A car accident is not always defined as an incident with another person. If you’re driving on a country road it could easily involve an animal, and these situations can be very upsetting. According to Gov.uk, the law states that you must stop at the scene of a collision with any of the following animals and report the accident to the police -whether they survive or not:
- Dogs
- Horses
- Cattle (such as cows)
- Goats
- Donkeys & Mules
- Pigs
- Sheep
Once the police are aware and the owners have been notified, you are then free to leave the scene. However, if the owner is untraceable, you must still report what’s happened to your local police station within 24hrs of the incident taking place. The police should also be able to provide a list of local veterinary clinics if the animal needs urgent care and is in a critical condition.
If you hit a cat
As horrific as the idea of hitting someone’s pet is, you are not legally required to stop at the scene if you hit a cat… but if you do, and it has a chance of survival, the best thing you can do is:
- Move the animal to safety (if it can be moved) and ideally take it to the nearest vet
- Ask the vet to check if it’s microchipped and notify the owner as soon as possible
- If the cat cannot be identified at the vets, tell your local council and file a missing pet report
What you can do to prevent hitting an animal whilst driving
- Stick to the speed limits on roads at all times
- Try to pay attention to road signs stating that deer and other creatures may be likely to cross or living close by
- Take extra care during the early mornings and late evenings when animals are likely to be foraging for food
How to report an injured animal
Report an injured animal to the RSPCA in England or Wales or its equivalent in Scotland or Northern Ireland.
RSPCA
Telephone: 0300 1234 999
Find out about call charges
Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA)
Telephone: 03000 999 999
Find out about call charges
Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (USPCA)
Telephone: 028 3025 1000
Find out about call charges
Pesticide poisonings
If you think an animal has been poisoned, call the Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme.
Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme
Telephone: 0800 321 600
Find out about call charges
