A surprising number of Alabama car accidents involve collisions with animals. State records show over 3,200 crashes in one recent year involved drivers colliding with animals, resulting in one death and 278 injuries.
When animal accidents happen, many people don’t know whether they can recover compensation for their injuries and other losses. Complicated legal questions can arise in these cases since parties such as property owners, pet owners, and livestock owners may bear responsibility for a crash, depending on the circumstances.
The Alabama car accident lawyers at Stokes Stemle, LLC provide seasoned legal advice for animal collision claims. If you’re wondering what to do if you hit an animal in Dothan, Montgomery, Opelika, or a surrounding area, we can review your case and discuss your legal options in a free consultation. Call or contact us today to get started.
Can You File a Claim on Your Car Insurance If You Hit an Animal?
In most cases, if you accidentally collide with an animal — whether it’s a wild animal, pet, or stray livestock — your car insurance may help cover the costs of your vehicle damage or injuries. However, whether your insurance covers the damage depends on the type of policy you have.
If you carry comprehensive collision coverage, your insurance likely covers situations like hitting an animal on the road. Comprehensive coverage generally helps pay for repairs after events other than collisions with other vehicles, which can include animal collisions. This can help you recover some of the costs for damage to your vehicle and any other expenses you might have.
But sometimes, a car crash involving an animal isn’t just a random encounter. You may have grounds for a claim against someone else if their actions — or inactions — caused the crash.
Let’s say a pet owner allows their dog to wander off their property unsupervised. If the owner’s failure to contain their dog causes it to enter the road and leads to a crash, the owner may be financially responsible for any damages because they have a legal responsibility to keep the dog under control.
Similarly, if someone owns livestock and fails to keep it properly secured, they could be liable if one of their animals gets loose and causes an auto accident. However, these cases can be tricky because Alabama law says livestock owners are not liable for any injuries resulting from crashes unless you can show the owner knowingly or willfully allowed the animal on the roads. That’s difficult to do, and you’ll likely need a car accident lawyer to build your personal injury case and stand up to insurance company challenges.
For instance, you might have a valid personal injury claim if you can show a property owner knew of a gap in their fencing and failed to fix it. If the owner fails to repair or maintain their fence, they may be liable for any auto accidents involving an escaped animal. This often applies to farm animals or large pets (like horses) that pose a significant hazard to motorists.
What Animals to Report If You Hit One
If you hit a smaller animal like a rabbit or squirrel and the crash doesn’t cause any property damage or injuries, you usually don’t have to report the incident. However, Alabama law requires drivers to report any accident with injuries, deaths, or over $250 in property damage within 30 days.
It’s also a good idea to report any accident involving loose household pets or livestock, even if it seems minor. Identifying the animal’s owner and reporting the crash can help you track down potentially liable parties if symptoms of an injury appear later.
Types of Compensation After an Animal Accident
Whether you file a claim with your insurance company or pursue a claim against a negligent animal owner, your compensation after an animal collision depends on your injuries, financial losses, and other factors. With support from an experienced car accident attorney, you could receive money for:
- Past, current, and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Diminished quality of life
Common Injuries and Property Damage from Animal Collisions
When an animal suddenly appears on the road, the impact can lead to severe injuries and significant vehicle damage, depending on the animal’s size, the speed of the collision, and other factors. Here’s a look at some of the common outcomes of car crashes in Alabama.
Typical Injuries:
- Whiplash – Sudden braking or impact can snap a driver or passenger’s neck back and forth, causing strain or sprains in the neck muscles.
- Broken bones – Collisions, especially with large animals, can result in fractures when a driver or passenger’s body hits the car’s interior or due to a sudden stop from a seatbelt.
- Airbag injuries – While airbags protect people when a crash happens, they can also cause bruising, facial injuries, or burns when deployed during an animal-related collision.
- Traumatic brain injury – The force of an impact in a car wreck can cause a driver’s head to hit the steering wheel or window, leading to a concussion or more severe head trauma.
Common Types of Property Damage:
- Windshield damage – An impact with an animal, especially a larger animal like a horse or cow, can crack or shatter a car’s windshield.
- Front bumper and hood damage – These areas often take the brunt of the impact from an animal collision, causing dents or crumpling.
- Undercarriage damage – Impact with smaller animals or road debris can damage the vehicle’s underside, leading to issues with its suspension or alignment.
How Can an Alabama Car Accident Attorney Help?
The experienced car accident attorneys at Stokes Stemle can help you hold negligent parties accountable if you suffered injuries in a collision with a loose animal in Alabama. When you choose us, you can rest assured that we will investigate the incident thoroughly to determine if someone else is responsible for the wreck. From there, we can file a personal injury claim and negotiate for the full and fair compensation you deserve.
Contact Stokes Stemle, LLC, for Help with Your Animal Collision Claim
Worried about your ability to seek compensation after hitting an animal with your car? Get the legal answers you need in a free consultation with a car accident lawyer at Stokes Stemle, LLC. Call or contact us today to get started.
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