When Life Gives You Lemons — Call an Attorney

If you are injured or your car is damaged after a crash with an animal, the ensuing auto accident claim will and should be different from a car-car accident. Here are a few things to remember before filing a car-animal crash:

Don't Forget To File a Police Report

The first thing you should do, after making sure everyone is safe (animal and people), is to file a report of the accident with the police and look into car accident lawyers. There are two main reasons for doing this; first, many auto insurance companies require you to file a police report every time you are involved in an accident. Secondly, you can use the police report as evidence of the accident whether or not your insurance company requires it.

You Will Most Likely Need Comprehensive Coverage

In most cases, you will need comprehensive coverage to file a first-party insurance claim with your insurer. This is because your collision coverage only covers crashes with other objects, such as cars, motorcycles, and guard rails, among others. A comprehensive coverage, which many people drive without, covers all other crashes including crashes with animals. This means you will be out of luck if you don't have the coverage.

You Don't Have To Make Contact with the Animal to File a Claim

Another thing you should know is that you can file a claim for an accident with an animal even if you didn't actually hit the animal. For example, if you managed to swerve at the last minute and hit a tree by the roadside instead, you will still be able to make a claim. In such a case, however, it is not comprehensive coverage you need, but rather collision coverage.

The Claim Won't Affect Your Rates

Many people think that their auto insurance carriers increase their insurance premiums every time they get involved in an accident. While this may be true in some cases, it is not true in the case of a collision with an animal that triggers a comprehensive coverage claim. Rate increases typically apply to claims arising out of accidents that are deemed your fault.

Consider Making a Claim against the Animal's Owner

Lastly, the type of animal involved in the accident may determine which type of claim you make and whether there is another person responsible for the crash. For example, if you hit a domestic animal such as a dog or a horse, the owner of the animal may be responsible for the accident because they allowed the animal to be on the road.