Car Accident With Cat Inside

[PrettyKitty1]

Earlier today a woman in an old toyota hit me from behind. My cat was in the car, in his carrier. I was going to take him to the vet for his bleeding issues and rabies shots. I'm OK and so is Abby. I hit my head due to the impact and now it really hurts, but I didn't want to call the rescue.

However, I got a question to ask. Had my cat been physically hurt, would the lady have to pay the vet bills? I mean my cat being harmed..does that count? Is that enough to take to court and make her pay? Would I need a lawyer for that? If from now on, my cat gets freaked out when riding with me, which has never happened as he is used to riding with me, with vet papers can I go to court for emotional damages? I don't think I'll do this. I really want to forget about the accident. For all I care she got a ticket, and my husband's car is fine, no scratches, just minor little details, barely even noticeable. I have never thought about my cat getting harmed in a car accident. But now that this happened, since I am constantly traveling and I HAVE to take him with me, I'd better start considering the possibility of my cat getting harmed in a car accident.
So.....is my cat getting hurt enough evidence for a person to pay for vet bills and meds?

[PrettyKitty1]

:)

[zodiacqueen]

Hey, awesome idea about seat belting the carriers-never thought of that.

I would definitely take it to court, if it had happened to me and my cat was injured.  Why not?  Your cat is your personal property.  I'd collect all vet papers and costs, show them to the person involved, then if they didn't take care of the entire thing, I'd threaten to take it to court.  You'd also have to include it in a police report, and you may have to sue for more money if the cat's condition proves to be an ongoing issue.

This is a great thread-something us pet owners should be thinking about.

See Dalia, you have TWO people telling you that ya need to be checked out.  That should tell you something.  Please get checked out!!  We love ya too much girl!!

[CatShapedHeart3]

You didnt tell me about this..or his bleeding issues!
Is he ok from that? and how're you doing from the accident. I know when i got in my first accident i nearly passed out in the car...but there was a door jammed against my arm holding me in place and a drunk guy tearing the window off the jeep on my side LOL but yea...terrifying. I hope your ok and i hope abby is well emotionally and physically. We nearly got in a car crash with penny when she was a baby...she ran straight to my arms though...but then she always just stayed in my lap when we went iin the car...Luff sits up and waits for a seatbelt on him, goofy kitty and maple curls between my legs D:

again I'm glad that you and abby are ok...It'd really suck if i lost you both :D

<3ya

[PrettyKitty1]

Thank you guys so much.
Ghilly, very useful info. I would not need a lawyer then. I'd just need to send the vet papers to HER insurance company. Thanks a million. The headache is almost gone now, but now I'm left with pain in the neck. I can't turn my head to the left and it is a bit swollen at the right side. I'll get that taken care of.

Aligator, I know what you say. I always put my baby in his pet carrier for safety purposes. I'd have to be crazy to let him loose in the car when I'm almost always traveling, getting on I-95 a lot etc. I don't seatbelt the carrier, though, but it is a good idea and I'll put it in practice from now on. I am taking him to the vet today; but this time my mom is driving as I can't turn my head to the left due to the accident.

Again, thank you both!!

[aligator79]

I agree with Ghilly.  I do have to say that I am nuts, but I seatbelt the carriers in, especially if they are in the backseat.  If I'm hit and that thing flies- it could hurt me, them or go out the window- Scary thought.  They are my babies and it's kind of like they are in thier car seats- gotta keep them safe.

[Ghilly]

I'm glad to hear that both you and your kitty were not hurt in the accident.  You might want to consider getting your head checked out in the morning, though, because a lot of times things don't show up right away, but will hurt the next day or even the next week.

Had your kitty been hurt, you could have taken him to the vet, paid the bill, and then submitted the bill to the woman's insurance company for payment.  The cat was in a crate and therefore was properly restrained, so she would have been responsible for any injuries to him in the accident.  Had he not been in a crate, however,  it would have been a different story.  It is the responsibility of the driver to make sure that any animal riding in a car is properly restrained.  An animal that is riding loose in a motor vehicle can become a projectile in an accident, and a pet that isn't restrained can actually cause an injury to a person riding in the car if they are thrown around during an accident.  Any police called to the scene can and probably will issue a summons to the driver of the car with a loose animal in it.  Cats should be crated, and dogs should be either crated or restrained via the use of doggy seat harnesses to make sure they are secure in case of an accident so that a) they are not hurt and b) they aren't propelled around the car by the accident and hurt somebody.

Ghilly