Winter brings not only worse driving conditions in the form of fog, snow, and ice but also an increased number of collisions between vehicles and wild animals looking for food. A collision between vehicles and wild animals on the roads in the Czech Republic is not that unusual, and December is the worst month for encounters between vehicles and wild animals.
The questions that arise in cases where there is a collision between vehicles and wild animals on the road are:
- What should one do in those cases?
- Is there a right to compensation for damages, and if so, who is entitled to it?
- Are there any special regulations regarding these cases?
Based on the information that was provided to us by the Czech Ministry of Transportation, the Road and Motorway Directorate of the Czech Republic, and the Police Department, we came to the following conclusion: if there is a collision with an animal that does not have an owner, there is no one to ask for compensation for the damage, and the repair of the vehicle is covered by the insurance company, provided that the vehicle is insured for a collision with an animal. In addition, you will have to pay the value of the dead animal.
When this happens, you are obliged to report the accident to the police, even if the damage apparently did not exceed one hundred thousand crowns. The reason for this is to ensure further progress by specialized institutions.
There are several scenarios: the animal is transported for treatment, professionally removed, or euthanized if the injuries are serious and the animal would only suffer.
You must report the accident, even if the animal has escaped from the scene. The reason for this is that even if it manages to escape, there is no guarantee that it is healthy.
And above all, don’t think of loading it up and taking it home. Doing so would be committing a crime!
However, there is one exception where one can ask for compensation for damages from another party. If a hunt was taking place nearby, it is likely that the animal was scared away by the hunters. In this case, you will be able to get compensation from the local hunting association through their liability insurance. The planned hunt is announced in advance, so you can find information about it on the municipal bulletin board in physical or electronic form.
Given that the research on this topic was done as a result of the inquiry we received from our partners and having in mind the specifics of the situation, our recommendation was to seek compensation for the damage suffered under the comprehensive insurance policy.