Accidents in farms and agricultural industries are very often severe and sometimes, fatal injuries. Farm accidents in the UK cause more fatal injuries than any other sector. The main risks involve heavy machinery, transport and animals.
- Farm equipment accidents - these are the most common causes of agricultural injuries
- Moving vehicles - fatal farm tractor accidents, overturned tractors or heavy vehicles cause severe injuries and fatality
- Contact with machinery - struck by farming equipment (shredders, cutters, cultivators) can cause a wide range of machine injuries
- Slips, trips and falls (including falling from height) - slipping and falling carries a big risk on farms. Falling from height from a farm vehicle or from large buildings, can cause injuries
- Struck by objects - falling trees, heavy equipment and unstable buildings can cause injuries
- Manual handling - the weight of farm objects such as feed and machinery can put extra pressure on the body
- Fires - farms often house flammable material such as diesel and hay/straw posing a risk of a fire in outbuildings
- Animal injuries - farm animals are large and sometimes dangerous, posing threat of injury
Agricultural accidents cause a range of injuries:
- Crush injuries - struck by heavy farm machinery
- Head injuries - farm accidents can cause head injuries, falling from height, slipping or falling
- Lacerations - severe cuts from sharp farm equipment or animals
- Burn injuries - fires or hot farm machinery can cause burns
- Broken bones and fractures
Compensation can make a real difference to your life, ensuring that you can access the healthcare and support to make the best recovery you can. By making a claim with us, we can get you funds which can help pay for:
- Private healthcare treatment
- Physiotherapy
- Psychological therapy
- Expenses (such as travel costs to hospital appointments)
- Loss of income
- Household adaptations
The amount of compensation you receive will depend on the severity of your injuries and the likelihood that you’ll make a full recovery. We’ll seek expert opinions on what care you’ll need to ensure that the compensation we claim will be sufficient.
We could help you make a claim if you’ve been injured in a farm accident, we can help:
- Farm owners for example claiming for faulty machinery
- Employees of the farm
- Contractor or seasonal workers for example fruit and veg pickers
- Members of the public or a visitor to the farm.
Even if you’re a casual worker, seasonal worker or self-employed, you might still be considered as an employee under UK law, giving you the same rights as other workers when it comes to health and safety.
If you’re an agency worker who has been injured in a farm accident, both the agency you work for and the owners of the farm should take responsibility for your safety. They should work together to make sure that precautions are in place to protect you.
As well as helping you claim compensation, we can also help with your rehabilitation and recovery. If you can’t work on the farm because of your injuries, then we can also advise you on benefit entitlement and arrange for the best possible support to help you recover.
We can also help with claims being made on behalf of others including:
- On behalf of a child who has been in an accident before their 18th birthday
- For someone who doesn’t have the mental capacity to handle their own case
- On behalf of a loved one who has unfortunately passed away
If you’ve sadly lost a loved one in a farming accident, we can help you with:
- Recovering compensation for their pain and suffering, to account for financial losses caused by their death and to cover funeral expenses
- Representing you at inquest
- Getting you the answers and apology you deserve from those responsible
You normally have three years to make a claim from the date of your accident. However, there are some exceptions to this rule:
- Under 18s – you can claim on behalf of a child who was on work experience or working part-time. No time limits apply in these circumstances until the child turns 18. When the child turns 18 they can make their own claim but the three year time limit will then apply.
- Mental capacity – you can make a claim on behalf of someone who doesn’t have the ability to do so themselves, including when someone has suffered a serious head/brain injury as a result of their accident. In these circumstances, no time limits apply.
- Fatal claims – if you’re claiming on behalf of a loved one who died, you’ll either have three years from the date of their death or the date of the accident to make a claim.
You normally have three years to make a claim from the date of your accident. However, there are some exceptions to this rule:
- Under 18s – you can claim on behalf of a child who was on work experience or working part-time. No time limits apply in these circumstances until the child turns 18. When the child turns 18 they can make their own claim but the three year time limit will then apply.
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Mental capacity – you can make a claim on behalf of someone who doesn’t have the ability to do so themselves, including when someone has suffered a serious head/brain injury as a result of their accident. In these circumstances, no time limits apply.
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Fatal claims – if you’re claiming on behalf of a loved one who died, you’ll either have three years from the date of their death or the date of the accident to make a claim.
If you have any concerns about the time limits for claiming compensation, we’ll be able to talk through your options in a free initial consultation.
Many of our cases are funded with a No Win No Fee agreement. This means that there’s no financial risk* to you when making a compensation claim.
At the start of your claim, we’ll discuss the funding options available, advising you which we think is the most suitable. If you have legal expenses insurance (LEI), or can access support through trade union membership, these may be best for you. Legal expenses insurance is included in many household and car insurance policies, so it’s always worth checking whether you’re already covered.
If we think you’re best supported by a No Win No Fee agreement, we’ll explain the process clearly. This involves setting up an insurance policy that will protect you, at no cost to you. You’ll only have to pay anything when your claim is successful – your opponent will pay most of our fees.
Please visit our No Win No Fee page for more information on how it works.
We have experienced solicitors based across the country who specialise in helping people to claim compensation after accidents at work. We know the issues that you and your loved ones may be facing, and we can answer all of your questions in plain English.
As well as helping you claim compensation, we can also help with your rehabilitation and recovery. If you can’t work because of your injuries, then we can also advise you on benefit entitlement and arrange for the best possible support to help you recover.
Having helped many other clients who were injured in farm accidents, we can use our experience to get a positive outcome for you and your family.
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