Farm & Agricultural Accident Claims Solicitors

What types of farming accidents can I claim for?

The HSE figures show that almost 60% of all farm accidents involve moving vehicles or machinery, or being struck by a falling object.

You have a legal right to claim for compensation for any injuries you may have suffered while working on a farm if they were caused by someone else’s negligence.

The most common types of farming accident claims include:

• Vehicle accidents, such as tractor, digger or forklift incidents, including overturning, or where people are hit by a moving vehicle
• Machinery injuries, often caused by defective or poorly maintained equipment
• Livestock injuries, including accidents involving cattle, horses or sheepdogs
• Crush injuries, including being struck by a moving or falling object, like a hay bale
• Slips, trips and falls, especially on wet, uneven or icy ground
• Falls from height, such as from ladders, platforms or fragile roofs
• Grain silo and slurry pit accidents, including risks of drowning or asphyxiation
• Manual handling injuries, particularly from lifting or moving heavy loads
• Electrocution, including contact with overhead power lines or faulty electrical equipment
• Accidents where a person is trapped, such as when machinery or structures collapse or overturn

In addition, you may be able to claim compensation for illnesses you have developed while working on a farm. The most common example is Farmer’s Lung, a serious respiratory condition caused by inhaling dust from mouldy hay, grain or straw.

Additionally, exposure to dusts, chemicals, fertilisers, animal waste, and bacteria can lead to conditions such as occupational asthma, irritant lung disease, zoonotic infections (such as leptospirosis or Q-fever).

Many of these illnesses develop gradually, often after years of exposure, and employers have a duty to minimise these risks through proper ventilation, protective equipment and safe working practices.

How much compensation can I claim for a farm accident?

The amount of compensation you may be able to receive after a farm accident will depend on the severity of your injuries and how they have affected your life.

There is no fixed amount of compensation awarded for farm accidents, nor is there an average amount, as each claim is unique. However, payouts for farming and agricultural accident claims can vary from a few thousand pounds for relatively minor injuries to hundreds of thousands of pounds for more serious injuries that may have a substantial long-term impact.

How are farm accident compensation claims calculated?

The amount of compensation you may be able to claim for a farming accident is calculated by combining the compensation you may receive for general and special damages.

Compensation for general damages is awarded in relation to the severity of your injuries, while special damages are awarded for any costs you have incurred or may incur in the future.

The Judicial College Guidelines are used to assess general damages. General damages compensate you for the pain, suffering and loss of amenity caused by your injury. They take into account the part of the body injured, the severity of the injury, and the impact it may have on your life.

Compensation for special damages is awarded for expenses you may have incurred or may incur in the future as a direct result of your injuries.

The amount of compensation you may receive for special damages may include, but is not limited to:

• Loss of earnings or potential future income, including pension
• Medical expenses, such as rehabilitation and ongoing treatment
• Care and support costs, even where care is provided by a family member or friend
• The cost of adaptations you may need to make to your home
• Travel and motor expenses, including journeys to appointments and parking costs
• Out-of-pocket expenses incurred because of your injuries.

Can I make a no win no fee claim for a farming accident?

Yes, you can make a no win no fee claim if you’ve been injured on a farm through no fault of your own.

Our specialist solicitors provide our legal services on a no win no fee basis, which means you can claim with the peace of mind that you are at no financial risk if your claim is unsuccessful.

No win no fee agreements are also known as Conditional Fee Agreements (CFA). When a no win no fee agreement is set up, your solicitor will take an insurance policy out on your behalf.

The policy protects you against any costs incurred relating to your claim. These costs could include your employer’s legal fees, medical reports, court costs, and other expenses.

Our solicitors will explain how the policy works and what fee may be paid if your claim is successful.

What are my employer’s legal responsibilities to protect me while working on a farm?

Your employer has a legal duty to keep you safe while working on a farm.

Farming is one of the most high-risk industries in the UK, so the law places strict responsibilities on employers to reduce the risk of serious injury.

These duties are set out in legislation such as the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, the Six Pack Regulations 1992, the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, and, where relevant, the Work at Height Regulations 2005. In addition, farming-specific HSE guidance and Approved Codes of Practice (ACOPs) must also be followed.

These regulations mean your employer must take all reasonable steps to provide a safe working environment, including proper training, safe systems of work, well-maintained machinery, and provide the appropriate protective equipment.

As part of their duty of care under the regulations, your employer should, where applicable do the following:

Training and supervision

• Provide clear training on how to carry out farm tasks safely, including the operation of machinery, handling of animals and livestock, and the safe use of chemicals
• Ensure workers are supervised until they are fully competent
• Provide refresher training for high-risk tasks, particularly vehicle and machinery use

Risk assessments and hazard control

• Carry out regular, documented risk assessments for all farm activities
• Identify hazards such as machinery, livestock, working at height, confined spaces, chemicals and uneven terrain
• Put sensible measures in place to reduce or remove those risks

Machinery and equipment

• Ensure all farm machinery (tractors, balers, augers, loaders, telehandlers) is properly maintained and inspected
• Provide machine guards, rollover protection, and safety features required by law
• Repair or replace faulty equipment promptly
• Ensure only trained workers operate machinery and vehicles

Livestock safety

• Assess risks when handling cattle, horses, sheep and other livestock
• Provide safe facilities such as handling pens, gates and escape routes
• Ensure staff are trained in safe livestock handling
• Ensure the appropriate number of staff are present for handling livestock, especially when separating animals from the herd.

Protective clothing and equipment (PPE)

• Supply suitable PPE such as steel-toe boots, gloves, PPE for pesticides, and ear and eye protection
• Ensure all equipment fits properly and is in good condition

Safe working environment

• Keep work areas clean, tidy and well organised, especially where spills or uneven ground pose slip and trip risks
• Display hazard signs where appropriate
• Ensure adequate lighting in barns, yards and machinery areas

Work at height and confined spaces

• Follow strict safety rules for work on ladders, fragile roofs or platforms
• Implement safe systems for confined spaces such as grain silos, slurry pits or feed hoppers
• Prevent access to dangerous areas unless properly trained and protected

Chemicals and hazardous substances

• Comply with COSHH Regulations when using pesticides, fertilisers or hazardous chemicals
• Provide proper storage, ventilation and protective equipment

If your employer has failed to meet these duties and you were injured as a result, you may have a legal right to claim compensation.

What is the time limit to make a farm accident claim?

In the majority of cases, you will have up to three years from the date of the accident, or three years from the date you became aware of your injuries, to start your claim.

The three-year time limit is set by the Limitation Act 1980. However, there are a few exceptions when the time limit can be extended.
They are as follows:

The person injured lacks the mental capacity to claim

The timeframe for claiming is extended until the person is able to claim. If this is not possible, a trusted family member may claim on their behalf.

The person injured was a child

For claims involving minors, the three-year time limit begins once they turn 18, meaning they have up to their 21st birthday to start a claim. A parent or legal guardian can claim on their behalf before their 18th birthday.

We recommend that you start your claim as soon as possible, as this can help us collect all the evidence we need to present the strongest case.

The accident was fatal

In the extremely tragic circumstances when a farming accident has resulted in a death, the three-year time limit will start from the date of death rather than the date of the accident if that is different.

While the three-year time period does give those injured an extended period to consider a claim, we recommend that you start your claim as soon as possible to provide us with the best opportunity to compile as much evidence as possible.

How long does a farming accident claim take to settle?

The time it may take for a farming accident claim to settle will depend on how complex the case is.

In most cases, the time it takes for a claim to settle will depend on how straightforward it is to establish liability and how quickly both sides can agree on the level of compensation that should be awarded.

As each claim is unique, unfortunately, there is no specific answer. However, our specialist solicitors will be able to advise you on how long your claim may take once we know a little more about what happened.