A STAMPEDE of compensation claims from walkers injured by cattle could be on the cards this summer, a top Cumbrian personal injury lawyer has warned farmers.

Carol Fish, of Cartmell Shepherd, believes there is likely to be a sharp rise in cases following judgments which have seen farmers found guilty of negligence.

Although farmers often put forward strong def-ences, courts have held them to blame for cattle attacks and awarded hefty compensation pay-outs to those injured, she said.

“This is a field in which the law is muddy, and we would caution farmers to be careful of exposing themselves to possibly very expensive claims,” said Ms Fish.

“Publicity given to recent cases is likely to alert walkers to their cha-nces of success in bringing an action.”

The warning follows an analysis at Cartmell Shep-herd of cases including last year's award of £250,000 to a woman tram-pled by cows at Greystoke, near Penrith.

The walker, who was with her dog, suffered head injuries after a herd of cows with young calves reacted violently when she entered the field.

“This case especially set a worrying precedent for farmers as the court suggested cows should not be grazed in fields where there is a footpath,” said Ms Fish.

Many farmers would regard that as impractical and heavy-handed, she suggested.

She also advised farmers that there was a legal risk in putting up a sign which warned walkers of danger – it could be taken as implying culpability.

“There are a number of different laws which have been used to find against farmers whose animals have attacked walkers - and some are less cut and dried than others," said Ms Fish.

She suggests farmers in any doubt about which breeds can be kept in a field with a right of way should seek legal advice as a matter of urgency.