Motor vehicle: Game accident

Basically:

• Drive at an appropriate speed, especially at dawn or dusk or at night!
• If a wild animal suddenly appears on the road in front of your car, don't jeopardise your own health! Avoid emergency braking, high beam and do not try to swerve. Drive straight ahead and brake appropriately.
• If there is a collision, first check that you and, if necessary, your passengers are unharmed. Then secure the scene of the accident (warning triangle approx. 100m from the scene of the accident).
• You are obliged to report every wildlife accident to the local police station. The police will then inform the person in charge of the hunt.
• If the animal is lying injured within sight of the accident site after the collision, stay away from it! Supposed help out of well-intentioned animal love only leads to further stress for the animal, injured animals can fight back and injure you. If the animal has already died, remove it from the road. The unauthorised appropriation of accidentally killed game is a poaching offence!

It is essential that you remain at the scene of the accident until the police or the person authorised to hunt arrive. As you are an eyewitness to the accident, you can provide information that is very important for the animal welfare treatment of the probably injured animal. In addition, personal or vehicle damage can be determined, which is important for the wildlife accident certificate.

To claim a wildlife accident from your insurance company, you need a wildlife accident certificate. You can obtain this from the police or the person authorised to hunt who is also involved.

• Federal Hunting Act
• Notification according to § 3 para. 2 HJagdG

For those with partial or comprehensive insurance, the insurance company will cover the damage to the vehicle. The prerequisite is that the wildlife accident is proven. The forestry offices and the police issue corresponding certificates.