Fallen from a horse

Claiming damages for injury caused by a fall from a horse

As cute as they are, animals can also cause injuries. For example, you could be kicked by a horse or fall from one. You could also be startled by an animal and have an accident as a result. Animals can cause serious injuries, whether they were unintentionally or not. The damages you sustain can often be recovered from the animal's owner, provided they are known.

The personal injury lawyers at Hardt Advocaten offer expert legal support to help you explore your options and, where possible, claim compensation.

Legal support throughout the Netherlands

As your expert partner for personal injury claims, we serve victims nationwide. With offices in Amsterdam and Utrecht, we offer nationwide coverage and will visit you at home if necessary. Our experience in successfully claiming personal injury damages makes us a leading name in the industry.

Hardt Advocaten is proud to hold the National Personal Injury Quality Mark, a prestigious recognition that emphasizes our commitment to quality and professionalism. This quality mark, awarded by the Dutch Personal Injury Council (De Letselschade Raad), reinforces our reputation as a reliable and expert entity within the personal injury sector.

Hardt Advocaten was founded with the goal of supporting victims of personal injury and providing the best possible legal help. With our in house lawyers, we can assist you from start to end.

Who is liable for personal injury caused by a horse?

Horses can exhibit undesirable behavior. After all, they are animals. This behavior can lead to injury to a bystander or a rider. Riding lessons are often given at riding schools. Injuries can sometimes occur during a lesson. Article 6:179 of the Dutch Civil Code regulates liability for animals. The article reads as follows:

The owner of an animal is liable for any damage caused by it, unless liability under the previous section would not have arisen if the owner had been able to control the animal's behavior that caused the damage.

This article concerns strict liability. It means that the owner of the animal or the riding school is liable for the horse's behavior. The owner of the horse or the riding school has accepted the risk of damage caused by the horse.

However, the horse owner or riding school is not always liable. For example, a situation may arise where the horse caused the injury, but the horse itself did not cause the accident. The bystander or rider cannot recover damages from the horse's owner if the horse is involved in an accident due to someone else's actions.

Even if you've been warned that horseback riding is at your own risk, you may still be entitled to compensation. Did you fall off a horse? We'll explore your compensation options.

Compensation for injury caused by an animal

Your compensation for injury caused by an animal can consist of several components. You may be entitled to compensation for (medical) expenses and lost income, as well as for pain and suffering (non-pecuniary damages). There is no limit to the things you can receive compensation for. All adverse consequences and costs that you would not have incurred without the accident are eligible for compensation.

Examples include:

• Lost revenue
• Medical expenses
• Domestic help required as a result of the accident
• Loss of self-reliance (jobs in, on and around the house that can no longer be carried out independently after the accident and for which assistance must be hired, such as gardening or painting)
• Compensation for pain, sorrow or reduced enjoyment of life

This list is not exhaustive – so please contact our personal injury lawyers. They will work with you to identify your damages so you receive the compensation you're entitled to.

Your options

Once liability has been established, we must substantiate your damages. This is important for determining how much damage can be recovered from the horse owner or riding school. In your claim, you can include all costs incurred as a result of the accident. All expenses you incur are eligible for compensation.

Have you suffered a personal injury and need support from an experienced personal injury lawyer? Then you've come to the right place at Hardt Advocaten. We believe in providing personalized and practical support. We're happy to pursue your personal injury claim.

Personal legal assistance

Specializing in personal injury

Active throughout the Netherlands

Hardt Advocaten: Personal injury caused by an animal

Personal and legal assistance in case of personal injury caused by an animal

Hardt Advocaten offers more than just legal support; we also provide personalized guidance throughout the entire recovery process. Our approach is holistic, addressing both the physical and emotional impact of the accident. Our goal is not only to seek financial compensation but also to support your recovery and well-being.

Working together towards a new future

At Hardt Advocaten, we believe in building a new future together with our clients. Our team works closely with you to develop a recovery plan focused not only on the present but also on the long term. This includes establishing goals for physical and psychological recovery and finding ways to achieve them, in harmony with your life and ambitions.

The role of Hardt Advocaten in your recovery process

Every personal injury case begins with a story. Your experience deserves our full attention. Together, we'll map out the relevant events, taking into account the financial, physical, and emotional consequences of your injury.

At Hardt Advocaten, we are inspired and driven by our core values: Helpfulness, Attention, Results-Orientedness, Expertise, and Transparency (HARDT). Our mission is to help you move forward, toward a future where your well-being is paramount.

Our team is ready to help you!

Suffering personal injury? We'll help you get back on track. Contact us for a free consultation.

This is how we work

I'm very pleased with Hardt's services after my motorcycle accident. I was kept informed throughout the entire process. Thanks to their dedication, I received the fair compensation I was entitled to, even though I didn't realize I was entitled to it. I recommend Hardt to anyone who needs help with personal injury cases.

Thanks again Team Hardt.