In autumn, one in ten CASCO insurance claims involves forest animals

In autumn, one in ten CASCO insurance claims involves forest animals: how can you avoid a collision?

Every year during the autumn months, around 10 per cent of CASCO insurance claims relate to collisions between vehicles and wild animals, according to data from BTA Baltic Insurance Company AAS (hereinafter – BTA). In total, over the autumn months of the last three years, BTA has paid out nearly 1.9 million euros in CASCO insurance claims for vehicles damaged in collisions with wild animals. As safe driving instructor Andris Vovers explains, it is sometimes almost impossible even for the most experienced drivers to avoid a collision, and at such moments both the driver’s driving skills and their knowledge of their own vehicle are of great importance. 

A collision with an elk, deer, wild boar, roe deer or another wild animal can result in either a direct impact or damage to the car caused by driver’s swerving to avoid the collision. For example, swerving to avoid an animal may mean veering off the road and the car overturning, or colliding with another vehicle. In minor accidents, the damage will be limited to, for example, the front of the vehicle being struck by the animal. 

Generally speaking, it is in autumn that wild animals are more actively seeking shelter and food ahead of winter, a fact that motorists must also consider. This September, BTA has already received 17 % more claims for cars damaged in collisions with wild animals than in the same period last year. According to the insurer’s estimates, around two-thirds of all collisions involve large animals – elk, deer and roe deer. Less frequently, claims involve collisions with wild boars, foxes and smaller animals such as badgers, raccoons and hares. 

“Collisions with wild animals can cost several thousand euros, even if the car is able to continue its journey after the accident. Most commonly, repair costs relate to damage to the bonnet, headlights, windscreen, wings and doors; however, the impact may also affect the radiator, various expensive smart sensors and other components, the damage to which can only be detected at a garage. Conversely, the most serious and costly cases will involve not only damage to the roof and bodywork but also damage to the interior. It should be emphasised that collisions with wild animals are not a risk covered under compulsory MTPL insurance policies, which is why an increasing number of motorists are also opting for CASCO insurance cover,” explains Ivo Danče, Director of the Insurance Claims Department at BTA. 

The highest insurance claim paid out was recorded last October, when a passenger car collided with a large wild animal. The impact damaged the entire body of the car and triggered the airbags, with BTA paying out more than 32,000 euros in compensation. Meanwhile, in Balvu District, the driver of an ‘Opel’ was startled by an elk that ran out onto the carriageway – the collision damaged the car’s roof, windscreen and headlights. The compensation paid in this case exceeded 25,000 euros. Meanwhile, in Bauska District, a Jeep driver, whilst trying to avoid an animal, veered off the road, crashed into a tree and rolled onto its side; the cost of repairing the car amounted to 21,400 euros. 

Andris Vovers, a safe driving instructor at the ‘Raceway Baltic’ motorsport complex, explains that there is no ‘golden formula’ for avoiding collisions with wild animals, and, moreover, it is impossible to fully predict an animal’s reaction to an approaching car – it may stop, change direction or suddenly run across the road. 

“Every driver should do their homework before darkness falls, so that they can spot animals on the road in good time. For example, the car’s headlights and the view through the windscreen must be clear – the windscreen wipers must be in good operating condition, and the windscreen must not be fogged up while driving. The driver’s attention must be focused on the road. If a wild animal is spotted on the road, it then comes down to each driver’s driving skills and knowledge of their vehicle to be able to avoid the obstacle ahead – whether that involves emergency braking or swerving round the obstacle,” explains A. Vovers. He emphasises that every driver should practise avoiding obstacles several times in a safe environment so that, when encountering an animal on the road, the sequence of actions is already well-rehearsed, and the automatic reaction is clearly predictable. 

It is also important to remember that road surface conditions are currently significantly affected by the weather typical of autumn. In good road conditions, the emergency braking distance at a speed of 70 km/h, including the driver’s reaction time, will be around 45 metres, but at 90 km/h it will be as much as 70 metres. However, in autumn, a combination of a wet or slippery road, worn tyres, a delayed driver reaction in the dark and the unpredictable movement of an animal can in fact result in a much longer braking distance. 

Practical advice for drivers during hours of darkness, to consider in regard to road traffic situations involving wild animals: 

• Adjust your speed to suit visibility. Drivers should reduce their speed – particularly on stretches of road adjacent to the woods, scrubland, fields and the edges of ditches. It is advisable to use high beam headlights, switching to low beam lights if a wild animal is spotted.
  
  
• Animals may travel in herds – if you spot one animal, you should reduce your speed. If you spot a single elk, roe deer or wild boar, you should assume that there may be others nearby, so you should reduce your speed. Accidents often occur when a driver, whilst trying to avoid one roe deer, collides with another that was following it.
  
  
• If a collision is unavoidable – brake. As soon as you spot an animal on the carriageway, you must brake hard, while considering road conditions and surrounding traffic – in particular, you must avoid veering into the opposite lane if other road users are travelling in that direction.
  
  
• If a collision does occur, you must stop, switch on your hazard warning lights and, without putting yourself at risk, warn other road users using a warning triangle. Report the incident by calling 112 and follow the instructions given by the emergency services. It is not advisable to approach an injured animal or attempt to move it yourself, as it may be aggressive. You can also report a hit-and-run or injured animal via the “Mednis” app.
  
  
• You must contact your insurer to claim under your CASCO insurance. You can submit a claim with BTA via the “Mans BTA” mobile app, on the website bta.lv or by calling +37126121212.