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What to do in case of an accident with a wild animal?

What to do with an injured or dead wild animal?

Your vehicle has just hits a boar, stag or deer.

Here are the steps to follow and the safety instructions to follow in case of an accident with one animals res nullius (ie without a master).

Start by checking if the animal is still alive or has succumbed collision with your vehicle. If the wild boar or deer is injured, move away from the vehicle to notify the gendarmerie to avoid a potential attack.

If the affected animal is dead, secure the area with your warning triangle and put on your yellow vest.

Then call the gendarmerie or the police to prepare a report or record your statement. The authorities give you a statement to send to your insurance company.

Don’t forget to collect evidence of the accident especially if the animal has escaped: photos, videos, tufts of hair, etc.

To note

    If the collision caused the animal’s death, you may be tempted to take it away. The law states that a small animal, such as a rabbit, fox or duck, must be left behind. On the other hand, for one unprotected species over 40 kg (wild boar, roe deer, roe deer…), you can take it away on condition of informing the gendarmerie so as not to be accused of poaching.

If your vehicle is unroadworthy, contact your insurance company using helpline number registered on your green card to benefit from any guarantees in your contract.

There is actually no reason to engage breakdown, towing or repair costs if you have taken out assistance cover as part of your engagement.

How to declare a car accident with a wild animal to the insurance?

As a reminder, a claim must be reported to your insurance.

According to Article L113-2 of the Insurance Act, “The insured is obliged to notify the insurance company […] of any claim that may involve a guarantee from the insurance company.

In the case of collision with a deera wild boar or any other animal without master or guardian, you should perform your announcement by registered letter no later than 5 days after the loss.

Subsequently, your insurance company will have an expert report made to verify that the damage was indeed caused by a wild animal and that it is not a insurance fraud.

Good to know

    In the case of’accident with game hunted by hunters, they can be held liable. It is therefore appropriate to file a complaint against the association or hunting company they are a member of.

What compensation after a car accident with a wild boar?

That handling the accident with a wild animal for car insurance depends on the type of damage suffered as well as the conditions of your insurance contract:

Compensation for material damage

After hitting a deer, the insurance pays you compensation if you are covered by the damage guarantee included in all-risk contract and optionally in the extended third party contract.

Unfortunately, you are not entitled to any compensation from your insurance company if you have only taken out one third party contract. On the other hand, the Guarantee Fund (FGAO) intervenes to compensate you.

Compensation for bodily injury

After a car accident with a boar or deer, you can benefit from coverage for your medical care thanks to the driver’s body guarantee.

As for damages to your passengers, these are covered by your civil liability guarantee.

What excess in case of an accident with a wild animal?

With third party insurance, FGAO compensates you but applies a deductible of €500.

With all-risk insurance, your insurance provides you and subtracts the deductible from your car contract. Your policy can then appeal to the FGAO to reimburse you for this deductible.

However, this approach is only of interest if your excess is over €500. The organization does not actually intervene below this amount.

Accident with a wild animal: who is responsible?

After reporting your claim to your insurance company, the latter appoints an expert to check whether it is actually a accident with an animal without an identified owner.

If the report confirms the facts stated in your statement, your liability is completely discharged. In the event that the hit animal belongs to a third party, different conditions apply.

Actually pet owner or guardian is considered responsible (Article 1243 of the Civil Code) for the damage caused. The animal is considered to have strayed or escaped while in his custody.

For one accident with a pet, the material damage to your car is compensated by the animal’s owner’s insurance if you are insured by a third party. With all-risk insurance, you get compensation from your insurance company.

Warning

    In the case of collision with an animal on a leash or under the owner’s control, the responsibility for the accident lies with you. Repairs to the damage the animal has suffered will be covered by your liability insurance.

What is the consequence for the bonus malus in the event of a collision with a wild game, a boar or a can?

Your auto insurance expert’s report confirms if you are yes or no responsible for the accident with a wild animal.

If the collision is purely accidental, no penalty is applied and your reduction bonus factor is not changed. We speak of cases of force majeure insofar as the shock takes on an unpredictable and unavoidable aspect.

The same applies if the accident is caused by a negligence in the event of an accident with a domestic animal.

But in case of collision with an animal in a area marked with signs for the crossing of wild animalsthen your insurance company can assess that there is no force majeure and impose a fine on your insurance premium.

published by Damian – Up to date
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