Who Can Be Held Liable If an Animal Causes a Car Accident?

When an animal causes a car accident, pet owners can be held liable for the victim’s damages. The type of animal can include dogs, cats, livestock, horses, and even reptiles. If the animal is wild, liability for the accident depends on the specific circumstances. Your own insurance coverage may be the source of compensation for an accident involving wild animals.

To truly know who is liable for your accident, hire a Florida car accident lawyer. They will investigate the animal’s ownership, consider your legal options for seeking compensation, and pursue the option that is best for you. 

How Your Lawyer Will Pursue Compensation After an Animal-Related Car Accident

When you hire a car accident attorney, their mandate is crystal clear. You hire your lawyer to obtain the compensation you deserve. Your attorney will understand the goal, and they will:

Determine Which Owner (If Any) Is Liable for Your Damages

Florida Statutes § 588.15 establishes that those who own livestock can be liable if their cattle cause a car accident on a public road. Other Florida statutes hold owners of domestic animals responsible when their animal causes an auto accident. 

Liable parties may attempt to avoid the car accident animal liability, as they might argue that:

• They do not own the animal.
• The road on which the accident happened is private.
• The owner did not do anything negligent and is therefore not responsible for the accident their animal caused.
• You had some responsibility for the accident.

You may also face several bad-faith tactics that insurance companies frequently use against claimants. If you hire a lawyer, they will handle the insurance provider on your behalf. Let your legal representative identify the animal car accident liability in your claim and fight for your financial recovery.

Secure Evidence of the Animal Owner’s Negligence

Whatever the circumstances of your automobile accident are, you will likely need to prove someone’s negligence if you plan to:

• File a successful claim with a third party’s insurance company
• Successfully sue somebody

Your Florida car accident attorney can survey the property the animal escaped from. Your attorney may also obtain relevant witness testimony, expert testimony, video footage, and other types of evidence supporting your case.

Document Your Accident-Related Damages

Car accident lawyers often prove their clients’ damages using:

• Medical expenses
• Medical professionals’ documentation of your severe injuries and symptoms
• A mental health expert’s documentation of your pain and suffering
• Bills related to vehicle repairs and temporary transportation

Your attorney may also have you explain how your injuries from the animal collision have impacted your life. This can be compelling evidence of pain and suffering and other damages.

Pursue a Fair Settlement for You

Once your attorney determines liability for your animal accident, they will demand fair compensation from the liable parties. If those parties do not provide you with fair compensation, your lawyer could file a personal injury lawsuit and take your case to trial. You generally have two years to file, according to Florida Statutes § 95.11. 

Challenges in Seeking Compensation for Car Accidents Caused by Animals

Navigating liability in animal accidents under Florida law can be complex, and this is just one of many challenges your case may involve. Your attorney can also encounter difficulties such as:

• Determining what kind of animal caused your car crash
• Securing evidence from parties who may be opposing your case
• Calculating the cost of complex damages, including pain and suffering
• Convincing liable parties to provide you fair compensation (which they likely do not want to pay)
• Managing various deadlines and responsibilities while building a winning case

Do not underestimate how complex a car accident case can be. Allow a lawyer and their legal team to handle every aspect of your case. This will ensure you are able to focus on health and recovery without distractions.

The Serious Consequences of Collisions with Animals 

Striking an animal (or having an animal strike your vehicle) can cause significant harm to the vehicle occupants, such as:

Medical Bills

Pain and suffering can account for a significant portion of the damages you deserve after an animal-caused crash. You could need compensation for:

• Emergency transport
• Emergency care
• X-rays, CT scans, and other medical imaging
• Medications
• Various rehabilitation services

Your car accident attorney will contact your doctors to secure all medical records related to the accident.

Pain and Suffering

Pain and suffering is another type of harm for victims of car accidents, and this can include:

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Pain
• Emotional anguish
• Psychological distress
• Lost quality of life

Scarring and disfigurement and several other forms of pain and suffering may also be included in your lawyer’s settlement demands.

Vehicle Damage

If you need to repair your vehicle, replace a totaled vehicle, or obtain temporary transportation, your lawyer will include these property damages in your compensation claim. 

Professional Losses

When you strike an animal and suffer injuries, your professional life is likely to suffer. Some examples of professional damages injured accident victims suffer, include:

• Lost income
• Diminished earning capacity
• Lost bonuses, overtime compensation, and other forms of performance-related incentives
• Missed opportunities to advance within your career

A lawyer will evaluate your damages and include these losses in their settlement demands.

If you suffer any other types of economic or non-economic harm due to your accident, your legal team will seek fair compensation from the liable parties.

Learn More During a Free Consultation with a Car Accident Lawyer Today

Car accidents involving animals can raise complex liability issues, particularly when determining if the owner or a third party was negligent in preventing the animal’s escape. Your attorney will identify the animal owner and any other liable parties. Your lawyer will then document your damages and fight for you.

The Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato treat our clients like family. We also have many results that prove how hard we fight for car accident victims. Contact us today for your free consultation and allow us to move forward with your case.