Who Pays for the Dog’s Vet Care in Car Accidents?

Hitting any animal with your car is upsetting to most people. Hitting someone’s pet with your car is even worse. It is a horrible feeling to know that someone else’s pet was injured or even killed because of a car accident. Dealing with the aftermath can leave you with so many questions. How should you care for an injured dog? Who will pay for the animal’s injuries? Will your car insurance pay for the repair of the damages of your vehicle, if there are any? Read on and get the answers to these very important questions.

Caring for an Injured Dog

Dealing with an injured dog after it has been hit by a car is a tricky situation. Injured animals, like a broken limb, ruptured spleen or a CCL injury in dogs, can be very costly to have repaired. The animal may get very protective if injured and become aggressive if approached by someone it does not recognize. Do not move an unfamiliar injured dog without first considering how to protect yourself and the injured pet. Throwing a jacket or blanket over him can offer some protection for you to move the animal off the road.

·       Restrain the dog in some way before you attempt to move him off the road.

·       Contact the owner and try to get the owner’s contact information from the collar tag.

·       If the dog is aggressive, contact animal protective services and the police. If you do not have the number, call 911 and let them transfer your call to animal protective services.

·       Call the nearest emergency vet clinic in Philadelphia to let them know about the dog’s injuries and that he is being brought in.

Dog Vet Care Payments

Veterinary bills can easily pile up for a dog that has been hit by a car. The dog’s owner is usually the one responsible for deciding on treatment and covering emergency surgery for dogs if a procedure is required. If the owner cannot be located, the expense can fall on the one who brought the dog to the vet. If you took the injured dog to the vet and you are not sure of the dog’s owner, speak with the vet on what to expect. Determine what the standard procedure is in this type of accident.

Vehicle Damages Repairs

Most collision repairs after hitting an animal is covered under your car insurance by comprehensive coverage. In most states, if a comprehensive claim is filed from hitting a dog, the insurance company may attempt to subrogate the claim by involving the dog’s owner’s policy. If the owner cannot be located, you should have comprehensive coverage on your car for your auto insurance to cover the damage.

In many instances, the dog’s owner may be responsible because the dog should not be allowed to run loose. The dog owner’s insurance policy would pick up such a claim under its homeowners liability coverage. Usually, liability claims do not have a deductible, but a claim filed against a homeowner’s policy will be reevaluated upon renewal. If you do not have comprehensive coverage, go directly to the dog owner’s home insurance carrier to file a claim for repairs of your car. The owner will have to admit responsibility if a police report was not filed.