The steps you need to take in this situation…
As an animal lover, this situation can be a sad and terrifying one at the same time. Hitting a wild animal with your car is a huge risk we all face in South Africa.
From stray pets like dogs and cats to livestock roaming public roads – these are all animals who step out into roads and risk their lives. And then there are the bigger animals such as kudu which are known to jump out of nowhere when traveling through places like the Karoo on a road trip.
This blog post will focus on what to do if you hit a wild animal or livestock.
Wild animals and livestock are often hit by cars, and it can be a traumatic situation for the suffering animal, the driver and the passengers.
That’s why we have put together an ultimate guide to handling this situation calmly and with a clear mindset…
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5 Steps for if you hit a wild animal
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Stay calm
The first thing you need to do is take a deep breath.
Seriously.
You cannot expect to handle any emergency rationally if you are panicking.
If you have just hit a wild animal, remain calm and then make sure you stick to the steps that follow.
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Pull over and stop your car when it is safe to
Don’t forget about the other drivers on the road.
Often when someone is involved in an accident, they will immediately bring their car to a screeching halt, but this is not a good idea and could lead to a bumper bashing and a serious accident involving the other vehicles on the road.
When you hit a wild animal, look around to see if there are any other cars, then slowly pull over to assess the situation.
Related: 9 Most Common Causes of Car Accidents in South Africa
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Check on your passengers
Before you check on the animal, make sure your passengers are unharmed. If everyone was wearing their seatbelt, then there is a reduced risk of injury.
Your passengers might just be freaking out a bit so make sure you tell them that everything is going to be okay, but they need to remain calm.
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Check the status of the animal
You must not attempt to treat the animal yourself unless you are a vet. Hurt animals can be extremely aggressive and may lash out or try to bite you.
Instead, approach the animal slowly. If it is still breathing, then call the National Council of SPCAs. The SPCA closest to you might be able to assist you or give you the number of emergency vets in the area who can help.
Seeing an injured animal is incredibly stressful, but trying to help it could make matters worse. React calmly and do not make any sudden moves.
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Notify the authorities
Phone the SAPS and local authorities. This will help in your car insurance claim if your car was damaged in the accident and can help the owner of the animal be notified.
Do NOT leave the animal in the road suffering.
What to know about claiming for this situation from your insurer
Hitting a wild animal, especially livestock, can cause serious damage to any car! That’s why it pays to have vehicle insurance.
If you want to claim for the damage done to your car from hitting a stray animal, then make sure you take notes of any features on the animal that can identify it, such as ear tags or branding, which will help prove ownership.
Make sure you take photos of any broken or open fences or gates and point them out to the police to include in their report — this shows negligence on the farmer’s part for allowing livestock onto the road.
Contact your insurer and find out if there is any additional information needed to process your car insurance claim.
Drive safely and stick to the speed limits, as this can affect how badly you crash into unexpected obstacles.
Just remember, stay calm if you hit a wild animal, and follow these steps to deal with it with as little stress as possible.
Read next: How to Keep Your Car Cool in Summer: 5 Easy Tips
Yours in uncomplicated car insurance,
Oneplan
