Injury Attorneys for Car Accidents Involving Cows

Injury Attorneys for Car Accidents Involving Cows

It only takes a few seconds for a routine drive to become something far more serious. When a cow wanders onto the roadway and a vehicle collides with it, the aftermath is rarely minor. These crashes often result in serious injuries, totaled vehicles, and a complicated set of legal questions about fault and responsibility.

At Silva Injury Law, our advocates have helped injured drivers across California hold livestock owners accountable after crashes and recover the compensation they need to move forward. We know these cases require more than a police report and a phone call to your insurance company. They require careful investigation, knowledge of livestock liability laws, and a legal team prepared to take on property owners, businesses, or insurers who won’t accept fault.
If you were injured in a crash involving a cow, this article will help you understand your options and how a car vs. cow accident lawyer at Silva Injury Law can advocate for you at every step.

What Is a Cow Collision?

A cow collision is a motor vehicle accident in which a driver hits a cow on the roadway. Because of these animals’ significant size and weight, these incidents are very hazardous and often result in severe damage and serious injuries. Cow collisions typically happen in rural areas where livestock may escape from nearby properties, often due to preventable oversights by their owners.

For example, imagine a cow wandered through a broken fence and strayed onto a rural highway at night. A passing vehicle could not stop in time and collided with the animal. The driver suffered a head injury and a broken arm due to the force of the crash.

How to Determine Liability in a Livestock Accident

Establishing liability after a crash involving a cow is not always simple. Unlike typical car accidents involving traffic law violations, livestock accidents involve additional factors, including property ownership, fencing responsibilities, and local ordinances. The outcome of your case depends heavily on whether you can prove that someone failed to act reasonably to prevent the animal from entering the road.

The first step is identifying who owns the cow. This might involve looking at branding records, livestock registries, or local agricultural permits. Law enforcement or animal control may also assist in tracking ownership if the animal was tagged or previously reported loose.

Once the owner is identified, the question becomes whether they met their legal responsibility to keep the animal contained. In California, this often depends on whether the area where the accident occurred follows “fence-in” or “open range” laws.

In California counties with fence-in laws, livestock owners are legally required to keep their animals secured on their property. That typically means maintaining functional fencing, secure gates, and clear property boundaries that prevent cows from entering public roads. If the evidence shows that fencing was neglected or gates were left unsecured, this may support a negligence claim if the loose animal caused harm. Holding the animal’s owner accountable often begins with proving they failed to take basic steps to prevent the cow from entering the roadway.
However, in other California counties, livestock owners are generally not required to fence in their animals. In places with open range laws, animals can roam freely across private and public land, including roads. A driver is often expected to watch for livestock in these areas, and an accident does not automatically mean the owner is at fault.

Get immediate answers and avoid mistakes that could hurt your case.

What Compensation Can You Recover?

A crash involving a cow can have a serious and lasting impact on nearly every area of your life. If a livestock owner or another party is found liable, you may be entitled to recover damages under California law. Here’s what you may be able to pursue.

Medical Expenses

Medical costs are often the most immediate and overwhelming concern after a livestock-related accident. Recoverable compensation may include:

• Emergency room expenses,
• Hospital stays,
• Surgeries,
• Diagnostic tests and imaging,
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation,
• Prescription medication,
• Follow-up appointments, and
• Future medical care related to long-term or permanent injuries.

If your injuries require assistive devices, in-home care, or home modifications, those costs may also be included in your claim.

Lost Wages and Future Income

If your injuries prevent you from working, you can receive compensation for your lost income during your recovery period. This applies whether you’re out for a few days or several months.

In cases where your injuries reduce your ability to earn a living long-term, you may also be eligible for additional damages for loss of future earning capacity.

Property Damage

Your vehicle may be totaled or need extensive repairs. In addition to the car, other personal property in the vehicle at the time of the crash may be damaged and eligible for reimbursement.

Pain and Suffering

Some injuries don’t leave visible scars but profoundly affect your daily life. Pain and suffering damages are intended to compensate you for the physical discomfort and emotional distress caused by the accident.

Loss of Consortium

If your injuries have affected your relationship with your spouse or partner, you may be eligible to seek loss of consortium damages. These damages can include loss of companionship, emotional support, or intimacy as a direct result of your accident-related injuries.

Loss of Enjoyment of Life

When an injury prevents you from doing the things you once loved, such as hobbies or family activities, you may be entitled to compensation for loss of enjoyment of life.

Don’t Let a Livestock Owner’s Negligence Go Unchallenged

When a cow causes a crash, the responsibility shouldn’t fall on the injured driver. These cases involve real injuries, financial strain, and a legal process that can quickly turn against you without the proper support. If you’re facing medical bills, missed work, and insurance companies not giving you answers, now is the time to act.

At Silva Injury Law, we know how to handle the legal challenges that make car vs. cow accidents so difficult. We investigate aggressively, uncover who is responsible, and fight for the compensation you need to recover.
Contact Silva Injury Law today for a free consultation with an experienced car vs. cow accident lawyer.