I was driving back from the UK late last night and managed to hit a fox or something similar on the French highway. It was in torrential rain and pitch black so neither of us had any chance. The poor thing probably died instantly as I was doing 100 km/h and caught it clean on the front spoiler and grill, and it then went under the car and the rear wheels
Is there something I should have done, or still do in terms of reporting this? Also from an insurance perspective as the damage is quite extensive.
Or a migrant, there are plenty around Calais motorways!
100KM under torrential rain seems fast, even though the official limitations is 110KM/H (and 100KM/H on 110KM/H zones). I would slow down a bit, for your safety...
As for the actual incident, I think you have to call police or gendarmerie, and that you will need to contact your insurance.
That is why you need to have enough evidences that the animal impact occured (hairs*, photos...)...
I do not know the laws in France, but in Germany and I believe Switzerland as well do you need to stop and call the cops. If you do not have a phone with you do you need to inform them as soon as you can... In Switzerland will you get fined and have to pay for the animal you killed (!). A deer is 1000 CHF, the rarer the animal the more expensive it gets.
I really don't want to worry you, but I'd not call up my insurance and tell them the truth. Can you make up something that could explain the damage otherwise? Say parking damage?
To avoid a fox ruining your car or to avoid aquaplanning and other things
Of course it depends on the driver's appreciation under the conditions- But to me "Torrential rains" seems to indicate very poor visibility (on top of night) + possible aqua planning and extended braking distances. And of course we don't know the traffic conditions at the time.
So it was just a comment, maybe it's ok not even suggesting it was "wrong" at the time.
It's been a while since I took out kudu and springbok by means of bullbar in my bakkie ...
Given vastly different geographical location, I think I will find out when is deer & fox season and what type of bull bar is the most appropriate to be fitted for hunting season
In my experience "Something fell off a truck in front of me and hit my car, I stopped but could not find the object and the truck was long gone" Seems to work well.
I even had the number from the number plate of the truck but nobody was interested.
I think it was around Metz at about 2am. Its probably too late on this occasion since I don't know the exact location, but for the future I will definitely take note of the coordinates and report it.
As for the evidence, my car was jet washed by rain, sleet and hailstones for 9 straight hours from London to Basel It was a miserable trip on all accounts, and hitting the poor fox was the icing.
Well, does it really matter to the insurance if the car was hit by a fox or say a spare tire falling off a truck?
Castro has not actually seen what he hit anyway... the difference is that I think it's a stupid idea to call your insurance and mentioning the road kill as they'll probably ask for the police report. Not that it would make a difference to them, they'll just try to get out of their liability.
Fraud is fraud, so making a false report does matter. What is wrong in telling the truth, I know it's unfashionable & insurance companies are considered fair game to rip off.
It's a well-known fact that insurance companies in Switzerland always check EF before assessing claims from policyholders with furr'n names, and that includes Cuban, so telling the truth is recommended after any acts of forumic self-incrimination.