Insurance Coverage for Accidents with Deer – Regardless of how careful you try to be as a driver, we all must accept that sometimes accidents happen and that they can be beyond our control. Unfortunately, deer and car collisions in areas with high deer populations are not uncommon as deer have been shown to behave in an unpredictable way, especially towards incoming vehicles on the road even if the driver is paying attention. This unfortunate yet common accident can cause severe damage to your car and even injuries to the driver.
This question of “Does My Insurance Cover Hitting a Deer” have become so frequent and for most people, confusing thus as a driver especially if you are driving in areas with a high deer population, you need to be sure whether or not your insurance covers hitting a deer and what to do if it happens.
First of all, you must know that your liability insurance doesn’t cover an accident with a deer. Also, the collision coverage of your car insurance policy doesn’t also cover accidents involving deer.
Fortunately, in this blog, we will give you a breakdown of every necessary detail you need to know about insurance coverage for hitting a deer.
What insurance covers hitting a deer?
To protect yourself and mitigate damages from accidents involving deer, you need to get comprehensive coverage auto insurance. This sort of insurance coverage includes protection from collision, theft, vandalism, weather events, falling objects, fires, and damages from animals.
Although most people prefer to only get the basics probably because nearly all states require just some form of liability insurance coverage and not comprehensive coverage; however, protection from collisions involving deer and others as listed above is why full comprehensive auto insurance coverage is recommended.
Also check out: What is Comprehensive Coverage Auto Insurance and why do you need it?
Even though the collision coverage doesn’t cover damages that occur from collisions with deer or any other animal but there is a caveat, if damages occur while a driver tries to miss the deer or any animal and hits another object or vehicle, the collision coverage will take care of the damage(s).
Will hitting a deer increase my insurance rates?
Yes, when you file a claim for hitting a deer, you would potentially be increasing your insurance premium as a result. Your insurance company uses your driving records, claim history, car type, and other factors to determine how much you would pay for insurance at the point of renewal or when shopping for a new carrier. So any claim made from your previous round of coverage including claims from hitting a deer could potentially increase your premium at your next renewal.
What to Do If You Hit a Deer?
Like any form of accident, colliding with a deer could be traumatic so you’d need a calm head to take the next needed steps as outlined here:
- First of all, you need to properly move your car out of the highway and also move the animal to a safe location away from the road.
- Then check any injuries and also check any passengers that might be in your car for injuries, and call for medical assistance if needed.
- Next, you need to call the police and report the incident and any ensuing injuries to you, your passage if any, and the deer.
- Then you need to capture picture evidence where possible of your car and possibly the animal for your insurance claim.
- Finally, get in touch with your insurer and provide details of the accident to them as accurately as possible.
How to Avoid Hitting a Deer?
Accidents are unfortunate events that need to be avoided if possible, as a driver, you need to play your own part to avoid hitting a deer or any animal/object for that matter. The following are some tips to reduce the risk of hitting a deer:
- It is very important you pay attention to road warning signs and if you are driving through a deer-populated area, you need to pay extra attention to deer crossing signs in your route.
- Also, it goes without saying that you need to drive carefully to avoid any form of accidents and you also need to slow down when you see a deer warning sign.
- If you are driving in rural areas or places that are not well-lit, high-beam headlights are highly recommended.
- If you encounter a deer on your way, the right thing to do is to slow down first and then use your car horn to scare it/them away.
While they are five states with a high deer population and where you are most likely to hit a deer including:
- West Virginia
- Montana
- South Dakota
- Michigan
- Pennsylvania
Conclusion
Having an accident is not a good experience and as a driver, it’s better to avoid it as much as possible but since accidents are unpredictable events that are sometimes beyond one’s control, your best option is to protect yourself and your vehicle via comprehensive auto insurance which covers most eventualities.
See: How to Get Online Quotes for your Car Insurance
If you get into an accident involving a collision with a deer, the comprehensive coverage will take care of the damages regardless of whether you are visiting or passing through the state where such an accident happens. Finally, we recommend you consider getting comprehensive coverage since it extends to a wide range of benefits.