Article
21 October, 2020
Horse riding is an extremely popular leisure activity in the United Kingdom, especially in more rural environments. Equestrian activities can however lead to a multitude of injuries ranging from very minor to fatal.
On average, approximately two horses a week are killed on UK roads alone, with 845 incidents involving horses reported to The British Horse Society in 2020. Injuries arising from competitive events have also received considerable media attention in the last few years, with five eventing deaths and numerous serious injuries to leading jockeys.
Injuries may be an inevitable consequence of horse riding but that does not mean that all accidents should be unquestionably accepted. A claim for compensation should be considered if you were injured in an equestrian accident that was caused because of somebody else's mistake or negligence.
The most common equine injuries arise in the following circumstances:
The law provides that in the case of injured adults you must have made your claim within 3 years of the date of accident/injury or 3 years of your knowledge of the accident/injury. Court proceedings must be commenced before the 3 year period expires . In the case of injured children (persons under the age of 18 at the date of accident/injury) the period for making a claim expires on their 21st birthday ie 3 years from the child becoming 18 years of age . It is however important to take legal advise as soon as possible . Taking witness statements and obtaining important accident related documents is easier if done as close to the event as possible as memories can fade with time and documents can be lost or destroyed.
The law surrounding horse riding accidents can be difficult and complex. If you have been injured and intend to seek compensation for your injuries it is always advisable to gather as much evidence as you can from the outset.
If you have suffered an injury in a horse-riding / equestrian accident that was not your fault, there is a high chance that you may be able to file an equestrian accident claim. Forbes Solicitors have an experienced Personal Injury Claims Team dealing with all aspects of equine accidents causing personal injury on a no win, no fee basis.
To receive further information relating to any of the issues raised in this article, please contact Robin Bower, Head of Equine Injury Litigation at Forbes Solicitors in Blackburn direct on 01254 222 356 or for a free consultation, please contact a member of the claims team on 01254 222 399. You can also contact the team via the Contact form.
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