Assess injury and property-damage claims involving animals, including accidents, business risks and disputed insurance cover.
Identify the responsible keeper
Legal ownership and keeper status are not necessarily identical. Control, costs, use and risk can be relevant. Claims may also involve a contractual supervisor, yard, trainer or other person whose conduct contributed to the incident.
Strict liability and statutory defences
Section 833 BGB provides an important basis for keeper liability. The exception for a domestic animal intended to serve the keeper’s profession, livelihood or maintenance has specific conditions. A species label alone does not decide it. The animal-specific risk, causation and any contributory fault require assessment.
Insurance is a separate contract
Cover depends on the policy, insured persons and activity, exclusions, notification duties and limits. Business use, riding arrangements or care by third parties should not be assumed to be covered. We review both the underlying claim and any disagreement with the insurer.
Example: a customer injured at a riding yard
The keeper’s responsibility, the instructor’s conduct, the customer’s experience and the actual accident sequence may all matter. Preserve witness details, photographs, risk instructions and insurance documents. Avoid binding admissions before the liability and insurance position has been examined.
Preparing for advice
Please provide the relevant contracts or official correspondence, a dated account of events and any technical or veterinary reports. Identify the parties, the country or German state involved, and every known deadline. We will agree the appropriate next step after reviewing the documents.
Detailed guides
Related services
Legal framework & further reading
Reviewed 8 November 2026. Examples are illustrative and do not describe reported client matters.
Discuss your matter
Send a short description, the parties involved and any deadline. We check conflicts and agree the scope and fees before starting work. For urgent matters, telephone our office as well.