Agricultural accidents

During your free, no-obligation consultation our specialist solicitors will discuss whether you are entitled to make a claim. If negligence is established, we will discuss the various options with you, including the no win, no fee element of your personal injury claim. You will be provided with a step-by-step breakdown of how we will proceed with your accident compensation claim without obligation to proceed.

In the vast majority of cases, our agricultural accident claims are funded on a no win, no fee basis, also known as Conditional Fee Agreements (CFAs).

This means that if your case is unsuccessful you will not have to pay anything. We will only take on your case if, after assessing your claim, we decide that there is a reasonable chance of success. Our initial consultation is free, so you won’t pay a penny if we don’t accept your case.

Currently in the UK, the law offers protection to any farm or agricultural worker in respect of injuries sustained whilst at their place of work. Some of the most important legal provisions, in terms of agricultural injuries, will come from the following regulations:

• The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
• The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
• The Manual Handling Regulations Operations Regulations 1992
• The Work at Height Regulations 2005
• The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
• The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992
• The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002.

Some of the most common incidents we have had claims for include:

• farm machinery accidents
• manual handling injuries
• slipping or tripping injuries
• falling from height
• contact with electricity
• injuries sustained whilst driving tractors or other agricultural vehicles
• injuries sustained when using work equipment, such as chainsaws or being injured by animals.

However, this list is by no means exhaustive. Therefore, if you have suffered any other injury due to an agricultural accident, one of our specialists will be able to advise if you are entitled to make a claim.

If you have been injured at work and then exercise your right to bring a claim for compensation against your employer, you should then not be adversely treated by your employer. The reality is that although you may be bringing a claim against your employer in name, your claim will actually be handled by your employer’s insurers or solicitors.

Only a small percentage of personal injury claims brought will actually proceed to trial though we do prepare every case in depth to make sure we are ready should it go to court.

The personal injury procedural system is geared towards encouraging parties to be open with each other so that any claims for compensation can be settled without the need for going to court, which can save both time and cost.

A lot of people are naturally nervous and uncomfortable about going to court. We understand this and will advise you every step of the way, should your case reach a trial.

There are strict time limits in personal injury claims. The usual rule is that a potential claimant has three years from the date of an accident within which to bring a claim for compensation.

The court does have the discretion to override the three year period, but it is not regularly exercised.

Although there is a three year period within which to bring court proceedings, it is important that you seek legal advice as soon as possible should you believe you might have a claim.