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You've encountered a bear - who will compensate for the losses?

In recent years, Lithuania has been reminded more and more that our country is not just a land of flat fields, calm lakes and pine forests. It turns out that real bears have returned to live here – this phenomenon is quite new and unusual in Lithuania. They seem to have become interested not only in honey, but also run around city streets and residents’ yards. So what should you do if, while driving at night, a real, live Lithuanian bear appears in front of you?

First of all, calm down – it’s not every day that we encounter a living queen of the forest. Second, make sure that you and your passengers are safe as soon as possible. If everything is fine, you can start assessing the damage to the car and thinking about insurance.

Compulsory MTPL insurance: will it help if the bear was not insured?

Even if you think the bear is at fault for the collision, it is unlikely to be insured. Wild animals (as long as they live in the wild) are the property of the Lithuanian state, but this “property” is of a limited nature – the state is not responsible for the behavior of the animals in the same way that it would be responsible for, say, the actions of its employee.

So, if you only have compulsory insurance and your car looks more like a bear’s den after a collision with a furry beast, you will unfortunately have to pay for the repairs yourself.

CASCO insurance – true peace of mind even when encountering a bear

Car CASCO insurance, unlike compulsory insurance, can really be your salvation in such a case. CASCO insurance conditions usually include damage caused by animals. And it doesn’t matter if it’s a wild boar, roe deer, elk or even a bear that ran onto the road, the insurer should compensate you for the damage you suffered. True, only if you followed the rules of the road, were sober and didn’t conduct any strange experiments to check who is stronger – your car or the powerhouse of the Lithuanian forests.

According to the Lithuanian Department of Environmental Protection, the number of collisions with wild animals is approaching 10,000 per year (8,380 cases of animal collisions were registered in 2022, and 9,200 in 2023). And insurers calculate that the average payment per incident is 1,800–2,400 EUR based on damage from car Casco contracts. The maximum payment per incident exceeded 90,000 EUR.

What to do if you encounter a bear?

  • Stop immediately in a safe place and turn on the hazard warning lights.
  • Make sure you are safe (a bear does not always run away after encounters – it may be injured, disturbed, aggressive or simply disoriented, so it is necessary to maintain a safe distance and be extremely careful).
  • Call the police by emergency number (112), report the traffic accident, and follow the officers’ instructions.
  • Don’t take a selfie with a bear – document the damage to your car instead.
  • Assess whether your car is really capable of moving – often even a minor collision with a wild animal can damage important car systems. It is better to call a roadside assistance tow truck and transport the car safely to the nearest repair shop.
  • Contact your insurance company for further claim administration.
  • Remember that it is forbidden to pick up a hit animal or its parts yourself – this must be taken care of by the services.

Uninsurable events or when a bear encounter will cost you more

Remember that if you intentionally provoked an animal, behaved irresponsibly on the road, or were not sober, you will not be entitled to any insurance benefits. So before embarking on a night trip through the Lithuanian forests, do not forget basic responsibility and common sense.

So, if you’ve been traveling through the forested areas of Lithuania lately, it’s worth considering CASCO insurance. After all, the appearance of Lithuanian bears reminds us that insurance can be a great investment not only against common road hazards, but also against natural surprises.

Have a peaceful and safe journey – may your path never cross the shaggy mistress of Lithuania’s forests!

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