You hit a deer or a wild boar in Italy

Wild boar and deer are common across the Apennines, Tuscany and the northern foothills, and a collision with one is a heavy impact — a boar can weigh over a hundred kilos and takes out the front structure, not just the bumper.

At the scene

Secure the scene first: hazard lights, vest, warning triangle. An injured animal on the carriageway is a hazard for the vehicles behind you, and a second collision is a real risk on an unlit road.

Call the authorities. There is no other driver to complete a CID with, so the official record is the only independent confirmation that the event happened. Most comprehensive policies require notification to the local police or the relevant authority for animal collisions — without it, the claim can fail on procedure alone.

Photograph the animal, the vehicle, the road and the point of impact. Hair and blood traces on the vehicle are evidence; do not clean them off before the damage is documented.

Why the damage is usually worse than it looks

An animal impact concentrates force low and centrally: radiator, condenser, intercooler, cooling fans, the bumper carrier and often the front subframe. Airbags may not deploy, which makes the collision feel less severe than it was.

Radiator damage in particular has a delayed consequence — the vehicle drives away and overheats fifty kilometres later. Before you continue, check for fluid on the ground and watch the temperature gauge. If in doubt, do not drive it.

Then the claim

With no liable third party, the claim runs against your own comprehensive cover under its terms. What decides it is the documentation: the official report, the photographs, and an assessment of the full damage rather than the visible part.

Send us photographs on WhatsApp — same-day preliminary opinion, and a clear answer on whether the vehicle should be driven any further.

Frequently asked questions

The animal ran off. Does that matter?

No, and it is common. Report the collision anyway, photograph the impact point and any traces on the vehicle, and note the exact location. The absence of the animal does not weaken a properly documented claim.

Can I keep driving if the car seems fine?

Check for coolant or oil on the road, a changed engine note, and the temperature gauge. Animal impacts damage cooling components more often than anything else, and driving on with a damaged radiator turns a repairable claim into an engine.

Who pays if there was no other vehicle involved?

Your own comprehensive cover, subject to your policy and excess. Whether it is covered and on what terms is a question of the wording — the technical assessment establishes the extent of the damage, which is what the settlement is then calculated on.