Horse accident on the road: Can you claim compensation?
If you have suffered a horse accident on the road and are looking for experienced personal injury solicitors to pursue a compensation claim then give us a call for a free case assessment and details of no win, no fee funding.
When a rider is injured as a result of careless or inconsiderate driving then you are likely to be entitled to claim compensation.
A rider out hacking on the roads with their horse is classified as a vulnerable road user by the Highway Code. This means drivers must take extra care when passing a horse, ensuring that they do so slowly and allowing plenty of room. The Highway Code also requires drivers to respect signals given by horse riders, such as requests to slow down or stop.
However, anyone who rides on our roads will know that a significant minority of drivers are impatient and will often pass too close or at a high speed. This can result in your horse being frightened and lead to accidents occurring.
A number of our lawyers are experienced riders themselves who regularly ride out on the roads and lanes of Somerset and Devon. They therefore have direct experience of these problem. A personal injury lawyer in our Taunton office, recently encountered a delivery driver who had to make an emergency stop on a muddy Somerset lane to avoid a collision. Her horse was spooked when the van skidded towards them. Fortunately the driver stopped in time, but it was a close call and could have ended very differently for.
Drivers are required by law to drive safely and respect vulnerable road users. So, if you suffer injury as a result of a driver who has failed to take care then it is likely that you will be entitled to make a compensation claim.
If you are injured in a horse accident on the road then you should make a note of the driver’s details, including their registration number. We would also recommend that you report the incident to the police and take photos of the scene if you can.
Even if the driver cannot be traced you may still be able to make a compensation claim, so it is always worth speaking to a member of our team.
Our specialist lawyers will guide you through the legal process of making a claim. They will be able to work on a no win, no fee basis, so you should not let concerns about paying legal costs put you off.