Getting injured in a car wreck is stressful at best and traumatic at worst. Seeing your favorite furry friend injured makes the experience even more terrible. Currently, no outlet consistently collects statistics on how many pets die in car accidents each year. However, American Humane estimates that approximately 100,000 dogs are killed due to riding in pickup truck beds. The number killed in car crashes could be much higher. Being involved in car accidents with dogs or other pets is a terrifying ordeal. You could use someone on your side to fight for your rights. If you need help recovering compensation for your injuries, call the Michigan car accident lawyers at Matz Injury Law today.
If your pet has suffered injuries in a car accident, the following steps can help you protect your beloved friend and safeguard your legal rights.
If your dog or other pet gets loose after the accident, your first instinct might be to go after them. Following your pet into traffic can put you and others in greater danger. As difficult as it might be, you should stay where it is safe.
If you find yourself and your pet in a lane of traffic after an accident, get yourself and your pet somewhere safe as quickly as you can. At a minimum, get to the side of the road and out of the flow of traffic.
Even a minor car accident could cause injuries to your pet. Once you are safe from traffic, check both yourself and your pet for injuries.
Your pet cannot tell you where they are hurt, of course, so you will have to use all of your senses:
Avoid talking to your pet in a “baby voice.” According to Arden Moore, the founder of Pet First Aid 4U, this kind of tone can actually increase stress or fear in dogs and other animals in this kind of situation. A scared pet might lash out at anyone, even their beloved human. Move slowly and deliberately as you check them for injuries. Moore recommends saying their name while you do this, along with something purposeful like “I’ve got this.”
If your pet is injured, use whatever is available to cover wounds or immobilize limbs. Towels and plastic shopping bags can serve as makeshift first aid supplies. You can prepare in advance by keeping supplies like an extra leash and some water bottles in your car.
You must file a report with the police department if your property damage exceeds $1,000. An injured pet would likely count as damage.
As soon as possible, take your pet to a veterinarian. Depending on their injuries, you may need to take them to an emergency vet who specializes in critical care. The vet can provide necessary medical treatment and advise you of the cost.
You must notify your insurance company after a car accident if you intend to file a claim for damages. Under Michigan’s no-fault insurance law, you can recover compensation for property damage and other losses no matter who was at fault in the accident.
A car accident attorney can guide you through the process of filing an insurance claim. They can help you gather evidence, prepare a claim, and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf.
You can check for the signs of vehicular trauma in a dog, which may include the following:
Limping;
As soon as possible, take your dog to a veterinarian to check for injuries.
Yes, dog whiplash is a possible result of a car accident. Signs that your dog’s neck is hurting could include the following:
The following are some common injuries that pets may suffer in motor vehicle accidents:
Broken or fractured bones can result from the physical trauma of an accident. They may require a cast or splint in order to heal. In severe cases, surgery may be necessary to place screws or other hardware that can stabilize the bone.
Shallow or mild cuts may only need to be cleaned and bandaged. Deeper lacerations may require stitches. Pets must be sedated before a vet can stitch a wound.
The injuries you cannot see are often the most dangerous. A veterinarian may have to perform surgery to determine the cause of internal bleeding and repair the damage.
Trauma to the chest area can result in a collapsed lung or excess fluid around the heart. These may require surgical intervention.
Injuries to a dog’s belly often require surgery to assess and repair the damage. This may include lacerations, hernias, and damage to organs like the spleen or liver.
Michigan law does not require seat belts or other restraints for dogs in motor vehicles. You should still use them.
Some insurance companies cover pets, but the benefits are usually rather limited. A car insurance policy would have a specific section called “pet insurance.” Michigan law does not require this kind of insurance, so the terms of a pet insurance policy can vary widely from one company to another.
A typical pet insurance policy might have a limit of $1,000 to $5,000. It would pay for vet bills and medications up to that limit. If the pet is killed in an accident, the policy would treat it as a form of property damage. It would pay for the replacement value of the pet, but not your non-economic damages for emotional anguish for the loss of your friend.
The personal injury attorneys at Matz Injury Law have many years of experience helping people in Michigan who have suffered injuries or lost loved ones, including pets, in motor vehicle accidents. Our law firm can help you recover what you deserve for your losses. Contact our firm today at 866-226-6833 or through our online contact form.
Steven J. Matz is a founding shareholder of Matz Injury Law. The firm’s concentration is on personal injury litigation, with an emphasis on traumatic brain injury.
"*" indicates required fields
The maximum contingency fee permitted by law is actually 331/3%. Michigan court rules require that the attorney fee be computed on the net sum recovered after deducting all disbursements properly chargeable to the enforcement of the claim.
We can charge 22% while virtually all other injury attorneys charge 331/3% because we are very, very, good at obtaining results for our clients.
We do not spend millions of dollars on television ads; instead, we offer a lower fee to all our clients. We do not have dozens of lower paid associates handling our work. All our clients are represented by Steven and Jared Matz. Steven Matz started the firm in 1977 and since then has dedicated his life to representing injury victims. Jared joined the firm in 2016 but grew up listening to stories, discussing theories, and generally learning at the dinner table about how to effectively and compassionately represent injury victims. Jared Matz was literally born to represent individuals involved in motor vehicle crashes.
All of our cases are handled on a contingency fee and all our cases are handled at 22%. Whether the case settles or goes through trial, the fee does not change. While our competitors make excuses as to why they charge so much, we are obtaining results for our clients at a lower fee.
At a typical television advertising law firm, your first call will be handled by a receptionist, who may refer you to an intake person, who will discuss your claim with an intake manager, who then discusses your claim with an associate, who may then report to a partner. You may never speak with the person whose name is at the top of the letterhead. At Matz Injury Law you will always speak with either Steven Matz or Jared Matz.