Many people in Florida and Colorado keep horses, and whether they have a farm or take part in dressage or other events, that means there are times they need to take their horse on the road in a trailer. Unfortunately, if this larger vehicle is involved in a car accident, the results can be devastating both for the horses inside and the human passengers of the cars involved.
If you’ve been in a car accident in South Florida or in Colorado, contact Flaxman Law Group. Whether your collision involved a horse trailer or any other kind of vehicle, the attorneys at our family-focused, boutique law firm have more than 50 years of combined experience. We have successfully represented clients at the negotiation table and in court and have won multi-million-dollar settlements. If you’re injured, call our father-son attorney team to talk about your potential claim.
Factors That Impact Horse Trailer Car Accidents
Vehicle accidents involving horse trailers are unique for a few reasons:
- The trailer and the truck. The separate trailer and truck mean there are two vehicles which can have mechanical defects that can contribute to the accident. In addition, if the trailer isn’t correctly attached, it can become loose and crash into other vehicles.
- The animal or animals inside the trailer. Not only are the horses inside the trailer at risk of injury, but they can kick through parts of the trailer in an accident, potentially injuring anyone who gets close. In some collisions, horses can even get out of the trailer and panic, running through the streets and potentially injuring pedestrians. In addition, seeing animals hurt at the scene of the accident can add substantially to the emotional trauma of the collision.
- Potential multiple liable parties. Horses may be transported by a third party, like a trainer, and a driver may rent a trailer to transport the animals. This can mean there are multiple parties involved in the claim.
Filing a Claim
If you’re in a car accident involving a horse trailer, you will want to contact emergency help for anyone injured at the scene and a veterinarian if any horses are injured. It’s also important in these cases to stay calm and to prevent further injury. Avoid approaching the horses in the trailer (or outside the trailer, if they’ve escaped). Horses can panic and can become dangerous in these situations, so always let an experienced horse handler or the horse owner deal with the animals.
You may also want to file a claim. Since car crashes involving horse trailers tend to be more complicated, you may want to speak to a car accident attorney in Hollywood or Denver. A car accident lawyer can explain who the liable parties may be, whether you have a case, and how much your case was worth. If your horse trailer was damaged and your horses were injured in the collision, an attorney can explain your options for financial recovery for these significant losses.
You can always reach out to Flaxman Law Group at 866-352-9626. Our phone lines are staffed 24/7, so if you’re injured you don’t have to wait—we can schedule a consultation with a South Florida or Colorado car accident claims attorney for you.