Car Accident Caused by Livestock

Free roaming livestock that get in the path of a vehicle on the road can cause serious accidents and injuries. Loose livestock can be found on certain stretches of road in Texas. A collision with a cow or a horse may be more likely at night when lack of lighting on rural roads make livestock more difficult to see.

Texas is an open range and fence out state. Open range states reverse the duty to fence in livestock. They allow roaming of livestock in certain remote areas and require other landowners to fence off their land to keep livestock belonging to someone else off their property. With the number of ranches in Texas, state and federal highways, county roads, and farm to market roads may have livestock running free.

The legislature has passed livestock laws aimed at limiting free ranging of animals in a particular county or certain parts of a county. In these areas, ranchers and farmers are prohibited from letting their animals wander onto the road. If an animal causes an accident in these areas, the livestock owner can be held liable. These livestock laws may apply to specific animals, such as cows, horses, mules, or donkeys.

Visibility can be limited on rural roads, and drivers may not be prepared for livestock in their paths. Cows, horses, or other livestock in the road can cause several types of accidents, including:

Collision with an animal: Occupants can be seriously injured when a vehicle strikes a large, heavy animal.