When we hear the phrase road traffic accident, or RTA, we normally think of a collision involving cars, lorries or motorbikes; however on average there are around 3000 road accidents involving horses nationally each year . These result in an average of two deaths and 150 horse related injuries to riders.
The British Horse Society (BHS) considers horse related traffic accidents to be significantly under reported, and this is a view supported by the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) Online. The HES data concerning external causes of visits to hospital in 2011–12 reported 4,199 incidents requiring treatment in hospital for ‘animal–rider or occupant animal drawn vehicle injured in transport accident’.
There were 183 RTAs reported on www.horseaccidents.org.uk in 2012, including two horse rider fatalities and twelve severe horse riding injuries, as well as fourteen horse fatalities and three severe horse injuries.
Horses and their riders have a legal right to be on the road, but they are also amongst the most vulnerable groups of road users. To help to reduce the number of horse riding accidents that happen, here are a few guidelines for drivers to follow when confronted by horses on the roads:
- When you see a horse rider on the road, slow down, give plenty of room (at least two car widths) and be ready to stop.
- Do not sound your horn or rev your engine as this can spook the horse, causing them to buck or bolt. If you need to communicate, wind down your window and talk to the rider.
- Don’t try to pass unless you can give them a wide berth, and then do so slowly.
- Treat horses as a potential hazard and expect the unexpected.
In our next post we will look at a successful compensation claim by a horse rider, where the rider’s horse had thrown her after a motorbike driver lost control of his bike and it slid into her horse. As a result the rider sustained a serious head injury and brain damage. The judge decided the evidence showed the biker was travelling at excess speed which caused him to lose control.
As is the case for any victim injured in a road traffic accident due to someone else’s negligence, horse riders have the right to make a claim for personal injury compensation. This compensation is to help with the costs which have arisen due to the accident, including medical expenses relating to both the horse and rider.
If you have been injured in a horse riding accident that wasn’t your fault then you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation. Our friendly specialist advisors can talk to you about your situation and see if you have a valid genuine compensation claim. There is no charge for this service and you are under no obligation to claim with us.
If You Have a Genuine Claim, Contact a Genuine Company
May I Claim, is a trading name of R Costings Limited and our CRM number is 25770
If you’ve had an accident that wasn’t your fault and suffered an injury - you can trust us to handle your claim professionally.
Call us now on 0800 756 7774 and talk to us to find out if you have a claim - or fill in our Quick Claim form (on the right of this page).
http://info.mayiclaim.co.uk/personal_injury_compensation_claim_news/bid/338894/3000-Horse-Riding-Accidents-Occur-on-UK-Roads-on-Average-Each-Year
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