Many people worry about hitting an animal while driving. Hopefully y'all'll never experience this, but it might be helpful to read our advice on what to do if it happens to you.

Information technology may be easier said than washed, but if the worst happens, stay calm, breathe deeply and take stock of the situation.

The law

If you striking an animal which is covered past The Road Traffic Act 1988 – namely, dogs, goats, horses, cattle, donkeys, mules, sheep and pigs y'all are legally required to study information technology to the police.

Merely if you striking an animal not mentioned in the Road Traffic Act – a cat or a trick for instance – y'all are non required by police to study it but you might desire to inform the police of the incident anyway. Read on for our advice on cats and deer.

And so y'all've hit an animal while driving – what should you practise next?

Stop the car

If you're involved in an accident and an animal (whether in another vehicle or on the road) is injured you must cease, even if it wasn't your fault.

Remain at the scene

If you have to stop, you must stay with your car long enough for any other involved parties to inquire for details should they need to. This could be the injured creature's owner, the RSPCA or the police force.

Approaching the brute

If you're in shock, you might not put your own safety beginning and there'south a risk y'all could do something you wouldn't normally do. But it's very important that y'all are aware of your surroundings and that you watch out for other cars or hazards that could put you or anyone else in danger.

Earlier approaching an injured beast, behave in mind that information technology is likely to be very scared and it could endeavor to seize with teeth or scratch you.

If you think you may take hit someone'south pet, see if yous can observe its collar to access its possessor's contact details.

Phone call the police if necessary

Retrieve if you hit a dog or other brute mentioned in the Route Traffic Act 1988 you are legally required to inform the police force.
If the animal isn't wearing a tag and you lot aren't able to trace its owner y'all must report the incident within 24 hours to a police officeholder or at your local police station. If the animate being needs urgent attending, the police should be able to provide you lot with a list of vets bachelor to attend.

Accidents involving wild animals

Sadly, seeing an injured wild animal past the roadside is commonplace, especially in the countryside. If y'all detect an injured wild animal on the route, observe it – as long as it's prophylactic – to try to appraise how desperately hurt it is. So phone call the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999, or if possible accept it to a vet or wildlife rehabilitator.

How exercise I notice my local vet?

Find your local vet here. You lot will non be responsible for paying the vet'due south fees.

Accidents involving cats

It is a sad reality, merely cats are frequently involved in road accidents. Seeing someone's pet harmed past the roadside is devastating, but information technology's helpful to know what to do if y'all should come across one in these circumstances.

Cats Protection offers the post-obit advice to anyone who discovers an injured cat:

If the cat tin be moved, accept him to a vet and inform them that y'all are non the owner. If the true cat can't exist identified, inform your local customs that you accept discovered an injured cat and taken it to the vet. Putting up posters may help raise awareness and inform the owners of their cat'south whereabouts.

deer road

Betwixt May and June, and October and November accidents involving deer are more common due to the rutting season and young deer dispersing.

Accidents involving deer

At that place are approximately 74,000 accidents involving deer each yr in the UK, with vehicle damage estimated at around £17 million.

The RSPCA offers the following advice:

– Lookout man out for deer warning signs
– Keep to the speed limit – it's there for a reason!
– Have actress care early in the forenoon and during early evening
– Report any collisions to the police

If yous find a dead animate being on the road

It is the local council'south responsibility to remove animals found on the road. To find the relevant contact number click hither to enter the relevant postcode.

For further advice

The RSPCA has some very helpful resource about protecting and caring for animals.

If you lot're worried nearly your own pet, yous might find the Blue Cross website helpful.

If you need to make a merits as a result of damage to your car, read the guide on the main insurethebox website.

We hope you never have to experience a car accident involving an creature, but you may desire to save the RSPCA 24-hour advice line number to your telephone, just in case: 0300 1234 999.