[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.mamajustice.com\/blog\/cattle-dogs-and-deer-who-pays-when-an-animal-puts-a-rider-down-on-highway-45\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.mamajustice.com\/blog\/cattle-dogs-and-deer-who-pays-when-an-animal-puts-a-rider-down-on-highway-45\/","headline":"Cattle, Dogs, and Deer: Who Pays When an Animal Puts a Rider Down on Highway 45","name":"Cattle, Dogs, and Deer: Who Pays When an Animal Puts a Rider Down on Highway 45","description":"When a motorcycle rider crashes into an animal on Highway 45 in Columbus, the party who pays depends entirely on the type of animal. If you hit cattle or a dog, the animal’s owner is responsible for paying the money for your bills if they negligently let the animal roam free. If you hit a...","datePublished":"2026-08-27","dateModified":"2026-08-27","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.mamajustice.com\/blog\/author\/mamajustice\/#Person","name":"Mama Justice - MW Law Firm","url":"https:\/\/www.mamajustice.com\/blog\/author\/mamajustice\/","identifier":6,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e447862997b79ed22fd71bb87a11629345f26dae1c12efb64a217ade91b0f64b?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e447862997b79ed22fd71bb87a11629345f26dae1c12efb64a217ade91b0f64b?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Mama Justice - MW Law Firm","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.mamajustice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Mama-Justice-Logo-Desktop.png","url":"https:\/\/www.mamajustice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Mama-Justice-Logo-Desktop.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.mamajustice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Animal-in-Road-Mama-Justice.webp","url":"https:\/\/www.mamajustice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Animal-in-Road-Mama-Justice.webp","height":483,"width":724},"url":"https:\/\/www.mamajustice.com\/blog\/cattle-dogs-and-deer-who-pays-when-an-animal-puts-a-rider-down-on-highway-45\/","about":["Motorcycle Accidents"],"wordCount":818,"articleBody":"When a motorcycle rider crashes into an animal on Highway 45 in Columbus, the party who pays depends entirely on the type of animal. If you hit cattle or a dog, the animal’s owner is responsible for paying the money for your bills if they negligently let the animal roam free. If you hit a wild deer, however, your own motorcycle insurance policy must cover the damages. We know how terrifying it is to go down at highway speeds because a stray animal darted into your lane. You are likely dealing with crushing physical pain, a wrecked bike, and the stress of missed paychecks. You have been through enough. Let us take it from here.Highway 45 is a beautiful but dangerous stretch of road in Lowndes County where riders often encounter everything from loose livestock to neighborhood pets. When a property owner is careless, they put your life at risk. They messed with the wrong family. We are here to hold them accountable.Livestock on the Highway: The Open Range MythMany people mistakenly believe Mississippi is a totally “open range” state where cows and horses have the right of way. This is simply not true for major roads. Mississippi law is very clear about livestock on federal and state paved roads like Highway 45. Farmers and ranchers are legally required to keep their cattle and horses fenced in.If an owner is negligent and their cow wanders onto the highway, causing or contributing to a collision, the owner is legally liable for your injuries. The insurance companies for these massive farming operations will try to claim the fence simply broke by accident. We do not let them get away with excuses. We will investigate their property to prove that they ignored broken gates, faulty wiring, or known escape routes.Dogs Chasing Motorcycles in Lowndes CountyA dog chasing a vehicle might seem like a minor nuisance to someone inside a car, but to a motorcycle rider, it is a deadly hazard. While Mississippi operates under specific rules for dog bites, local county laws and general negligence rules require owners to keep their pets out of the roadway.If a homeowner lets their aggressive dog run loose near the highway, and it causes you to wreck, their homeowner’s insurance policy is responsible for paying your claim. It is their job to secure their pets. When they fail to do so, they may be held financially responsible for your medical bills and other resulting expenses.Hitting a Deer: Using Your Own PolicyColumbus and the surrounding areas are surrounded by dense woods, making deer strikes a common reality. Because wild animals do not have owners, there is nobody to sue.In these cases, we look directly at your own motorcycle insurance policy. Depending on whether you actually struck the deer or swerved and laid the bike down, we can file a claim under your comprehensive or uninsured motorist coverage to get you the money you need for your recovery.Note from Mama Justice: Never give a recorded statement to the insurance adjuster without talking to us first. They are looking for ways to pay you less, not ways to help you heal. They will use your own words against you to protect their profit margins.Frequently Asked QuestionsCan I hold a farmer accountable if I hit their cow in the dark?Yes. Mississippi law holds livestock owners liable for crashes on state and federal highways if they negligently failed to secure their animals. Darkness does not excuse a farmer from maintaining their fences.What if a dog caused me to swerve but I never actually hit it?You can still hold the dog owner accountable. If an unrestrained dog runs into your path and forces you to lay the bike down to avoid a worse collision, the owner’s negligence was still the cause of your injuries. We just need to identify the dog and its owner.Will my normal car insurance pay for my injuries if I hit a deer on my motorcycle?No. Auto insurance policies do not automatically cover your motorcycle. You must have a specific motorcycle insurance policy with comprehensive or collision coverage to get money for your bills after hitting a wild animal.Let Mama Justice Take the Burden Off Your ShouldersTaking on farm owners and giant insurance corporations is not something you should ever do alone. You are trying to heal from severe road rash and broken bones, and the insurance company is already looking for ways to deny your claim. We are the shield between you and predatory insurance companies. You do not pay us a dime unless we win your case. Let Mama take the burden off your shoulders so you can focus entirely on healing. Call or message Mama Justice today for a free consultation. We will treat you like family, and we will protect what is yours."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.mamajustice.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Cattle, Dogs, and Deer: Who Pays When an Animal Puts a Rider Down on Highway 45","item":"https:\/\/www.mamajustice.com\/blog\/cattle-dogs-and-deer-who-pays-when-an-animal-puts-a-rider-down-on-highway-45\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]