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.
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.
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 maximumcompensation 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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