Equine Veterinary Negligence
When you instruct a vet to look after your horse, whether they are;
- Carrying out treatment, or
- Examining a horse before you purchase it
You expect them to provide a high level of skill and care. Sadly, this is not always the case.
If something does go wrong it can be hard to know how to make a claim.
Our Equine Law solicitors have experience in equine veterinary negligence claims. We can offer advice and guide you on making a claim against a veterinary practice.
Call our Equine Law Team Email our Equine Law Team
How Do I Prove a Vet Has Been Negligent?
For a vet to be negligent, their actions must have resulted in harm, loss, injury, or damage.
First, you should make a written complaint to the vet. This complaint should request a full written explanation.
If you are unhappy with their response, you should instruct an expert to present your case to a Judge. They will determine whether;
- The vet was negligent, and
- If that negligence caused the damage to your horse.
To prove a vet’s negligence, you need to show they not only made poor decisions, but no other reasonable body of vets would have acted in the same manner.
Unfortunately, the courts only consider financial losses. They don’t take into account emotional loss or suffering of your animal. As such, you need to think about the commercial viability of pursuing such a claim.
What Can I Make a Veterinary Negligence Claim For?
You could make a claim against a vet for:
- Administering inadequate/negligent treatment
- Failing to diagnose/misdiagnosing a problem
- Failing to refer to a specialist
- Producing an inaccurate vetting certificate
- Failing to stay updated with changes in best practice
- Using outdated techniques, procedures or medication
How Long Do I Have to Make a Veterinary Negligence Claim?
You have six years from the date that you suffered a loss due to negligence.
I Recently Purchased a Horse Following a Veterinary Examination Which the Horse Passed, But it is Now Lame. Can I Make a Claim Against the Vet?
First, you will need an independent vet to examine the horse to find out
- What is causing the lameness, and
- Identify whether the lameness was present at the time the original vet carried out their examination
You also need to prove that a reasonably competent vet would have identified the problem at the time of the examination.
Why use Rothera Bray for Equine Veterinary Negligence Claims?
When you instruct us to represent you;
- We will assign a dedicated solicitor to your case. They will work with you from the start of your claim, all the way through to conclusion.
- We work closely with you to establish the full details of your claim. We can then provide advice on the best strategy to resolve your equine dispute as quickly as possible.
Rothera Bray LLP are Official Legal Partners to British Dressage and The British Show Pony Society
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Caroline Bowler
Equine Solicitor
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