for making a horse riding accident claim?

We know how traumatic a horse riding accident can be, and how daunting the thought of making a claim might seem when you’re busy trying to come to terms with your injuries and make a recovery. We take as much of the stress from the process as possible, by breaking it down into a series of smaller individual steps.

If we think you are eligible to claim compensation and you want to make a horse riding accident claim then we’ll set about gathering the evidence to support your claim. This evidence will include the following:

• Your own detailed statement explaining how your horse riding accident happened, how you were injured and the impact those injuries have had on you.
• A medical report written by an independent expert following an examination. This report will set out the full nature and extent of your injuries, alongside a prognosis for any recovery and an assessment of whether you’ll need treatment or care in the future.
• We’ll obtain a copy of your medical records with particular reference to your injuries and the treatment you’ve been given
• If the police attended your horse riding accident we will get hold of a copy of the official police report
• We will take witness statements from any eye-witnesses to your horse riding accident
• If the scene of your horse riding accident was covered by CCTV cameras we will request a copy of any footage
• We’ll bring together documentary evidence of the financial impact of your injuries, such as bank statements, wage slips, medical bills, invoices and receipts for expenses
• We’ll contact the other party to inform them that you intend to claim compensation. In many cases the other party or their insurers will admit liability when presented with the evidence we’ve gathered on your behalf.

Our commitment to dispute resolution means that only a small percentage of the horse riding accident claims we handle have to be settled in court. If this happens we will be by your side throughout, offering support and fighting for the compensation we think you deserve.

Once liability has been admitted we’ll negotiate for a fair compensation settlement. Although we work to settle claims as quickly as possible and leave clients to get on with their life we never settle for anything less than 100% of the compensation we think your injuries entitle you to.

What should I do after a horse riding accident?

In the immediate aftermath of any riding accident you should seek medical attention. Prompt treatment will increase your chances of making a recovery at the same time as creating an official record of your injuries.

You should also report your horse riding accident to the relevant party, such as the owners of a riding school or stables. Your official report will then form part of the evidence for your claim.

You should take contact information from anyone who witnessed your riding accident, as they will be able to provide an account of what happened. If possible, you should take photographs of the scene of the accident, and of any equipment which you think played a part in causing the accident.

As soon as you are able you should also take photographs of the injuries you received.

If you think your horse riding accident was caused by negligence you should contact the personal injury experts at Beacon Law. We’ll provide an initial, no obligation consultation free of charge, during which we’ll listen to the details of your accident and decide whether you have strong grounds to make a compensation claim.

Who will I make my horse riding accident claim against?

Depending upon the circumstances of your horse riding accident, the compensation claim will be made against either an individual or an organisation. If you were injured whilst working in stables, for example, then the claim will be made against your employer, whereas if you were injured while riding a horse as a customer or trainee then the claim will be made against the organisation involved, such as a riding school.

If your horse riding accident happens because of the negligence of another road user, then the claim will be made against that individual, whether they are a driver, a cyclist, a pedestrian or a motorcyclist.

How long will I have to wait for compensation for my horse riding accident claim?

The time it takes to process a horse riding accident claim will vary from 9-12 months if your injuries are minor and the case is straightforward, up to 18 months or longer if you’ve suffered serious or life-changing injuries which require more in-depth medical evaluation. Once we have the full details of your injuries we’ll be able to provide an estimate of how long your particular claim could take.

Can I claim interim payments for my horse riding accident claim?

Yes, if the other party admits liability but the complex nature of your injuries causes a delay to agreeing final compensation then we will apply for interim payments. These payments can cover things like medical and care costs until a final compensation amount is agreed.

Any interim payments made in this way will be deducted from the final compensation amount.

Can I claim if my injuries were partly my fault?

Yes, you can still make a horse riding accident claim if you were partly to blame for your injuries. In simple terms, if you are found to be 20% to blame for your injuries then the compensation paid will be reduced by 20%.

Will my horse riding accident claim go to court?

Only a small minority of the horse riding accident claims we handle have to be settled in court, but if this happens in your case we will be there to support you and fight for the compensation we think you are entitled to.

Why should I use Beacon Law for my horse riding accident claim?

You should come to Beacon Law to make your horse riding accident claim because we have an impressive track record of delivering results in claims of this kind.

We have more than 200 years’ worth of combined experience when it comes to proving negligence in personal injury cases and fighting for maximum compensation.

We also pride ourselves on the way in which we treat each client as an individual coping with a traumatic and difficult situation, and not simply another case number. We provide empathetic support throughout the claims process, handling the stress and work of building your claim so that you have the space and time to concentrate on your recovery.

We know how upsetting it can be to suffer injuries because someone else was negligent, and we provide tailored, one to one advice and help in clear, jargon-free language whenever you need it. Once we’ve established exactly how much compensation we think you’re entitled to we’ll fight for 100% of that amount and won’t settle for less.

We do all of this on a no win no fee basis, so you can make a horse riding accident claim without worrying about costs or legal fees further down the line. If you’ve been injured in a horse riding accident which happened because someone else was negligent then contact Beacon Law today to discuss claiming compensation for the way in which you’ve been let down.