Individuals need to be very careful when transporting animals because they are both expensive and sometimes difficult to control. However, even though drivers take the necessary precautions, accidents can sometimes find them. In such a situation, the safety of the transported horse and the driver is paramount, and in the event of an accident, the necessary steps should be taken to initiate legal proceedings.
Ensure Safety
The first thing you should do after an accident is of course to check. You should check whether the horse you are carrying is safe. If the vehicle is still running, you can pull the vehicle to a safer place, turn on the quads, and wait for help to arrive. It will be very important for you to stay calm during this process because animals can understand what you are feeling.
In the chaos after the accident, stay calm and keep the animal under control to prevent the horse from getting nervous. If you are in a slightly dangerous traffic situation, put signs on the road to attract the attention of other drivers. If you are involved in such an accident and it was caused by someone else's negligence, you should contact a car accident attorney and begin the legal process.
Contact the Vet
We recommend that you work with a vet during this process, even if you check that the horse is outwardly sound. Even if there doesn't seem to be a problem outwardly, veterinarians can recognize any problems that may occur. This is especially true if the animal you are transporting exhibits abnormal behavior. Sometimes unrecognized injuries such as internal bleeding or fractures can occur and veterinary intervention can prevent these.
Contact the Authorities
If you are involved in such an accident and there is material damage, you should call the police and report it. After the authorities arrive at the scene, they will not make a report about the incident and you should keep in mind that this report will be very valuable for you in the legal processes to come. This is because your lawyer will use these documents when dealing with the insurance company or in court.
Do Not Forget the Insurance Company
If you are involved in horse transportation as a profession, you should have insurance and you can contact your insurance company after the incident has occurred. Contacting the insurance company can be the first step in starting the compensation process. Because the horse may be injured, the trailer or the vehicle may be damaged and you should receive compensation for this.
Don't Skip the Documents
If you are going to seek the help of a lawyer in the future, documentation of the incident is very important. If you are able to do so at the time of the accident, document the incident. You can do this by taking photos of the horse and the trailer, and don't forget to take photos of the scene. If there are any witnesses to the accident in the neighborhood, you can ask for their numbers, as they may be witnesses for you in a court of law. In addition, if there was any equipment malfunction that led to the accident, make a note of this as well.
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