Farm Injury Compensation Claims

Farms and farmers play an important role for most countries around the world. The UK farming industry is no exception, producing fantastic products and generating billions of pounds for the economy year after year.

Unfortunately, working on farms and within the agricultural industry are amongst the most dangerous occupations according to figures published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). On average, a worker within the farming industry has died each week over the past 10 years. This amounts to approximately 20% of all fatal work accidents in the UK, even though farm workers only make up around 1% of the working population.

It is not only workers that are at risk of farm accidents. Due to difficulties within the industry over recent years, more and more farms have opened their doors to the public by introducing farm shops, cafes, and educational experiences such as petting zoos. This therefore puts members of the public at risk of injury, including children, if appropriate health and safety measures are not maintained.

If you have been involved in an accident on a farm and believe that somebody else was at fault, you could have a valid claim for personal injury compensation. The solicitors we work in partnership with have experience in helping people throughout the UK claim for a whole host of accident types, including those within the agricultural industry.

To find out if you are able to claim, call 0800 678 1410 today for a free case assessment. This is an informal chat where you can discuss the circumstances of your accident and the injuries you have sustained to determine if you have a valid claim. This service is provided without any pressure or obligation to proceed further.

If you are eligible for compensation, your solicitor will help you claim on a No Win No Fee basis. This means there are no upfront costs, and if you don’t win your case, you won’t be charged any fee from your solicitor.

Common causes of farm accidents

Farms can be dangerous places to work, with many potential hazards that could result in accidents and injuries being sustained. If you work on a farm, you are likely to be around vehicles and heavy machinery, livestock such as cows and sheep, working with chemicals and potentially working from heights. These jobs may also involve a significant degree of manual handling tasks, which carry with them the risk of injury to the back, neck and other parts of the body.

With so many potential dangers present, it is essential that farm owners and employers are vigilant and comply with health and safety regulations to keep their employees as safe as possible.

Here are some of the most common causes of farm accidents:

• Accidents involving farm vehicles
  On a farm, you will often find a wide variety of different vehicles, including tractors, combine harvesters, lorries, quad bikes, 4×4 vehicles, tractors and forklift trucks. If not used correctly, these vehicles can put the driver, passengers and other people working nearby in harms way.
• Machinery accidents
  Heavy machinery is used throughout the farming machinery to perform an array of different jobs. Whenever equipment is used within the workplace, there is always a serious risk of injury if health and safety regulations are not observed. In fact, according to the National Farmers Union (NFU), machinery related accidents are responsible for 1 in 10 farming industry deaths each year. Accidents can be caused by workers not being adequately trained, by machinery that is not maintained in good condition or is faulty, or by farm machinery that does not have the necessary safety devices.
• Falls from height
  Working on a farm can often involve some degree of work from height, which naturally carries with it the risk of injury from falling. Employees could fall from ladders, raised platforms, from trees or through the roof of a farm building during repair work. The injuries sustained by these type of accidents can be life changing and even fatal.
• Dangerous livestock
  Many animals found on farms can be dangerous and cause injuries to workers. Large animals in particular, such as cows, sheep, and pigs, can cause damage by kicking, biting, trampling and by crushing workers against fences and gates. Some of these injuries could be prevented by using relevant PPE, such as safety boots for example.
• Falling objects
  Falling objects on farms can include falling trees, bales of hay and bags of fertiliser or animal feed. If items stored at height, such as bales of hay for example, are not stacked properly or are knocked over by a tractor, they could cause serious injury to any person working below.
• Chemicals and hazardous substances
  Many chemicals and hazardous substances such as pesticides and fertilisers are used on farms. If these are not handled properly, they can result in accidents and injuries. Moreover, it is also essential that workers receive adequate training on how to manage these substances correctly and receive appropriate personal protective equipment such as gloves and protective eyewear.

Find out if you have a valid claim for compensation

Just like any other workplace, if you have been injured in a farm accident that was not your fault, you could be entitled to receive compensation for your injuries.

To find out if you have a valid claim, as well as receiving some free legal advice, contact an experienced solicitor today for a free consultation. You will be asked a few simple questions about your farming accident, such as what happened, when it happened, and what type of injury you have suffered. This information will help your solicitor to determine if you have a valid claim.

Your solicitor will offer their services on a No Win No Fee basis. If they are unable to win your case, you will not pay them a penny.