Getting into a crash is stressful enough. But things get complicated quickly when the other party is a loose animal wandering across the road. Suddenly, you’re dealing with unexpected injuries, vehicle damage, and an insurance claim that no one seems to have a clear answer for.
Who pays for this? Does your policy cover it? And what happens if the livestock owner refuses to take responsibility?
At Silva Injury Law, we help drivers across California navigate the chaos that follows serious accidents, including collisions with livestock. These aren’t ordinary insurance claims. They often involve unclear liability, unusual policy rules, and insurance companies looking for ways to pay as little as possible.
This guide breaks down what coverage may apply in a livestock accident auto insurance claim and common challenges you may face.
Is Livestock Accident Damage Covered by Auto Insurance?
Auto insurance may cover a livestock accident, but it depends on the type of coverage you have. These situations often involve unique rules, and not all policies are designed to protect you in this scenario. Understanding your coverage is key to knowing what help you can expect. Let’s walk through common types of auto insurance and how they handle livestock accidents.
Liability-Only Coverage
Liability coverage is the minimum insurance required by California law. It’s designed to pay for injuries or property damage you cause to someone else. If you’re involved in a livestock accident and carry liability-only coverage, your insurer won’t cover your repair costs, medical bills, or lost income.
Collision Coverage
Collision coverage is designed to pay for damage to your vehicle when it strikes another object—regardless of who is at fault. In a livestock accident, this coverage may apply if you swerved to avoid hitting the animal and crashed into something else, such as a guardrail, tree, or another vehicle. However, collision coverage doesn’t always apply if you hit the animal directly.
Comprehensive Coverage
Comprehensive coverage applies to damage caused by events other than collisions with another vehicle, such as theft, weather, vandalism, or contact with animals. So, it usually applies if you hit a cow, horse, or other livestock that wandered onto the road. The coverage is generally triggered by the nature of the event, not by the party at fault.
However, comprehensive coverage is optional in California. If you don’t carry it, your insurer is not obligated to pay for damage from a direct impact with an animal. And even if you do have this coverage, it’s essential to review your policy to understand your deductible and any limitations that could reduce your payout.
Livestock Insurance
Apart from auto insurance, some livestock owners carry livestock liability insurance, which may cover damage if their animals cause an accident. If the owner is identified and has this type of policy, you may be able to file a claim with their insurer.
Common Challenges with Livestock Accident Claims
Livestock accident claims are rarely straightforward. Even when the damage seems obvious, drivers often encounter uncertainty about liability, resistance from insurance companies, and unexpected gaps in coverage. Below are some of the most common obstacles drivers face and how having legal guidance can make a meaningful difference.
Disputes over Liability
One of the most significant hurdles in a livestock accident claim is proving who is at fault. Under California law, there is no presumption that the owner of the livestock is at fault after a collision. You must prove that the livestock owner was negligent in properly securing the livestock.
Livestock owners often deny responsibility, arguing that the animal escaped unexpectedly or that they took reasonable steps to secure it. In some cases, they may even claim the accident occurred in an open area, where animals are legally allowed to roam, and drivers are expected to proceed cautiously.
Without strong evidence that the animal’s owner failed to properly contain or supervise the livestock, an insurer may deny a claim. Proving negligence often requires a thorough investigation, which may include the following:
- Reviewing fencing conditions,
- Identifying previous incidents involving the same property,
- Locating witnesses,
- Analyzing medical and financial records, and
- Examining local ordinances.
The attorneys at Silva Injury Law have spent years helping Californians navigate complex livestock accidents. We know what insurers look for in these cases and how to build a compelling claim that holds negligent livestock owners accountable.
Lack of Adequate Insurance Coverage
Even when the livestock owner is clearly at fault, they may not carry enough insurance (or any insurance) to cover your losses. If you don’t have the proper coverage on your own policy, you could be left covering expenses out of pocket.
Delayed or Denied Claims
Insurance companies don’t always make livestock accident claims easy. Even with valid coverage, they may delay processing your claim or deny it by citing unclear liability, policy exclusions, or insufficient documentation.
These tactics can create unnecessary stress at a time when you need financial support the most. In some cases, insurers may offer a low settlement quickly, hoping you’ll accept less than what your claim is truly worth. At Silva Injury Law, we are prepared to step in to protect your rights. If your claim is delayed, underpaid, or wrongfully denied, we can challenge the insurer’s decision and fight for compensation.
Difficulty Proving Damages
Insurance companies may also question the severity of your injuries, the cause of the accident, or the compensation you’re claiming. If medical records, witness statements, or photos are incomplete or missing, they may try to undervalue your claim. Proving economic and noneconomic damages requires thorough documentation and a narrative that directly ties the losses to the accident. An experienced attorney at Silva Injury Law can help gather the right evidence, build a persuasive case, and push back against insurance tactics designed to minimize your compensation.
Contact Silva Injury Law to Protect Your Rights After a Livestock Accident
Navigating a livestock accident auto insurance claim can be frustrating and confusing, but you don’t have to do it alone. At Silva Injury Law, we help injury victims across California hold negligent parties and insurers accountable.
Contact our team today if you’ve been hurt in a crash involving livestock. We offer free, no-obligation consultations for clients across the Central Valley and beyond. Plus, our firm works on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we win for you. We’ll review your case, explain your legal options, and fight for the full compensation you deserve so you can focus on what matters most: healing and moving forward.
