Equestrian Accidents | Sports Injury
Personal Injury Lawyer Reviewing Cases for injured plaintiffs Nationwide
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Both first-time and experienced riders can be victims of equestrian accidents at any given time. Horses can be unpredictable, and their size and strength make the animals quite dangerous to horseback riders. Because those riding horses sit a height and have their feet in stirrups, any fall can result in severe injury, often a head and spinal injury.
Horseback accidents can result in a kick, bite or trampling injury and lead to bone fracture, traumatic brain injury, hospitalization or even wrongful death. Common injuries occur when riders are trotting, galloping, or cantering when a horse suddenly stops and the rider falls forward off the horse. Many riders and bystanders are kicked by horses each year as well.
Joe Lyon is a sports injury lawyer and equine attorney reviewing equestrian accidents for injured plaintiffs nationwide.
Types of Equestrian Accidents
- Stable Accidents
- Trainer negligence
- Unsafe environment & premises liability
- Unsafe trails
- Kick and fall injuries
- Trample Injury
- Brain Injury
Equine Accidents & Horseback Injury Prevention
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) has published tips in order to help prevent horseback riding injuries, which includes the following:
- All riders should wear horseback riding helmets
- Riders should wear leather boots with a minimal heel.
- Riding equipment should be inspected and undamaged.
- Saddles and stirrups should be appropriate to a rider’s size and properly adjusted.
- Children and novice riders should consider using safety stirrups.
- Novice riders should be accompanied and supervised by experienced instructors.
- Amateurs should ride on open, flat terrain.
- Do not attempt jumps or stunts without supervision. Novice riders should avoid any jump.
- Never ride a horse when taking medications, or under the influence of alcohol.
- Know that horses are flight animals, and will run away from sudden noises and movements.
- Stay alert for anything that might startle your horse.
- When trail riding, do not go off trail.
- Never walk behind a horse. Approach them at their shoulder.
Horse Accidents & Premises Liability Lawsuits
The owners and occupiers of a property have a duty to make the property safe for people invited to engage in horseback and equestrian activities. For example, horse riding trails should be well-cleared and safe. This law dictates that both the environment be suitable for riding and that the animals are domesticated enough and safe to ride and matched well with inexperienced riders.
Those managing a property used for horseback riding and equestrian activity have a responsibility to post warnings of any hazard on a property and fully explain the risks of riding horses in general. Inherent risks should be spelled out to customers and visitors to a property. If a property owner breaches the duty of care owed to a customer, they may be liable for injury, loss or damage suffered on the premises.
If a horse is loose, unbridled and “at large” and causes damage or injury, the horse owner may be legally liable. Contact an equine attorney following any equestrian accident to review the liability of an owner for escaped or wild livestock.
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Why are these cases important?
Serious injuries and accidents often result through no fault of the injured party, yet the injured victim suffers from life altering physical, mental and financial losses. Such economic and human losses can have devastating financial consequences on individuals and families if not properly compensated. Tort law allows those individuals to seek just legal recourse through personal injury lawsuits.
Questions about Equestrian Injury Cases
Any kind of negligence by an individual or company that causes injury or harm can lead to filing a personal injury lawsuit. The amount a plaintiff is entitled to depends on several factors, particularly how egregious the act and how serious the injury.
Personal injury attorneys generally only will take cases on a confidential and contingency fee basis, which means your lawyer will only get paid if he or she is able to reach a settlement or positive verdict. The Lyon Firm will review your case for free and assess what compensation any plaintiff can expect through litigation.
Pre-Suit Investigation and Negotiations: Personal injury lawsuits are unique and require a thorough investigation before a lawsuit is filed. An initial investigation involves gathering all relevant medical records, accident reports, and interviews with available witnesses. Preservation letters are drafted to notify the defendant of the case. The duty to preserve electronic evidence is critical in most cases to prevent spoliation.
Filing a Lawsuit in Cincinnati: If pre-suit negotiations are unsuccessful, then a lawsuit must be filed to preserve the statute of limitations. Filing a lawsuit early in the process is often necessary to begin gathering evidence while the witnesses memories are fresh and documents remain available.
Once suit is filed by your personal injury lawyer, the court will set a case management schedule and the parties will begin exchanging information in the formal process of discovery. Depositions will be taken to preserve testimony for trial and to understand what certain witnesses are likely to say at trial.
Proving Negligence, Causation and Damages: In addition to lay witness testimony and other documentary evidence, personal injury claims rely upon medical and scientific evidence to prove negligence, causation and damages. The chosen expert in a case must have a reliable and sound basis in science and in the facts of the case or his opinion may not be admissible under the rules of evidence.
Each state will vary. Under Ohio law, an injured party may recover damages related to medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, loss of enjoyment of life, past pain and suffering, future pain and suffering, and punitive damages. The numerical limits are as such:
- Non-Catastrophic Injury: The non-economic award is limited to $250,000 per plaintiff, or three times the economic loss, up to $350,000 per plaintiff. A maximum of $500,000 for each “occurrence.”
- Catastrophic Injury: No limits.
The Lyon Firm may be able to file injury claims and recover rightful compensation for clients for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost earnings and long-term disability.
Joe Lyon is an experienced Cincinnati Personal Injury Lawyer. The Lyon Firm has over 20 years of experience and success representing individuals and plaintiffs in all fifty states, and in a variety of complex civil litigation matters. Personal Injury lawsuits can be complex and require industry experts to determine the root cause of an accident or injury. Mr. Lyon has worked with experts nationwide to assist individuals understand why an injury occurred and what can be done to improve their lives in the future. Some cases may go to a jury trial, though many others can be settled out of court.
Personal Injury Lawsuits
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Taking the first step doesn’t have to be complicated. In just a few minutes, you can share the basics of your case, and our team will guide you from there:
- It begins with a few simple questions about your situation.
- From there, a member of our legal team reviews your case.
- Together, we’ll chart the path forward, helping you take the next step toward resolution.
