Animal collision on vehicles is often a subject of questions since most people don’t have a clear understanding of how it works. Animal collision will be the focus of this article as well as the dangers, the precautions and the actions to take to ensure protection.
Driving in the outskirts of any city can be relaxing. The air is not puffy, birds can be heard on trees, and you can feel wildlife around. The downside is that for you to be there, a lot of natural habitats have been somewhat invaded or destroyed. This causes wildlife to move closer to the roads.
For example, you are driving down the road and a deer comes out and steps in the middle of your lane. There’s no time to turn or stop. You just drag the pedal forward and hope for the best. You crash into the deer. Fortunately, not the deed nor you have been hurt. Your car is a whole other story, it has suffered some serious damage. Right at that moment you ask:
Does Car Insurance Cover Animal Damage?
As cities are approaching natural habitats, more animals are being found in highly populated areas. Hitting a large animal is just as dangerous as hitting another car.
Animals crossing and causing accidents is common, as animals are unpredictable. Although they tend to be more active at dawn and dusk, they come out to road at any moment.
Never mind safe driving, if a bobcat or a deer come out of the blue, chances are it is going to cause a serious accident. The amount of damage that comes as a consequence of these accidents tends to be large. Therefore, it is important to have coverage and to fully understand that coverage.
Some car insurance covers animal damage, and nearly all car accidents caused by animals are handled in the same way.
If the user has purchased comprehensive car insurance then damage should be covered.
Immediately after the accident, the insured should take pictures of the damage and call their insurance agent. If they do not have a comprehensive policy, the cost of the damage must exceed the deductible. Otherwise, the claimer could pay the whole repair.
How different types of animals make different kinds of claims
Does the kind of animal that was hit matter? Yes, it does. Handling damage in these cases can involve an owner, and those pet owners can be held liable for damage on animal accidents. A different kind of situation would be to hit a deer that does not have an owner. Going by kind of animal the policies are as follows:
- Dogs: Hitting a dog is a unique instance. Dogs usually have owners, and those owners are directly responsible for an unrestrained dog and the damages it causes. In these cases, the standard procedure is that the dog owner covers the damage. If they do not count with the appropriate policy, they will have to be held accountable for the damage and pay the repair costs.
- Raccoons: A raccoon is still capable of causing a lot of damage, depending on the car. Since there is no owner to talk to, the policy should cover the damages.
- Deers: Deer are among the most common animals that are hit on U.S. roadways. They are large enough to do severe damage. In these cases, it is always a good idea to get a police report. Police reports come in especially handy in the case of a recently purchased car insurance policy or if another deer claim has recently been filed. A police report will verify information about the accident to the insurance claim adjuster.
- Cows: Similar to hitting a dog, the cow’s owner would be responsible for any damages because the cow should not be in the roadway.
Legal responsibility involving animal collisions
If the animal can be moved safely it should be moved it so it’s not blocking the road. Call the police. There is a legal responsibility to inform the police (laws vary from state to state).
Once police have been informed about the incident, and given the involved authorization to leave, there is no further legal obligations.
Commercial Car liability Insurance Claim management
After an animal collision if all the people involved are ok, the next important thing to attend to is the car. Depending on the animal’s size damage will vary, but the most probable scenario is that repairs will be necessary. That is why a swift process with the related claim is vital. Terraclaim can streamline claims and improve on processes speed with Automations and Artificial Intelligence. The faster a claim is processed the faster the insured can know how the future is going to look. Give reassurance and quick resolution. Terraclaim is a comprehensive solution.
