Would You Stop?

[Barsel]

Driving home this afternoon, a grey squirrel ran out into the road.
I checked there was nothing behind me and I braked so the squirrel was safe, but, I did wonder what I would have done if there had been other vehicles behind me and I think I would still have braked because I couldn't bear to kill any animal.
What if doing that caused someone to go into the back of me, who would be to blame, and what would you have done?

[Mamyalynne]

Not being a driver I can only guess, if no other traffic then I'd brake, other traffic then the squirrel would have to take it's chances.

[SparklyKid]

The driver who runs into the back of you is always to blame, always.

[davebro]

I came across a cyclist who had run over a squirrel that seemed fatally injured - lying still in the road, bleeding from its ears. He asked me to run over it & finish it off quickly, So I did.

[barry1010]

"Smaller animals like rabbits, squirrels and ducks are not large enough to cause significant damage to vehicles. It is not deemed reasonable to perform an emergency stop to avoid a small animal if braking puts other road users at risk."
https://www.quittance.co.uk/personal-injury/advice/road-accident/when-is-it-safe-to-emergency-stop-for-an-animal

[barry1010]

Not true, Sparkly.

[davebro]

I'm kind off a softie!

[MargoTester]

The driver behind will always be deemed at fault for not leaving suffient breaking room

[Barsel]

I thought that too Sparkly as they would have been driving too close, yes? Would hate to cause an accident though to save the life of a squirrel, even a grey one.

[SparklyKid]

It is an insurance matter, not a court matter.

Drivers should always maintain a safe distance.

[Barsel]

Dave, how could you?

[naomi24]

I would have braked - and if someone had gone into the back of me it would have been their fault for driving too close.

I’ve run two birds over - both flew out of trees straight under my wheels - the car behind me kindly finished the job for one poor soul that was flapping helplessly - and a cat scooted out right in front on me on a dark road one night and both sets of wheels went over it - thud …thud. It was horrible. I would never run an animal over if I could avoid it.

[roadman]

this happened to me recently i braked and the squirrel decided to dart back the way it came and nearly got hit by a lorry but thankfully it was ok and so was i and the lorry

[naomi24]

Dave did the kindest thing barsel.

[barry1010]

This is the case of Gussman v Gratton-Storey - the driver was deemed liable when she performed an emergency stop because a pheasant was in the road and the car behind didn't have time to stop.

There are other cases with the same result, or it was split liability

[Barsel]

Naomi you are a kindred soul.
If I'm in a car and someone else is driving and they see a dead animal or bird before i do, they always warn me not to look as it does makes me feel very queasy.

[naomi24]

My husband saw someone e deliberately drive into a mother duck and her chicks as they crossed the road. If I told you what he said, with the AB filter you wouldn’t be able to read it.

[roadman]

someone goes into the back of you regardless why its not your fault what if it were a child or if you thought it might have been a person

[douglas9401]

The more it happens, the more you get used to it.

I imagine it's the same with war.

[naomi24]

Can’t bear it, Barsel.

[Barsel]

I suppose Dave did do the kindest thing, but I couldn't do it.
I would have asked the cyclist to ask someone else.