If you have a comprehensive car insurance policy, depending upon the insurer and the policy, you may be covered if you hit an animal on the road such as a kangaroo. It would be advisable to have photographs of the scene in the event that there is any dispute about how the damage to your vehicle occurred.
Drivers aren't expected to give first aid, but they should call the relevant local wildlife rescue organisation and seek their advice on how to safely help or ease the pain of an injured animal. If a kangaroo sadly hasn't survived, make conditions safe for other drivers by moving it to the side of the road.
Report injured wildlife – call WIRES on 1300 094 737 or use the IFAW Wildlife rescue app to find a suitable wildlife rescue organisation for your location.
If you come across a kangaroo, brake to avoid a collision – don't swerve. If you're in an accident prioritise safety, call 000 if needed, then contact your insurer. If you hit a kangaroo, contact a wildlife rescue organisation or the local police.
AAMI Comprehensive Car Insurance may cover damage to your car in the event of a collision with animals and wildlife, such as kangaroos, wallabies and more, if the collision wasn't intentional. You will be insured up to the amount covered of your car, as listed on your Certificate of Insurance.
Only comprehensive car insurance will offer you financial protection against collisions with an animal. If you commonly drive through an area with a high population of wildlife, it may be in your interest to get the best possible protection.
Car insurance can cover hitting a kangaroo or other animal in Australia. It's considered an at-fault accident so you might lose your no claims bonus and you will probably have to pay an excess too. However, depending on the severity of the damage, it could be worth it.
If you do have an accident with a kangaroo please pull over safely. When you have checked everyone in the car is safe, put your hazard lights on, and give us a call. Even if the kangaroo appears okay and jumps away it will probably be injured and need assistance.
Ordinarily, it is illegal to kill, buy, sell or possess a kangaroo in Australia. However, in response to the growing kangaroo population, the Australian government permits licence holders to 'cull' or shoot kangaroos.
In case a kangaroo inevitably jumps in front of your vehicle, it is best to just brake heavily instead of trying to swerve to avoid them. The best advice is to just slow down and try braking in a straight line. You should only try swerving once your vehicle has slowed down sufficiently.
a habituated kangaroo (a kangaroo who is used to people) has aggressive traits. A kangaroo will attack a person as if they were another kangaroo. It may push or grapple with its forepaws or sit back and kick out with its hind legs. As resulting injuries can be serious, avoiding conflict with kangaroos is vital.
In the wild, a kangaroo will try to grasp their prey and then tear into it with the claws on its feet. This will inflict devastating wounds on a human being or even disembowel them. Without weapons and armor, humans are fragile to these wild animals.
How to manage the impacts of kangaroos, wallaroos and wallabies. Kangaroos, wallaroos and wallabies (collectively referred to here as kangaroos) are protected in New South Wales by the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (BC Act).
If the kangaroo is still alive, don't attempt to move it. Instead, call the injured wildlife hotline at 1300 596 457 or the nearest wildlife organisation you are aware of.
If you head into an area where kangaroos are known to live, you'll likely see a sign with a recommended speed limit as well. But since kangaroos can hit a top speed of up to 70 km/h, you should safely slow down if you come across one unexpectedly.
Report the incident
Contact RSPCA ACT 02 6287 8100 (during business hours), or WIRES (NSW Wildlife Information and Rescue Education Service) on 1300 094 737.
Significant penalties apply for illegally shooting a kangaroo, attracting fines of up to $2,500 or imprisonment of six months, plus an additional fine of $50 per animal.
All Victorian kangaroo species are protected under the Wildlife Act. It is an offence to hunt, take or destroy protected wildlife unless in accordance with a licence or authorisation issued under the Wildlife Act.
Kangaroos are getting into the most trouble on the roads, with 7,992 kangaroo collision AAMI claims in the recorded year between March 2018 and February 2019. Roos made up a whopping 83% of all animal collisions. Wallabies were next with 392 collisions.
Kangaroos, like all native wildlife, are protected in Victoria under the Wildlife Act 1975. While kangaroos are a protected species in Victoria, there are situations where kangaroos can cause damage which can negatively affect Victorian farmers, regional communities and biodiversity.
An excess is paid per incident. For example, suppose you have a minor accident involving only cosmetic damage to the front of your car. As you drive to the repairer, you run into the back of another car. These are 2 separate incidents, so you need to lodge a separate claim for each, and so pay 2 excesses.
A Fault Claim is an accident or loss where you are considered to be to blame, or where your insurance company cannot recover their costs in full from someone else. Claims made for loss due to fire or theft, damage caused by an unknown or uninsured driver and vandalism claims must be recorded as 'Fault' claims.
You will need to pay your excess if you're in an accident and you make a claim, even if it wasn't your fault. The good news is you may be able to recover this amount from your car insurance provider if there is evidence that the accident was someone else's fault.