Horses are wonderful animals. They offer owners several benefits, including companionship, recreation, and income. However, given their size and strength, they can also be dangerous. Therefore, whether you are an equine professional or recreational equestrian, it’s important to understand the risks of horse ownership. In this article, we discuss what happens if your horse injures someone in the state of Florida.
Dangers of Horse Ownership
Even the most experienced horse rider is at risk of injury when participating in an equine activity. Every horse is different, and a moody or scared horse can behave erratically, potentially endangering both riders and bystanders. Unfortunately, with some horses reaching speeds of nearly 60 miles per hour, equine accidents are particularly dangerous. In fact, it is estimated that horses cause thousands of head injuries and hundreds of deaths each year.
Common Equine Accidents
There are several ways that riders can be injured when riding a horse. For example, a rider may be injured when he or she is:
- Thrown
- Kicked or bitten
- Stepped on or knocked down
- Pinned against a structure
- Involved in a horse trailer accident
- Involved in a horse-drawn carriage accident
Liability for Equine Injuries
Given its large equine industry, Florida offers several protections to equine businesses and sponsors. Specifically, an injured party cannot sue an equine business or sponsor for injuries incurred as a result of inherent risks. In other words, if an accident is the result of a risk that is to be expected from riding a horse, then the victim is barred from recovery.
Exceptions
Although Florida law provides broad protection to equine businesses and sponsors, there are several exceptions to the rule discussed above. For example, an equine business may be liable for a rider’s injury if it failed to match the rider with an appropriate horse based on the rider’s age, size, ability, and other factors. In addition, a victim can sue a horse owner if his or her injury was caused by faulty equipment under certain circumstances. The law also provides a broad catch-all exception to the protection offered equine businesses and sponsors. Specifically, if the owner of a horse fails to act as a reasonably prudent person would have in a similar situation, then he or she can face liability for a resulting injury to a rider. Further, any intentional or reckless actions on the part of a horse owner that result in an injury to another person can result in liability.
Contact a Wellington Equine Law Lawyer
Given the number of exceptions to the law that protects certain horse owners from liability in Florida, it’s imperative to contact an attorney as soon as possible if your horse has injured someone. At the law firm of Gueronniere, P.A., we are here to provide you with competent legal representation following a Florida equine accident. Please contact us as soon as possible to schedule an initial meeting with an experienced equine law lawyer.