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Farm Accident Solicitors — Scotland

Agriculture is widely regarded as one of the most dangerous environments to work in. If you've been involved in a farming accident, our expert farm accident solicitors can help you secure the compensation you deserve.  

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More Compensation Than I Expected

"I would highly recommend Watermans to anyone who was pursuing a claim. I was kept up to date at all times through by email and phone calls, and I can't thank them enough for the compensation I received which was much more than what I had expected."

A Virdee, Personal Injury Claim

The Short of It

  • Have you been injured in a farming accident in the last three years that wasn't your fault?

    You might be entitled to make a farm accident compensation claim.

  • The most common farming accidents involve

    moving vehicles, animals, livestock and the use of heavy machinery and tools.  

  • Our expert personal injury solicitors

    can help you claim the farm injury compensation you deserve.

  • Everything we do at Watermans

    s about getting you the resolution you need and providing straightforward legal advice. It should be that simple.

    • The Long of It

    Farming Accidents

    Farming Accident Injury Claims

    Scotland’s agricultural workforce plays a vital role in supporting crops, livestock and key export and hospitality industries.

    Workers often have to operate heavy machinery and tools to carry out their farm duties. The use of such dangerous machinery can result in harm, and thousands of farming employees are injured in the UK each year. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), 27 people were killed in the UK in 2023 as a result of agricultural accidents or due to farming injuries.

    Given how frequent accidents in agricultural workplaces are, proper health and safety training and procedures are vital. Employers in farming and agricultural industries must provide proper training to work with large animals and to use complicated equipment.

    Common Farm Accidents

    What Are The Most Common Farm Injuries?

    Farm accident injuries can vary drastically from minor sprains to, in the worst cases, life-altering or even fatal injuries. Employers must put procedures in place for health and safety purposes and reduce the risk of accidents when working on a farm.

    The most common causes of farming accidents include:

    Animals & Livestock

    Farm workers can suffer severe injuries from kicks, bites or trampling. Farm owners must provide proper safety equipment and training to reduce the risk of this type of accident. Head injuries are a particular risk when dealing with unpredictable livestock, making it necessary to wear protective gear for farm safety.

    Farming Machinery

    Farm machinery, such as ploughs and balers, can cause serious injuries if not operated correctly or if safety features are lacking. Farm equipment accidents are a major concern and regular maintenance and training are crucial to prevent farm injuries.

    In the year leading up to March 2024, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reported 27 work-related fatalities in the farming industry. This covered Scotland, Wales and England.

    Agriculture continues to have the highest rate of fatalities among the main industrial sectors, being 21 times higher than the all-industries average. Crush injuries from farm machinery malfunctions or improper use due to a lack of proper training can lead to long-term disability and financial losses for the victim.

    Farm Vehicles

    Overturning, falling from the farm vehicle, or being struck by a tractor can result in life-altering or fatal injuries. Implementing safety measures and providing training can help reduce the occurrence of fatal farm tractor accidents.

    A life-changing injury from a tractor can severely impact a worker’s ability to return to their job. You may be entitled to claim for lost earnings and loss of future earnings should you have a lengthy recovery.

    Working from a Height

    Falls from heights, ladders, or roofs can lead to serious injuries or even fatal accidents. A farm owner must ensure the use of proper safety equipment, such as harnesses and guardrails, when working at heights to prevent severe farm accidents.

    Falling objects from unstable storage areas or scaffolding can also pose a serious risk. It’s crucial to store equipment and materials properly and tie down any loose objects when working at great heights.

    Heavy Objects

    Handling heavy objects, such as hay bales or feed bags, can cause back injuries, strains, or even crushing accidents if not done correctly.

    Accidents involving the falling or shifting of heavy loads could potentially result in head trauma. This may require rehabilitation, lead to financial losses and affect the mental capacity of the injured workers. Training on proper lifting techniques, using mechanical aids, and safety precautions can prevent injuries and farm injury claims.

    Exposure to Hazardous Substances

    Long-term exposure to hazardous chemicals can impact mental capacity, causing neurological issues. This could affect their ability to perform daily tasks. In Scotland, neurological conditions account for approximately 10% of the overall disease burden as measured by the Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs).

    Providing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and training on the safe handling of these substances can protect farm workers from exposure.

    Slips, Trips & Falls

    Uneven terrain, slippery surfaces, and cluttered workspaces can cause accidents during farm work. Maintaining a tidy and well-organised work environment, as well as ensuring the wearing of appropriate footwear, can prevent these accidents. Implementing a clear safety procedure for spill clean-ups and pathway maintenance can significantly reduce the risk of injury.

    If you or a loved one has been involved in a farming accident that wasn’t your fault, you may be entitled to make a farm accident claim. It’s time to contact a personal injury lawyer at Watermans.

    Let us help you claim compensation for your injuries, lost wages, physical or emotional distress and psychological damage (PTSD).

    Making a Claim

    How Do I Make A Farming Accident Claim?

    We understand that making a compensation claim can be a daunting task, but our dedicated farm injury solicitors are here to help. The process of making an agricultural accident claim typically involves:

    • Seeking Immediate Medical Attention: If you’ve suffered an injury from an accident at work on the farm, you should seek out medical care from a GP or hospital.
    • Contact Watermans: Reach out to our farm accident claims solicitors for free initial advice. We’ll assess your farm accident claim and provide expert guidance on how to proceed.
    • Gathering evidence: Collect photographs, witness statements, and medical records to support your farm injury compensation claim. Our personal injury team will help you organise this evidence.
    • Establishing liability: Our team will investigate your farming accident thoroughly to determine who is legally responsible for your injuries and build a strong case.
    • Calculating damages: We’ll work with experts to assess your injuries and calculate the appropriate compensation for your farm compensation claim, including medical expenses and lost wages.
    • Negotiating a settlement: Our expert farm injury lawyers will negotiate with the responsible party to secure a fair settlement for your claim.

    We offer straightforward legal advice and take the hassle out of the process for you.

    How Much Compensation?

    How Much Compensation Can I Claim For A Farming Accident?

    As with all personal injury claims, the amount of compensation you may be entitled to for a farm accident is dependent on the complexity of the accident and the severity of your injury.

    When making a farm accident compensation claim, you can seek damages for various expenses and losses, including:

    • Medical treatment: This covers hospital visits, surgeries, medications, rehabilitation and any ongoing care needed due to the accident.
    • Pain and suffering: Compensation for physical pain, emotional distress and reduced quality of life.
    • Loss of earnings: Reimbursement of wages lost due to time off work and potential future earnings if the injury affects long-term employment.
    • Care and assistance: This covers the cost of professional or family-provided care needed for daily tasks during recovery.
    • Home adaptations: Funding for modifications such as ramps, stair lifts or accessible bathrooms to accommodate disabilities caused by the accident.

    Get an estimate of the potential value of your farming accident compensation claim with our online claims calculator.

    Why Go With Watermans?

    Why should I choose Watermans to pursue my personal injury claim?

    Watermans makes legal services stress-free so people can move forward in life.

    Our expert personal injury team is committed to doing everything to make the claims process straightforward for our clients following an accident. We take the hassle from you and fight each case to secure the maximum level of compensation.

    We also provide specialist support and access to a range of additional services, such as physiotherapy and psychological treatment, to ensure you recover from your injuries as soon as possible and get your life back on track.

    Trusted Farm Accident Lawyers in Scotland

    Our expertise in personal injury claims covers a wide range of areas, including:

    We represent thousands of clients throughout Scotland each year, securing millions of pounds in compensation for our clients. From our Dundee, Dunfermline, Edinburgh, and Glasgow law firms, we provide support with simple advice. We work on a no-win, no-fee basis, which means that if your farm injury claim is unsuccessful, you won’t end up further out of pocket.

    FAQs About Farm Injury Solicitors

    In most cases, there is a three-year time limit to make a personal compensation claim. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you have three years following the date of your farming accident in which to start the claims process.

    In fact, you are required to have raised a court action or settled a claim for personal injury within this three-year timeframe. There are some exceptions to this rule, so we advise speaking to a specialist farm accident lawyer at Watermans, who will be able to advise you on the best course of action.

    The length of the farm accident claims process will depend on the complexity of the case and the willingness of the at-fault party to negotiate a settlement. Straightforward cases may be settled within a few weeks or months, but more complex cases can take several months or even years to resolve.

    In Scotland, the time to settle agricultural injury claims can differ based on several factors. The Scottish Pre-Action Protocol, made compulsory in 2016, encourages fair and efficient resolution of personal injury compensation claims without escalation to court. This protocol requires adherence to specific timelines.

    At Watermans, our experienced lawyers work tirelessly to expedite the claims process and secure the farm accident compensation you deserve as quickly as possible.

    Yes, you can still claim compensation even if you were partially at fault for the accident. Under Scottish law, compensation may be reduced based on contributory negligence. This means that your level of responsibility determines the maximum compensation awarded when you make a claim.

    For example, if you suffered an injury from farm animals but lacked the proper training, liability may be shared by your employer. Most personal injury claims consider the employer’s duty of care, ensuring safe equipment and training. Personal injury solicitors can assess your case and help you navigate the claims process.

    Farming is a high-risk industry with common injuries caused by heavy equipment, farm machinery and exposure to dust, leading to farmer’s lung. Employers must follow health and safety regulations to protect workers and ensure proper training and documented maintenance on farm machinery.

    If an accident does occur, making a farm injury claim may be necessary, especially where negligence is involved. However, accidents can also extend to visitors on the farm, family members of employees and contractors handling work on the premises.

    Farm owners should keep an Accident Report Book to record any incident immediately. Consult the Health and Safety Executive for guidance on improving safety procedures and reducing risks.

    Let us help you claim compensation for your farm injury.
    Request a callback from our dedicated farm accident solicitors today and get straightforward legal advice.

    Get in touch with us

    Everything we do at Watermans is about getting you the resolution you need and making that process straightforward. Start the process by sending us your details below or calling us on 0131 555 7055

    Our personal injury claims expert

    “Making a claim for compensation can be such a daunting process for people, so I try to make it as straightforward and easy to understand as I can for them.”

    Susanne McGraw, Head of Personal Injury

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