Farm Accident Claims

Farming is recognised as one of the most dangerous industries to work in, as agriculture accounts for one in five workplace fatalities according to the Health and Safety Executive.

Your employer is legally responsible for your safety and welfare. If corners are cut, the consequences of an agricultural accident can be tragic and life-changing. Our personal injury solicitors are there to help you pinpoint where the responsibility lies and to claim compensation for your injuries.

Over the years we’ve represented people in a range of farm accident claims, from relatively minor injuries to serious and fatal incidents. We can help with accidents involving:

Falling objects (such as hay bales)
Falls from height
Farm machinery
Grain silos and slurry pits
Cattle, horses and other livestock
Tractors and forklift trucks

We have a strong reputation for holding employers to account for poor health and safety procedures, and our workplace accident lawyers are some of the most experienced in the industry, having helped thousands of people to claim compensation.

With offices across the UK, we have solicitors ready to help wherever you are. We’ll always give legal advice in clear English, without the jargon, keeping you up-to-date with your compensation claim throughout.

The majority of the farm accident claims we handle are on a No Win No Fee basis, which means that you won’t have to pay any legal fees if your claim isn’t successful*.

For a free initial consultation about your claim, call us on 0800 056 4110 or contact us online.

No Win No Fee*

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Farm accident claims - more information

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.

I will always hold Irwin Mitchell in the highest of regard. Best decision I ever made to choose them. Thank you."

Stuart, client

Client Story

"Had guidance been followed in this instance, it’s likely that this tragedy could have been avoided."

“This was a hard fought case, but the substantial settlement will provide much needed financial security for the widow following the loss of her husband.” - Stephen Nye, solicitor

Frequently asked questions

Can I claim if I was injured by farm machinery?

Agricultural vehicles and machinery can be incredibly dangerous when the proper health and safety procedures aren’t in place. Tractor accidents, for example, can prove fatal.

Although being injured by farm machinery isn’t in itself grounds for a case, if there was any kind of negligence you may be able to claim compensation.

When it comes to farm equipment accidents, the most common sources of negligence include:

A failure to carry out a risk assessment
A lack of fixed guarding to protect workers from dangerous parts on machinery
An inadequate maintenance/inspection regime
Workers being asked to operate machinery they’re not trained to use

If corners are cut, the effects of a farm machinery accident can be devastating. We have experience helping farm workers claim following accidents that involved:

Balers
Combine harvesters
Mowers
Sorting machinery
Tractors

If you’ve been injured by farm machinery, please phone us on 0800 056 4110 for a free initial consultation about making a claim.

If I was injured by farm livestock, can I claim compensation?

Farm animals can be notoriously unpredictable, so it’s important that farmers do as much as possible to protect members of the public and workers alike from injury.

If certain animals are known to have dangerous tendencies, the owner can be held legally responsible for any injuries they go on to cause.

Cattle can become particularly aggressive during calving season, charging down perceived threats to their young. We’ve helped a number of people who have been attacked and trampled by cows and bulls while out walking on public footpaths, as well as representing the families of those who were tragically killed by cattle.

According to the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, employers have a responsibility to protect the public from any unnecessary risks, including the dangers posed by livestock. For example, the Health and Safety Executive advises that:

Cattle are checked at least once a day for signs of aggression/illness
Fences are checked at least once a day for damage
Paths are clearly marked so that walkers don’t wander into a field without public access
Signs are displayed to warn walkers of the presence of cattle

If you or a loved one were injured because of the animal owner’s negligence, you may be able to make a claim. Please get in touch on 0800 056 4110 to talk with one of our legal experts about your case.

Can I claim for a grain silo/slurry pit accident?

Grain silos and slurry pits are among the most hazardous places on the farm. They must be treated with extreme caution – any accidents could be fatal.

If you or a loved one were injured after being asked by an employer to complete a dangerous task without the proper safety precautions in place, you may be able to claim compensation.

Unfortunately, many people have died or been seriously injured as a result of slurry pit accidents. The toxic nature of the gases released by a slurry pit can quickly cause workers to lose consciousness. Certain health and safety precautions should be followed to prevent a tragedy:

Slurry pits must be well-ventilated (and work involving slurry should be done on a windy day)
People working in the slurry pit should wear a harness attached to some kind of pulley ready to pull them to safety if they encounter trouble
Farm staff shouldn’t work on their own around slurry
The atmosphere around the pit should be tested for toxicity before anyone re-enters the area after the work’s been done

Grain silos can also be deadly if the right procedures aren’t in place for workers. If a farmhand enters a silo without the right safety equipment the grain can quickly engulf them, causing suffocation and crushing injuries.

If you or a loved one have been injured as a result of a farm employer’s negligence, we could help you claim compensation. Investigating the circumstances leading to the incident, we’ll demand answers from those responsible. Call us on 0800 056 4110 to find out more about making a claim.

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