During the darkest time of the year, collisions of vehicles with animals are most observed, so motorists should be especially careful to avoid an accident. According to available data from “Gjensidige Latvija”, 277 collisions with animals have already been recorded this year and almost 400,000 euros in compensation have been paid. The insurance company explains how to avoid this type of accident and what to do in the event of a collision.
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Of all road accidents, collisions with hoofed animals and avoidance cause the most damage. The lights and the front bumper of the car most often suffer, as well as the interior elements of the engine compartment and the radiator.
If the speed is high and you happen to meet a larger forest animal on the road, the passengers are often affected as well. In this case, all of the above parts are ruined, as well as the windshield and even the roof of the car.
However, road accidents in which an inexperienced driver tries to avoid a collision with an animal and does not control the vehicle have even more serious consequences. In such cases, the car most often goes off the road, crashes into trees, goes into the oncoming lane, or even rolls over.
“Our collected statistical data shows that 277 claims for compensation following collisions with animals have been received in Latvia this year. On the other hand, the total amount of compensation amounts to almost 400 thousand. Compared to 2021 data, l “The total amount paid in compensation for these cases is half less, but there is still a lot to do. These are the darkest months of the year, when collisions with forest animals are most often observed”, informs Lauris Zemvalds, head of the vehicle compensation group of “Gjensidige Latvija”.
How to avoid a collision?
To avoid a road accident with animals, it is necessary to evaluate the most appropriate driving speed in the dark, especially on sections of road which are not sufficiently lit or which pass through woods and meadows.
But it’s even more important to remember that animals perceive the speed of a car much worse than humans, so they can suddenly jump onto the road or not move away if a vehicle rushes towards them. Therefore, if you see an animal on the road, slow down or even stop to let it run off the road. This will also reduce the risk of your pet panicking and making sudden movements, such as running towards a car.
In cases where you have to meet an animal on the street, the most important thing is to take care of your safety and that of the people around you. Therefore, before braking hard, make sure that you do not present a dangerous situation for another road user, and also do not change the direction of movement when braking.
Often it is the change of direction of travel that leads to a serious accident and major damage to the car. Therefore, before carrying out the manoeuvre, the driver must be sure that he is able to control his vehicle and that he is not creating a dangerous situation for other drivers.
What to do in the event of a collision?
No matter how much you want to avoid an accident, it’s not always possible. Often animals jump onto the roadway unexpectedly and suddenly, when it is no longer possible to maneuver. Therefore, if you hit an animal and it is in the roadway, it is important to stay on the spot and notify the State Police by calling 110.
It’s important to remember that this type of collision is considered a traffic accident, so you don’t have to leave the scene. If, on the other hand, the car is not damaged and the people involved are not injured, the State Forestry Corps must be informed of the forest animal that has been run over.
