If your car collided with an animal, you may have coverage through your auto insurance policy. However, if you had a collision with a domestic or farm animal, you might also have a claim against the negligent owner. In certain cases, another driver may even be liable.
Were you recently involved in a car accident caused by an animal? An experienced car accident attorney can help you explore your options for seeking financial relief.
Table of Contents
- 1 What Are Some Steps to Take After a Crash with an Animal in Indiana?
- 2 Could I Be At Fault for an Accident Where an Animal Was Hit?
- 3 Do I Have to File a Police Report If I Hit a Wild Animal?
- 4 What Can I Do to Avoid a Collision with an Animal?
- 5 What Compensation Could I Receive After an Accident Involving an Animal in Indiana?
- 6 Contact an Indiana Car Accident Lawyer
What Are Some Steps to Take After a Crash with an Animal in Indiana?
After your vehicle collides with an animal, steps you should take to protect your interests and pursue financial compensation for your injuries or vehicle damage include:
- Promptly report the collision to law enforcement and request a copy of the police accident report if an officer responds to the scene.
- Notify your auto insurance company of the accident and review your policy for applicable coverage, such as medical payments or comprehensive/collision coverage.
- Seek immediate medical attention to check for injuries you may have suffered in the crash.
- Follow your doctor’s treatment instructions and request a copy of your medical records.
- Keep all bills, invoices, and receipts for medical treatment or vehicle repairs.
- Gather copies of your pay stubs or income statements if you need to miss work.
- Contact a car accident attorney as soon as possible to discuss your legal options.
Could I Be At Fault for an Accident Where an Animal Was Hit?
Under certain circumstances, you might bear responsibility for an accident where you hit an animal in the road. For example, the police or insurance company might find you at fault for hitting an animal if you failed to exercise reasonable care while driving, such as driving over the speed limit or while distracted by a cell phone. You might also bear responsibility for not exercising greater care when warned of the potential for animals on the road, such as a deer sign, or adjusting for conditions like fog, heavy rain, or icy roads.
However, just because you are at fault doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t be able to obtain any compensation. For example, certain insurance coverage, such as comprehensive/collision coverage, will apply regardless of whether you were to blame. Indiana law also allows accident victims to recover compensation from liable parties as long as they are 50 percent or less at fault. Their compensation will be reduced by their percentage of fault, though. An Indiana car accident attorney can determine who may be responsible for your collision and pursue compensation from all available sources.
Do I Have to File a Police Report If I Hit a Wild Animal?
You may have to file a police report if you hit an animal on the road. Indiana law requires motorists to report any crash that causes at least $1,000 in property damage or injures someone to the police. If your vehicle strikes a large wild animal, you may sustain more than $1,000 in damage. Or the crash may injure you or your passengers, obligating you to report it to law enforcement. Alternatively, if you hit a farm animal, you may have to report the collision to the police, as some farm animals have values exceeding $1,000.
When reporting a collision with an animal, police recommend that drivers stay in their vehicles and don’t approach or touch the animal. The collision may have frightened or injured the animal, which could hurt people who approach it. Instead, drivers should call the police and stay in their vehicle until officers arrive.
What Can I Do to Avoid a Collision with an Animal?
You can reduce the risk of colliding with animals on the road by following these best practices:
- Never drive while distracted or intoxicated, which can cause you to miss an animal standing in or entering the roadway.
- Note wildlife crossing signs and exercise extra caution when driving through areas where animals may cross the road.
- Use high beams in rural areas to see further down the road, but be sure to dim them when you see oncoming lights.
- Be especially vigilant when driving at dusk or dawn and during the spring and summer, as these are the most active times for wild animals.
Fight the urge to swerve for an animal on the road. Instead, stay in your lane and brake to allow the animal to move out of the way. Swerving risks a collision with the animal if it gets startled and darts into your path. Alternatively, swerving might cause you to lose control of your car and hit another vehicle or an object along the roadside.
What Compensation Could I Receive After an Accident Involving an Animal in Indiana?
After an accident with an animal on the road, you may have several avenues for pursuing compensation for your injuries and vehicle damage. For example, if you have comprehensive/collision coverage in your car insurance policy, your insurer can compensate you for vehicle damage. Optional edical payments (MedPay) coverage can cover your medical expenses for treating injuries you sustained in the crash.
When the animal’s owner or another driver bears liability for the accident, you might pursue personal injury claims against them to seek compensation for your losses, including:
- Costs of medical bills and rehabilitation, including hospitalization, surgeries, doctor’s appointments, medications, or physical therapy
- Costs of long-term care for prolonged or permanent disabilities caused by severe injuries you sustained in a crash
- Lost wages for missed time from work while recovering from injuries
- Lost future earning potential if you become disabled from working in your current job or other lines of work
- Physical pain from injuries or medical treatment
- Emotional trauma or distress
- Severe disfigurement or scarring
- Vehicle repair expenses or reimbursement for your car’s value if the crash totaled it
Contact an Indiana Car Accident Lawyer
If you’ve been hurt in a collision involving an animal on the road, an experienced car accident lawyer from Truitt Law Offices can help you pursue your legal options. With over 40 years of experience and a proven track record of success, our team can advocate for your right to financial recovery. When you need a personal injury lawyer who cares, contact Truitt Law Offices for a free, no-obligation consultation to learn how our firm can fight for the compensation you need and deserve.
