Road accidents practically happen almost every day in Malaysia. The Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) statistics recorded a total of 4,634 fatal road accidents in 2020. The figure is 24% lower than the 2019 data that recorded a total of 6,167 deaths.
Many of you may be more familiar with accidents involving vehicles. These include motorcycle-car, motorcycle-motorcycle, car-car, car-bus, car-lorry and lorry-motorcycle accidents.
However, know that accidents between cars or motorcycles and wild animals are quite rampant. In this regard, two situations may occur: 1) vehicles running into accidents after avoiding wild animals crossing roads, or 2) vehicles running into wild animals crossing roads.
Two situations of vehicle-animal accidents
Vehicles running into accidents after avoiding animals
There are a considerable number of vehicle accidents resulting from avoiding animals crossing roads. For instance, in Negeri Sembilan, a total of 943 cases or 4.7% of the total 19,879 accidents recorded in the state involved vehicles running into accidents after avoiding animals, including livestock.
As reported by Utusan Malaysia, the Head of the Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department of Negeri Sembilan’s Contingent Police Headquarters, Superintendent Ibrahim Abdul Kadir, said that 78 out of 1,467 recorded accidents in the state as of January 2021 involved vehicles avoiding animals.
Meanwhile, in Setiu, Terengganu, the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) recorded 61 road accidents involving animals in the first six months of 2019.
Vehicles running into animals crossing roads
Apart from humans, animals are also victims of fatal road accidents. Statistically, 2,055 wild animals died due to being hit by vehicles between 2015 to 2019.
Leopard cats, Asian Golden cats and tapirs are animals that often become victims of road accidents.
As reported by Harian Metro, the former Minister of Energy and Natural Resources (KeTSA), Datuk Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah, said that roadkills occur when wild animals try to cross the road or highway to get to the forest across the road. The animals are looking for food, mates for breeding or more suitable habitat.
Other animals that often become victims of road accidents include bears, elephants, leopards, wild goats, tigers and deer.
Fatal accidents involving vehicles and wild animals in 2021
January 12, 2021 – In Kampung Gajah, Perak, a man died when his car ran into an accident with a trailer. The victim was avoiding a dead wild boar on the road. It was believed that the wild boar was hit by another vehicle.
January 31, 2021 – A male tapir weighing about 450kg was found dead, believed to have been hit by a vehicle at Jalan Gua Musang-Kuala Krai. The eight-year-old male tapir suffered injuries to its body and mouth.
February 12, 2021 – In Beaufort, Sabah, a motorcyclist died in an accident in Jalan Bandau, Membakut. It was suspected that his motorcycle collided with a wild animal.
April 25, 2021 – Three individuals including a boy died in Kampung Padang Lanjut, Padang Terap. It was believed that they were avoiding animals on the road.
Hotspots of accidents involving vehicles and wild animals
Most accidents of such nature happen in areas near forests where wild animals try to cross the road to get from one forest to another.
As mentioned, roadkills occur when wild animals try to cross roads or highways to get to the forest on the other end looking for food, mates for breeding and a more habitable area.
Can you make an insurance claim if you hit an animal with your car?
Yes. You can claim from your insurer if you run into an accident with an animal. However, you must have a comprehensive insurance policy in order to make a claim. Your insurance claim will be under the own damage claim, which will then affect your No Claim Discount (NCD).
Note that insurance companies do not offer specific coverage if you hit an animal with your car. Hence, your NCD rate will return to zero after making your own damage claim, thereby increasing your insurance premium for the next insurance renewal.
Is the claim procedure different?
The claim procedure for a vehicle accident with a wild animal is similar to other claims.
It is essential that you submit to your insurer the necessary documents, including a copy of your identity card, the original police report, photos of your car condition as provided in the police report, a copy of your insurance policy and driving licence.
Precautions to avoid accidents with animals
Pay attention to animal crossing signs
As a driver, you would have learnt the meanings of animal crossing signs when you enrolled in a driving school and sat for the compulsory computer test.
Hence, you may have noticed the animal crossing signs on the shoulder of the road. The signs caution road users to be careful in the area, given the risk of wild animals suddenly crossing the road.
Some of the animal crossing signs that you may find are as follows:
Drive safe on the road
Please drive carefully and be alert to the presence of any wild animal that may cross the road. Pay attention to animal crossing signs for your safety, animals, and other road users.
Additionally, ensure that your vehicle insurance is active. We recommend getting a comprehensive insurance policy, so you can make an insurance claim in the unfortunate event that you hit an animal with your car.
You can get the best comprehensive insurance at Bjak with ease. You have the option to choose from 15 leading insurance brands in Malaysia. Start by getting your free car insurance quotes at Bjak in just 3 minutes.
