Farm Accident Solicitors — Scotland

Farming Accidents

Farming accident injury claims

The agricultural sector employs an essential workforce in Scotland. This workforce tends to the crops and cares for the livestock that form the backbone of our export and hospitality industry.

Workers often have to operate heavy machinery and tools to carry out their farm duties. The use of such machinery can prove dangerous, 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

Most common farm injuries

The implications for a farm worker involved in an accident 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 potential accidents that happen when working on a farm.

The most common causes of farming accidents include:

Animals & livestock

Working with farm animals can be dangerous, and accidents involving livestock are among the most common farm accidents. 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 helmets and 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 in the agricultural industry, and regular maintenance and training are crucial to prevent these types of accidents and farm injuries.

In the year leading up to March 2024, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reported 27 work-related fatalities in the agricultural sector. This covered Scotland, Wales and England. Agriculture continues to have the highest rate of fatalities among main industrial sectors, being 21 times higher than the all-industries average.  Crush injuries from farm machinery malfunctions or improper use due to lack of proper training can lead to long-term disability and financial losses for the victim.

Farm vehicles

Vehicles, such as tractors and front-end loaders, are among the most common causes of fatal farm accidents. 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, from the likes of grain silos, ladders, or roofs, can lead to serious injuries or even fatalities. 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. Training on proper lifting techniques, using mechanical aids, and safety precautions can prevent injuries and farm injury claims.

Accidents involving falling or shifting of heavy loads could potentially result in head trauma. This may require rehabilitation, incur financial losses and affect the mental capacity of the injured person.

Exposure to hazardous substances

Farm workers may be exposed to various harmful substances, such as pesticides, fertilisers, dust, or fuels, which can lead to industrial diseases like farmer’s lung. Providing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and training on the safe handling of these substances can protect farm workers from exposure.

Long-term exposure to chemicals can impact mental capacity, causing neurological issues in the injured person. 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). Neurological conditions contribute to between 10% and 20% of acute medical admissions. A study involving over 200,000 individuals found that increased exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) correlated with higher hospital admissions for mental and behavioural disorders.

Slips, trips, and falls

Uneven terrain, slippery surfaces, and cluttered workspaces can result in slips, trips, and falls on a farm. 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 have 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?

Your agricultural employer has a duty of care to their workforce, which includes providing you with correct training and fully tested tools and machinery to ensure a safe working environment. Unfortunately, this is not always the case and can result in serious accidents.

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 some 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 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.

It should be that simple.

How Much Compensation?

How much compensation can I claim for a farming accident?

Accidents sustained on a farm or involving farming equipment or livestock can result in serious injury. Sustaining injuries like these could lead to loss of earnings or, in more serious cases, the need for constant care and adaptations in the home. These can be financially and emotionally taxing for you and your loved ones.

Securing compensation is important to provide you and your loved ones with financial security as you recuperate.

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.

Whatever your injury, you can rest assured that Watermans will fight for the best possible outcome for you.

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 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 Personal Injury Solicitors in Scotland

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

• Accidents at work
• Public liability claims
• Accidents on the road
• Fatal and serious injury claims
• Cases relating to abuse

We represent thousands of clients throughout Scotland each year, securing millions of pounds in compensation for our clients. 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.