If you hit an animal while driving, or if another driver hit you in an attempt to avoid colliding with an animal, this may have resulted in a serious car accident. According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), There are about 300,000 vehicle collisions involving animals every year. However, it is also believed that such accidents are greatly under-reported and that the actual number is significantly higher.
Any animal that crosses the street in front of a vehicle can cause an accident. While significant vehicle damage is more often caused by larger animals, even a very small creature can cause a driver to unexpectedly swerve into another lane or oncoming traffic.
A car accident involving an animal crossing the road can be just as frightening as any other sort of collision. You may have sustained serious injuries that required emergency medical attention. You may need to receive ongoing chiropractic treatment or physical or occupational therapy. Your car may have been totaled. The accident may have affected your ability to work. All in all, both your physical and emotional well-being, along with your finances, may have been greatly impacted.
If so, we invite you to reach out to our team at Phillips Law Group to schedule a free consultation. As one of Arizona’s largest consumer law firms, we are committed to providing our clients with the highest quality legal service. In practice since 1993, our experienced and dedicated team has recovered hundreds of millions in compensation for injury victims throughout Arizona.
Working with us is risk-free. We work on a contingency fee basis which means that we do not charge any out-of-pocket or upfront attorney’s fees. We only require payment if and when we recover compensation on your behalf, so don’t hesitate to seek the legal assistance you are entitled to. Please contact the personal injury lawyers of Phillips Law Group right away. You can call us at 866-909-6894 or fill out our online form to speak with a member of our legal team.
Types of Accidents Involving Animals Crossing the Street
If an animal suddenly darts in front of your vehicle or if you round a corner and find an animal standing in the road, your natural inclination is to try to avoid hitting it. However, this can lead to swerving into another lane, causing a sideswiping accident or even a head-on collision.
Hitting a large animal can total a car and cause serious injuries to the driver and passengers. Unfortunately, swerving to avoid a collision can injure people in other vehicles. Additionally, if you unexpectedly hit the brakes in an effort not to hit an animal, you might get into a rear-end collision. Especially with cats, dogs, and other smaller animals, the driver behind you might not be able to see the animal you are trying to avoid hitting.
Injuries sustained in an accident involving an animal range in severity and may include:
Many drivers report experiencing increased anxiety or PTSD after a car accident involving an animal. While the physical toll may not be as evident, your quality of life may be greatly impacted.
Liability When an Animal Causes an Accident
Deciding who is liable for an accident involving an animal will depend on the type of animal. The law views accidents involving wild animals differently than accidents involving domestic animals.
Animal owners have a responsibility to keep their domestic animals and livestock secured and out of roadways where they may present a risk to drivers. If a domestic animal was involved in your car accident, the owner could be found negligent and therefore liable for personal injury or property damage costs.
This could be the case if you were injured because you hit a domestic animal or because you swerved to avoid striking the animal and instead hit a tree, a fence, or another object. In such instances, you might be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against the animal’s owner. You may also be able to recover compensation from the animal’s owner if you were injured because another driver hit your car in his or her attempt to avoid hitting the animal.
Following a car accident involving a domestic animal, the negligent owner could be held responsible for such damages as:
- Past, present, and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and future lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Physical therapy
- Disability
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Out-of-pocket costs related to the accident
- Property damage
- Wrongful death
In an accident involving a wild animal in the road, a driver who swerves to avoid the animal and hits another car may be found liable. In a single-vehicle accident involving wildlife, there may not be a liable party. However, a municipality could be responsible when the area where your accident occurred is a designated wildlife crossing if there was not proper signage there at the time of the accident.
Contact an Animal Crossing the Street Car Accident Lawyer for Help
Car accidents involving animals are not always straightforward. There are often many factors involved in establishing liability in such an accident. Additionally, it can be confusing and stressful to navigate both the insurance and legal system.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident involving an animal, you may have recourse available to you. An experienced personal injury lawyer can assess your case and advise you how to proceed with your claim.
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Animal crossing the street accidents may warrant the same types of monetary damages as any other motor vehicle collision. Phillips Law Group can help you pursue compensation. When we take your case, we work hard to get you a settlement that you feel fairly makes restitution for your pain, suffering, and other losses.
Hiring an experienced personal injury attorney can assist you with your claim in multiple ways:
- Giving you reliable legal advice
- Protecting you from hasty and unfair settlement
- Gathering evidence on your behalf, including accident reports, medical records, and witness testimonies
- Calculating your damages and future costs
- Negotiating with insurance companies
- Representing you in court if necessary
Car accidents of any kind are stressful, and any of the steps that must be taken to establish and pursue a claim can seem overwhelming. Professional and experienced legal representation, though, can give you peace of mind and help you with the process of resolving an insurance claim or filing a lawsuit.
What Our Clients Are Saying
Morgan W.
I felt they were more my friends than my personal injury lawyer and that isn't something you're taught it's something you have inside. If I ever needed a lawyer again Phillips Law Group Injury Lawyers would be my only choice. I can't recommend them enough. They are professional on every level and compassionate throughout. Thank you for everything.
Blanca D.
When in pain because of an accident all you want to do is focus on getting better and that is what did thanks to this firm. My family and I were set up with a Dr and Chiro right away. The treatment we received was great. I am extremely thankful for all the help we received and the outcome on the cases. Thanks to everyone involved on my case. A special thanks the intake specialist Rosalba who was very kind on the phone when I first called. I highly recommend this firm to anyone, they treat you like family.
Erika A.
I am so thankful for Ruthann and Maria. They both were amazing throughout the process. When Maria took over my case, I felt like I was being treated with empathy about my pain and experiences while treating. She also made sure to answer my questions. Maria always responded to my communication attempts and answered questions I had as they came up. She helped me with things I needed in regards to my case and helped ease the anxiety as bills piled up and my injuries were still being treated. I was able to contact her as I was treating and she helped find providers closer to my home to make it more accommodating for me. This helped me juggle work...
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Ruby, Jennifer, Angela did me great over at this law firm. I will recommend them to anybody that has been in an injury in Phoenix Arizona they are awesome 😎. Got paid 6 months after my accident. Then out of the blue a couple years later they still contract me with another check $$$$$🤑😎🤑. Thank you....
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Philips Law Group offers outstanding customer service and a profound knowledge of personal injury law. Right from the initial call through to your office visit, they ensure you feel well-supported. A special mention goes to Ilse, the client experience coordinator. Her expertise in insurance policies is remarkable, and she articulately explains them in both Spanish and English. She skillfully navigates you through the process with empathy and understanding. A heartfelt thanks for the exceptional experience!
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Phillips was able to get me a good settlement after the first law group I called completely failed. Highly recommend you give them a call after your personal injury.
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Philips was an awesome choice got me into the doctors offices for visits quickly and efficiently. I also want to give a big shout out to Michael the negotiator for Philips he went above and beyond to help my case get to the finish line! Also want to thank Jason and the friendly front staff.
Vallery A
Throughout the most stressful time Carmen and Donato managed to get me to the correct doctors and get the correct care I needed to make the whole process smooth and less stressful. They always answered any question or concern with professionalism and courtesy. They always valued my time as I valued theirs. Definitely recommend this great firm!
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What can I say about Phillips Law group. I was involved in a major car accident and sustained injuries. I looked up for Law Firms in Arizona and stumbled across Phillips Law Group. I decided to give them a call about my accident, and they were very respectful and took in my case immediately. They assigned me Tim LeDuc to represent me. From the beginning, he was very responsive and made sure to give me the proper care I deserved from this accident. Him and his team fought tooth and nail to give me the best settlement I deserved. I am so thankful, and I highly recommend Phillips Law Group to represent anyone who has been in any accident and...
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My case closed yesterday and I RAN to make this review because of how exceptional my experience has been with Phillips Law Group! I received the best settlement I could've hoped for and am extremely happy with the outcome; but I especially wanted to shout out and give praise to Julianna, the Litigation Paralegal on my case. From the moment Julianna was assigned to my case almost two years ago, until the completion of the settlement process yesterday, Julianna's commitment to exceptional customer service, clear communication, and unwavering support truly stood out. I had so many questions -- from the legal process, to where to seek medical treatment, to questions about medical bills, to the negotiation process, and more --...
Ari
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Our personal injury attorneys at Phillips Law Group can support you during this difficult time. We fight for the best possible outcome for each and every client so that you can receive maximum compensation for your pain and suffering.
If you or a loved one has been in an accident involving an animal, don’t hesitate. Contact us for help as soon as possible. The sooner you initiate legal action and consult with our lawyers, the sooner our team can get to work on your case.
Please contact the personal injury lawyers of Phillips Law Group today for a risk-free consultation. You can call us or fill out our online form to speak with one of our attorneys.
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