No Win, No FeeFarms have the potential to be very dangerous places. With large vehicles, powerful machines and livestock all in one place, risks to farmworkers and visitors need to be constantly assessed and managed. Farms, like other businesses, have a duty of care to try and keep their premises safe for farmworkers and visitors. Where that duty of care is broken, a farming accident compensation claim could be possible if you were injured in the accident and it was caused by some form of negligence.
We can help if you would like to start a personal injury claim for a farming or agricultural accident. One of our advisors will explain the claims process if you call 0800 652 1345 for a free consultation. If your case appears to have a decent chance of success, they could appoint one of our No Win, No Fee personal injury solicitors to your case to get started on your claim.
To see how we could help you claim for injuries sustained in an agricultural accident, please call today. For more information on the farming accident claims process, please read the rest of this guide.
Am I Entitled to Compensation for a Farm Accident?
To claim compensation for being injured in a farming-related accident, you’ll need to show that:
- The party responsible for your safety (usually your employer or the farm owner) had a duty of care towards you.
- That this duty of care was breached.
- The breach of duty directly caused the farming accident and subsequent injuries.
If all three statements above appear to be true in your case, one of our personal injury solicitors could help you to claim compensation for your injuries.
Common Examples of Farm Accident Claims
A farming accident claim typically involves incidents where individuals suffer injuries due to negligence by an employer, a third party, or unsafe working conditions on a farm. Common examples include:
- Machinery Accidents: Injuries caused by defective or poorly maintained equipment like tractors, combine harvesters, or balers. Accidents can also occur if machinery is not fitted with proper safety guards or if workers are not trained to use it safely.
- Falls from Height: Falling from ladders, barns, silos, or scaffolding due to a lack of safety equipment or unstable platforms can result in serious injuries.
- Animal-Related Injuries: Incidents involving livestock, such as being kicked, bitten, or trampled by farm animals, often occur due to improper handling procedures or inadequate safety measures.
- Chemical Exposure: Exposure to pesticides, fertilisers, or other hazardous substances without proper protective equipment or training can lead to respiratory issues, burns, or long-term health problems.
- Slips, Trips, and Falls: Commonly caused by uneven ground, wet surfaces, or cluttered workspaces around the farm.
- Vehicle Accidents: Injuries involving farm vehicles like quad bikes, tractors, forklifts or trailers, often due to negligent driving, lack of maintenance, or unsafe working practices.
Anyone injured in a farming accident caused by another party’s negligence may be entitled to claim compensation. This could include farmworkers, visitors, or contractors working on the farm. If employer negligence, such as failure to provide proper training or safety equipment, is to blame, they may be held responsible.
What Types of Farming Injuries Can I Claim For?
All employers must take precautions to try and keep their staff safe whilst at work. That means assessing the workplace regularly and removing any dangers where possible. Some examples of farming injuries you might be able to claim compensation for include:
If you’ve been injured on a farm as a farmworker and believe your employer was responsible for the accident, call us to discuss your options with our team.
What Evidence Do I Need for a Farm Accident Claim?
When claiming compensation for farming-related injuries, you must prove why the accident happened and who caused the accident. Evidence that you could use to support your farming accident compensation claim includes:
- Pictures. Taking pictures with your phone is a good idea following an accident on a farm. They can help you to explain what happened and the damage that was caused.
- CCTV footage. If the farm uses CCTV cameras, you could ask for a copy of the footage if your accident was captured.
- Accident reports. You should tell someone at the farm about your accident. Legally, the accident should be recorded in an accident report book and you are entitled to a copy. Proving where and when the accident happened will therefore be easier.
- Medical evidence. Treatment for your injuries should be carried out by a medical professional. If you were treated by a doctor or you visited a hospital, your medical records could be used to show what injuries you sustained.
- Witness information. Where your version of events differs from the defendant’s, witnesses could be important. Your solicitor could ask them for a statement to help establish what happened on the farm.
- Financial proof. Receipts, invoices and bank statements could all be used to help prove any costs you’ve incurred because of your agricultural injuries.
- A diary. Finally, it can help to keep a diary during your recovery. This can help to show when you’ve needed to attend medical appointments, weren’t able to work or couldn’t attend social events because of your injuries.
After you’ve collected evidence to support your farm accident claim, contact our advisors and they will review it with you for free.
How Do I Prove How Serious My Farm Injuries Are?
As part of the farm accident claims process, it’s important to show how serious your injuries were. As such, a medical assessment is needed for all cases. Your solicitor can usually book a local appointment with a medical specialist for you. They will discuss your injuries, examine you and read your medical notes. Once finished, they’ll produce a report to set out your prognosis.
What Is the Time Limit to Make a Farming Accident Claim?
Time limits apply to all personal injury claims. In the UK, the Limitation Act 1980 dictates that you’ll have 3-years to claim. That period will start from:
- The date of your accident on a farm; or
- When your condition was diagnosed. For some industrial diseases, this could be years or decades after you worked at the farm.
It is probably best to take action sooner rather than later. By doing so, your personal injury solicitor should have plenty of time to collect the evidence to corroborate your claim.
What If My Child Was Injured on a Farm?
If your child has been injured on a farm, you won’t need to worry about the 3-year limitation period. A litigation friend could seek damages on behalf of a child at any time before their 18th birthday. If a claim hasn’t been made by the time they reach 18, the 3-year limit will then apply.
How Much Compensation for a Farm Accident Can I Claim?
We understand that being injured on a farm can be both painful and expensive. If the accident was not your fault, compensation could be claimed for general and special damages to cover the cost of:
- Pain, suffering and loss of amenity.
- Private medical treatment.
- Travel costs.
- Replacing items damaged in the accident.
- Adapting your home or vehicle to make coping with your injuries easier.
- Care costs.
Your claim should consider all aspects of your suffering. That’s because once you’ve settled the claim, extra compensation can’t be sought later on. If you work with one of our solicitors, they’ll review your case fully to ensure everything is considered before your claim is filed.
Can I Claim for Loss of Earnings Due to a Farm Accident?
After being injured on a farm, you may need time off work to recover at home or to attend medical appointments. If this time off results in a reduction of your normal earnings, your losses could be included in any compensation you’re awarded.
For instance, if you only receive Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) while you’re off work, you could claim back the difference between the amount you received and how much you’d normally earn.
If you are self-employed or work on a seasonal or contract basis, you may also be able to claim for the income you were unable to generate during your recovery.
In addition to past earnings, you may be able to claim for future loss of earnings if your farm injuries prevent you from returning to your previous role or reduce your earning potential long-term.
Will I Need a Solicitor to Claim Farm Accident Compensation?
We believe it’s best to have legal representation when making a farming accident claim. We also understand that you might not want to risk paying for a solicitor by the hour and then losing your case. That’s why our solicitors provide a No Win, No Fee service.
If you decide to make a compensation claim, and your case is accepted, your solicitor will:
- Review your claim in detail with you to learn how you’ve been affected.
- Gather evidence to support your claim.
- Arrange for your injuries to be assessed by an independent medical specialist.
- File the claim with the farm owner.
- Deal with all queries from the defendant’s insurers on your behalf.
- Provide extra evidence where needed if objections about liability are raised.
- Aim to secure the highest level of compensation possible for your injuries.
Your solicitor’s work will be funded by a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This contract allows them to work on your case without any upfront payment. To cover the cost of your solicitor’s work, they’ll deduct a success fee from any compensation you’re awarded.
The success fee will be listed in your CFA but, legally, can be no more than 25% of your compensation. If the case fails, you don’t have to pay the success fee.
To find out if you could use one of our No Win, No Fee solicitors, please call today.
Farm Accident Claims Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Claim for a Fatal Accident on a Farm?
No amount of compensation will matter if you’ve lost a loved one in a farming accident. However, at some point, you may wish to claim if you were financially dependent on the deceased or if you have incurred costs because of their death.
We could help you claim for a fatal accident if that’s the case. You could be paid a bereavement payment, compensation if you relied on their income or to cover the cost of their funeral.
Please call our team of specialist advisors for free legal advice about your options.
What Happens If I Was a Visitor Injured on a Farm?
As well as looking after the safety of their staff, farmers must do all they can to try and keep visitors safe too. For instance, some farms operate playgrounds and play areas. In this situation, special consideration should be paid to how a child might use the farm and any risks they might encounter.
Examples of accidents on a farm that could lead to a claim as a visitor include:
- If you slip in an area where cleaning has occurred but no hazard signs are used.
- Where you’re hit by a farming vehicle that was not being driven at an appropriate speed.
- If you cut yourself on damaged furniture, playground equipment or gates.
- If you’re attacked by an animal because it entered a public area.
Don’t worry if a scenario similar to yours isn’t listed. You could claim compensation for any farming-related injuries if they were caused by someone else’s negligence.
Start a Farm Accident Compensation Claim Today
If you are ready to claim compensation for farming-related injuries now, please call 0800 652 1345.
Remember, our solicitors work on a No Win, No Fee basis for all accepted claims.
Thanks for reading our guide on farm accident compensation claims, and please contact us via live chat if you have any further questions.
