What to do if you hit an animal while driving

From a cat jumping out to a deer crossing a country road, you could hit an animal in an instant when driving. Often, these accidents happen quickly and there’s no time to react.

Many drivers may be unsure what to do if they end up in this unfortunate situation. In this post, we’ll explain what your legal obligations are and what you should do if you hit an animal with your car.

Stop safely and check for injuries

Your immediate priority following an accident involving an animal is you and your passengers’ safety.

• Put your hazard lights on
• Pull over somewhere safe
• Turn off the engine
• Check everyone is OK

Once you can safely leave the car, check that the vehicle is ok. A collision with a large animal (e.g. a deer or a horse) can cause serious damage. Once you’ve done this, you should look towards the animal.

Which animals do you legally have to report after hitting them?

Under Section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, you are legally required to stop and report to the police if you hit any of the following animals:

• Dogs
• Horses
• Cattle
• Donkeys and mules
• Sheep
• Pigs
• Goats

You should report the incident as soon as possible, whether the animal survives or not. If it’s a domestic animal and the owner isn’t present, you should report to the police via 101 or by visiting a local station within 24 hours.

What to do if you hit a dog?

Animal charity Blue Cross estimates 80,000 dogs (and 230,000 cats) are hit by a car every year. If you hit a dog, you must do the following:

• Stop immediately
• Check the surrounding area for the dog’s owner
• If the owner is present, exchange details and encourage them to take the dog to the vet
• If you can’t find the owner, check the dog’s collar for contact details
• Call 101 and report the incident to the police, sharing your details, location and a description of the dog

Don’t try to move an injured dog unless it’s in immediate danger. This is because a frightened or injured dog may bite or run away quickly. If the dog needs urgent help, you can call the RSPCA’s National Cruelty and Emergency line on 0300 1234 999 (7 days a week from 8am to 6pm).

What to do if you hit a horse or larger farm animal

A collision with a large animal can cause significant damage to your vehicle and pose danger to you and any passengers. If you hit a horse or farm animal, it’s important to do the following:

• Stop in a safe place and call 999 if anyone is injured or if the animal is causing a dangerous obstruction
• Call 101 to report the incident
• After you’ve reported the incident, the police will notify the relevant horse or land owner
• Take photographs of the scene, the animal (from a safe distance) and damage to your vehicle

If you hit livestock, it’s worth noting that many land owners and farmers have a legal responsibility to keep their animals secure. If they escaped through inadequate fencing or perimeters, the farmer could be liable for any damage caused to your vehicle.

Although you are not legally required to report if you hit cats, deer, foxes, badgers or other wild animals, it is still worth doing.

What to do if you hit a cat

If you hit a cat, you might want to try and find the owner to explain what happened. You can do this by:

• Checking the cat’s collar for contact details
• If the cat is injured, take it to the nearest vet and explain you’re not the owner so you’re not charged for the treatment. The vet might be able to trace the owner if the cat is microchipped.
• If the cat has sadly died, you can report it to your local council. They’ll be able to arrange removal and might identify the owner if the cat was microchipped
• If you’re still struggling to find the owner, post about the cat in local community groups on social media etc

What to do if you hit a deer

The British Deer Society reports that ‘annually the number of deer killed or injured on UK roads is likely to exceed 40,000 and may well be nearer 74,000’. Deer are most active at dawn and dusk, especially in autumn, and can appear suddenly from hedgerows or edges of any woodland.

While there’s no legal requirement to report accidents involving wild animals like deer (unless it’s caused injury to a person or created a dangerous obstruction), it’s still advisable to call 101. The emergency services can arrange for the animal to be moved or for a specialist to attend.

• Turn on your hazard lights and pull over safely
• Do not approach the deer as it could be spooked and do something unpredictable or dangerous
• Call 101 and report the incident, especially if the deer is on or near the road and potentially poses a hazard to other drivers
• Take photos of the damage to your vehicle from multiple angles
• Check your car is safe to drive before continuing

If the deer runs off, you don't have to chase it, but you should call 101 to report the incident.

Can you swerve to avoid an animal?

Swerving sharply to avoid an animal can put you and other road users at serious risk. You could be held liable for any resulting accident. Most safety experts recommend you brake firmly and stay in your lane. If you’re approaching a bigger animal, slowing down and assessing the situation is safer than a sudden swerve.

Does hitting an animal affect your insurance?

Your level of cover matters here. If you only have third-party insurance, you won't be covered for damage to your own vehicle - regardless of how the accident happened. You'd need to cover repair costs yourself.

If you have comprehensive cover, most insurers would still typically treat hitting a wild animal as an at-fault claim. This is because there's no third party to recover costs from, and it can put your no-claims bonus at risk.

The only exceptions to this are:

• If you hit a dog, horse or owned animal and can demonstrate the owner was negligent
• If the insurer has specific terms regarding animal collisions

You should always notify your insurer if you’ve hit an animal, even if you’re not planning to claim. Most policies require you to report all incidents, as not doing so can have an impact on future premiums.