Last Updated on 1 August 2025
Can I claim compensation if I am injured in a horse riding accident on the road?
A transit van driver from West Yorkshire has been disqualified from driving due to speeding past horse riders on a rural road. After the driver failed to provide their details to the police, their registration number was captured on video footage which eventually led to the a guilty plea in court.
This incident reiterates the vulnerability of horse riders when using the UK’s roads. Under the Highway Code, vehicle drivers should slow down to a maximum of 10 miles per hour and should act in a patient manner. Drivers are permitted to pass horse riders, but must approach horses wide and slow, allowing at least two metres of space. As well as the riders being in a vulnerable position, horses are large and unpredictable animals who can move very quickly when startled, and this must be considered if passing a horse on the road.
According to The British Horse Society’s Dead Slow campaign, in 2024 80 people were injured whilst riding horses because of road incidents, whilst 81% of all 3,118 road incidents occurred because a driver has passed too closely or too quickly
How we can help you recover compensation for your horse riding accident on the road
We have a dedicated team of specialist lawyers who can offer expert legal assistance to anyone who has been injured in a horse riding accident on the road. Our personal injury department has won compensation for many horse riders, including one who was injured following a road traffic accident caused by an uninsured and untraced driver.
We operate a free legal helpline, so if you require guidance then give us a call and we will provide a case assessment. We will tell you if you have a claim and how we can work on a no win, no fee basis.
