£6,768 compensation for 12 year old girl injured in a road traffic accident whilst hacking

HorseSolicitor was instructed to act on a no-win no-fee basis, for Miss S via her mother and litigation friend Ms D, in relation to a road traffic accident that occurred on 31 March 2013.

The circumstances of the accident were that Miss S, who was 12 years old at the time, was out riding with her mother and sister. Her sister’s horse was lead horse, Miss S was in the middle and her mother was positioned at the rear of the ride. A 4 x 4 towing a caravan approached the ride from the opposite direction at speed. Ms D signalled for the driver to slow down but he came past too close and too quickly. This startled Miss S’s horse resulting in it spooking. Miss S’s leg became trapped between the caravan and her horse and she sustained injury.

The driver of the 4 x 4 failed to stop. HorseSolicitor obtained CCTV footage of the vehicle and the accident but it was not possible to read the registration plate. The matter was dealt with as an untraced driver claim.

On accepting the claim the Motor Insurers’ Bureau made an offer in the sum of £5,000 in full and final settlement of the matter. HorseSolicitor advised Ms D to neither accept the offer nor reject it at that stage.

The necessary medical evidence was obtained, treatment completed and a counter offer was made by HorseSolicitor. Following negotiations the matter settled for £6,768.