18 Dec Horse riding injury claims
Horse riding is a popular pastime. But it doesn’t come without its risks, especially for inexperienced riders. It’s not unusual for riders to be thrown from their horses and sustain serious injuries. Some injuries can have long-term impacts on your health and quality of life. Beyond physical injuries, horse riding accidents can also be traumatic and lead to lasting anxiety.
If you have sustained an injury while horse riding and believe a third party is to blame, you could bring forward a case. Contact Ferrys Solicitors LLP for advice on horse riding injury claims.
Common horse riding injuries
Horse riding injury claims often come about as a result of:
- Dislocations
- Broken bones or fractures
- Sprains and strains
- Concussions
- Spinal cord and head injuries
When can I make a claim?
To make a valid claim after a horse riding accident, two requirements are necessary:
- You must have sustained an injury
- The injury must be caused by the negligence of someone who owed you a duty of care
Horse riding injury claims can be complex. You have a responsibility to be careful and ride in a safe way. If you are an inexperienced rider and become injured while trying to perform stunts, you are most likely to blame for your injuries.
However, operators of horse riding schools and centres have a duty of care to their customers and can sometimes be at fault for injuries. They need to take precautions to ensure the safety of their riders. For example, they should:
- Provide or enforce the wearing of safety gear
- Provide a safe environment to ride in
- Carry out risk assessments to eliminate hazards
- Ensure new students are accompanied by experienced riders
In 2018, a woman was awarded €52,000 damages in the High Court after she was thrown from a horse while riding in the grounds of a hotel. She was knocked out and later suffered from bruising and back pain as a result of the fall.
She claimed the hotel didn’t provide a safe route for riding as the accident was caused by a dog running into the horse’s path. She also claimed the hotel should have provided her with an approved back protector and a quieter horse more suited to her level of experience.
The damages awarded aimed to provide compensation for her ongoing discomfort and cosmetic blemishes.
Pursuing horse riding injury claims
Proving negligence in horse riding injury claims is difficult. If you have been injured while riding and believe the negligence of a third party is to blame, consider making a personal injury claim.
Contact Ferrys Solicitors LLP today. Our expert team of personal injury solicitors will focus on your case, while you focus on your recovery.
