Verdict
Parcel delivery driver flees on Porsche – dog owner is liable
April 27, 2026 – 4:33 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
Three barking dogs drove a parcel delivery person onto the hood of a car. A dispute then broke out over the assumption of the costs, which now ended with a clear verdict.
A parcel delivery person who escaped from dogs in Bavaria and escaped from the bonnet of a car did not have to be liable for any possible damage. The Munich district court decided this in a case published on Monday and dismissed the lawsuit. The parcel delivery man had rung a doorbell, whereupon three dogs – two Dalmatians and a small mixed breed dog – stormed towards the man barking. The parcel delivery man then took refuge on the hood of a Porsche Cayenne (ref: 223 C 6838/25) parked next to the house.
The plaintiff claims that this caused scratches and dents on the hood, necessitating a repaint. The costs for this were estimated at just under 2,724 euros. Since both the parcel carrier and his employer refused to settle the damage after the incident in September 2024, the car owner sued at the Munich District Court.
The court dismissed the lawsuit in February. Among other things, it doubted that the damage actually came from the incident, also because the plaintiff only took photos of it months later. But even if the parcel delivery person caused the scratches, the delivery person’s liability is excluded because the plaintiff is partly at fault due to his animal owner liability.
According to the car owner and a witness, the dogs were still three to four meters away from the parcel delivery person when he escaped onto the hood of the car. The dogs were also not aggressive. However, the court found that this did not release the plaintiff from his liability as an animal owner.
It was enough that the barking and running towards the parcel delivery person frightened him and triggered an escape reflex. The plaintiff should have kept his three dogs under better control. The judgment is final.
German law generally provides for strict liability of the animal owner. According to Section 833 of the Civil Code, the animal owner is in principle liable for all damage caused by the typical behavior of his animal. It doesn’t matter whether the pet owner made mistakes himself. The pet owner is also often liable for accidents caused by dogs barking or suddenly appearing.
To protect themselves against the financial consequences of such an accident, consumer advocates advise owners of dogs and horses to take out pet owner liability insurance. Dog liability insurance is available for as little as 50 euros per year and is mandatory in some federal states. Damage caused by cats, rabbits and other small animals is also covered by private liability insurance.
