In the Sverdlovsk region, a farmer faced a difficult setback after losing two of his cows in a road accident, and the incident sparked a legal dispute over compensation. The report comes from Sverdlovsk Regional Television, which covered the case and its aftermath.
The accident took place two years ago near the village of Studenchesky. The farmer, named Vafadar Galandarov, relied on Marta and Maya, his two cows, as essential assets for his livelihood. While a shepherd guided the animals along a road just ten feet from a marked cattle drive area, a Kia Rio left the roadway, plunged into a ditch, and collided with the cattle. The driver initially sought to shift responsibility to the animal owner, asserting that the cows caused the incident by being on the road. Galandarov recalls that the driver argued the cows were to blame and claimed the collision did not merit compensation.
According to Galandarov, the speed in that stretch may have contributed to the event. He notes that the vehicle struck the ditch with enough force to cause significant damage, and he questions whether a cow could be held legally responsible in the same way as a human driver might be. The driver, Nadezhda Morozova, who was in the vehicle at the time, describes the moment of impact and the speed at which she was traveling. Morozova maintains that her own speed remained around 50 kilometers per hour as she monitored the animals and attempted to slow down. She describes a split-second sequence in which the cows appeared suddenly, and she attributes the collision to a rapid and unexpected maneuver by the animals. She also expresses frustration with the situation, noting that the incident would have been less disruptive if the cows had not suddenly darted into the path of the car.
Following the accident, the driver refused to pay compensation to the farmer and decided to pursue a civil action herself. In response, the district court issued a ruling that shifted the burden and costs toward the cow owner. The decision requires Galandarov to cover 300,000 rubles for vehicle repairs and legal expenses, a judgment that he does not accept as final. He has indicated that he intends to pursue further avenues for relief by appealing to higher authorities and exploring all potential remedies available through the legal system. The case illustrates the complexity of liability when animals are involved in road incidents and underscores the challenges that rural farmers can face when seeking recourse for property damage and related costs.
As the dispute unfolds, the broader issue of how liability is assigned in animal-related traffic events remains a subject of discussion. The study of similar incidents reveals a range of outcomes depending on local statutes, the conduct of the vehicle operator, and the circumstances surrounding the presence of livestock near roadways. In this instance, the farmer’s experience highlights the tension between the expectations of drivers to exercise caution and the practical realities of rural farming, where animals sometimes wander near transport routes. The court’s decision to assign financial responsibility to the animal owner signals a legal premise that property owners bear some accountability for the risks associated with their livestock, particularly when this risk intersects with public roadways. The farmer, however, is not prepared to concede quietly and continues to seek a resolution that reflects both the physical damage and the emotional toll of losing valuable herd animals.
In related notes, a prior report covered a separate incident involving a Polish broadcaster who became distracted by a phone and struck a dog while driving, adding another dimension to the public conversation about road safety and accountability for animal welfare. While the two cases differ in context, they share a common thread: the need for clear guidelines on responsibility and safe driving practices to prevent harm to animals and people alike.