While hunting is generally a very safe activity, there are things that can go wrong. Your shot could go in the wrong direction, hitting something other than your intended target. One common incident is for a shot to hit a car. There are roughly six million car accidents in the U.S. each year, so while this isn't common, it isn't too rare either, despite us not hearing about it too often on the national news. The car might be parked or someone might just happen to be driving past as your shot misfires. If this happens to you, here are the things you need to do.
Don't Try to Flee
Don't try to pretend you didn't do it. While it might be tempting to hide and hope that it will all blow over, this could make your situation even worse. Even if you didn't mean to shoot the car, you did just cause an accident, and leaving the scene of an accident is a crime. There are over 5,891,000 car accidents each year, so treat it like any other. Stay on the scene and follow any instructions you're given by the authorities.
Get Medical Attention If Necessary
Hopefully, nobody was hurt when the shot hit the car. However, if somebody in the car was injured when your shot hit it, make sure that they get medical help immediately. This is necessary even in situations where the injury seems mild. Sometimes, injuries don't become apparent until after the situation is over and the adrenaline rush goes away. So stop hunting and get help if it's needed.
Report the Accident
Depending on your area, you might have certain authorities you're required to report the accident too. However, if you're hunting, you'll generally need to report any accidents to the police and the Game Commission. If you're unsure of what to do in your area, look on Google. According to the Search Engine Journal, the first organic result in a Google search receives 32.5% of traffic share. So you're likely to find the information you need there.
Provide Your Insurance Information
If you're hunting, any accidents are likely to be covered by your homeowner's insurance. However, this can also vary from region to region, so make sure that you have the correct information. You'll need to provide your insurance information to the car owner so that they can use it for any auto body repairs and potential medical bills.
Cooperate Fully With the Investigation
Even if you didn't do anything malicious, you did cause an accident while you were hunting. The police and other organizations will potentially need to investigate what happened. It is essential that you cooperate fully with anything that they need you to do. Answer any questions truthfully and don't try to hide any information. Even if it was a complete accident, you might need to deal with the consequences of being at fault. But if you follow the law and work with investigators, you won't need to worry about getting in worse trouble. Plus, you might be able to get off a little easier if you show that you're contrite and willing to help.
If your shot hits a car while you're hunting, it can be a very difficult situation. Hopefully, you only end up having to cover some minor damage to the car's body. However, there are circumstances where things can go worse, resulting in injury or major property damage. If you find yourself in this situation, don't try to escape. Be honest and helpful, then make sure it is reported to the proper authorities. This will make it easier to wrap up any investigation and put it in the past.
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