Does My Insurance Cover Hitting a Deer?

Comprehensive coverage can protect your car from damage caused by situations beyond your control, including colliding with a deer or other animal. Your car must come into touch with the animal for your comprehensive coverage to cover the collision.

Accidents involving deer are covered by comprehensive insurance. The reason why swerving to avoid hitting a deer can result in serious repercussions is this. Collisions occur when your car collides with an inanimate object, and collision coverage typically has higher deductibles and premiums than comprehensive policies, which often include animal disasters.

Comprehensive insurance is meant to pay for things that collision insurance doesn’t cover. It’s known as “other than collision” coverage in some states. Check what comprehensive auto insurance covers below.

·       Weather damage

·       Theft

·       Vandalism

·       Animal damage

Because of the “animal damage” clause, you will be covered if you strike a deer. This can include any animal that damages your car, not just deer-related damage. You’re protected if you run over an animal or if an animal chews or breaks interior circuitry.

Following a deer collision, a tow may be required. If you have comprehensive coverage, it will be included as part of your claim. If you don’t have comprehensive insurance but have roadside assistance, your tow will be covered as well.

Will Colliding With A Deer Raise My Insurance Rates?

If you file a claim for hitting a deer, your insurance premiums may rise. Any insurance claim you file may have an impact on the amount you pay for car insurance. Your driving record, the insurance provider with which you are insured, and claims history, with some other factors, will all influence how much your vehicle insurance will cost when you renew or when you purchase new coverage.

Although a comprehensive claim does not typically raise insurance rates like a collision claim, if you file a claim for a deer accident, you may see an increase at your next renewal.

What Is Your Deductible If You Hit A Deer?

If you hit a deer and have to file a claim, your comprehensive deductible amount determines how much you pay. For example, if a deer damages your car for $3,000 and you have a $500 comprehensive deductible, you are responsible for $500 and your insurance company will pay the remaining $2,500 to repair your vehicle. If you total your car after being hit by a deer, your insurance company will pay you the book value less your deductible.

What Are The Precautions To Take To Avoid Hitting A Deer?

Hitting a deer is both costly and dangerous. While animal collisions are sometimes unavoidable, there are precautions you can take to reduce the likelihood of hitting a deer, especially during peak seasons.

§  Recognize when you should be on the lookout: When deer are most energetic, which is at dawn, shortly before dusk, and several hours after sunset, the chances of colliding with one are greatest. During the day, deer will seek out a safe place to rest in order to avoid predators and overheating.

§  Give it your best shot getting to your destination: Slower speeds do not add a significant amount of time to the average commute, but they do provide significantly better collision protection.

§  Obey animal crossing: Because deer are creatures of habit, they will return to the same spots for generations. These warnings should be taken seriously because they indicate a frequent crossing point.

§  Practice protective driving habits: Actively scan approaching shoulders and slow down to increase your chances of avoiding a collision.

§  Make your presence known: If notice a deer in your route, flash your lights and/or sound your horn. The expression “deer in the headlights” is accurate; breaking the deer’s concentration increases the likelihood that it will avoid your path.

§  Continue on your present lane: Regardless of your instincts, never swerve to avoid a deer in the road. When the animal decides to take a break in either direction, you may swerve to avoid a collision, and your attempt to avoid a collision may result in one.

What To Do After A Deer Collision

Ø  Move your vehicle to a safe place.  Pack to the side of the roadway and switch on your hazard lights if necessary. If you must exit your vehicle, keep off the road and out of the path of approaching traffic. Deer are most active around twilight and dawn, when you or your car may be less apparent to other drivers.

Ø  Call the police. Notify authorities if the deer is obstructing traffic and endangering other cars. If the collision causes injury or property damage, you may be required to file an official report. This report may also be beneficial when submitting an insurance claim.

Ø  Document the incident. Snap pictures of the roadway, your surroundings, vehicle damage, and any injuries you or your passengers have incurred if it is safe to do so. Take down their narrative of what happened and ask for their contact information if witnesses stop.

Ø  Stay away from the animal. A scared, injured deer may attack you with its powerful legs and sharp hooves.

Ø  Don’t take the safety of your automobile for granted. After a collision with a deer, double-check that your car is still operable. Examine the vehicle for leaking fluid, loose parts, tire damage, damaged lights, a hood that won’t lock, and other potential safety issues. Call for a tow if your vehicle appears to be unsafe in any manner.

Make sure you have the correct type of insurance before an incident occurs. Damages from car-deer collisions are often covered by comprehensive insurance rather than collision insurance.

Do I Need To File A Police Report If I Hit A Deer?

In general, automobile insurance companies do not require you to fill out a police report in order to file a comprehensive claim for hitting a deer, but you should still call authorities. You will be able to file this claim under your comprehensive coverage if you have a police report to back up your claim.

If the claims adjuster is unable to verify your claim that you struck a deer, the claim may be filed under your collision policy instead. Even if your insurance company does not demand a police report, your state may require one for incidents involving bodily harm or property damage in excess of a particular amount.

Any mishap, even hitting a deer, should be reported to the police, especially if there are injuries. The police can also help remove the deer from the road, thereby preventing another accident. If you’re not sure whether or not to file a police report after an accident, call the non-emergency police phone line for advice. After a deer collision, move your car to a safe spot before getting out to evaluate the damage.

How Can You File A Claim After Colliding With A Deer?

It’s best to call your insurance carrier as soon as possible to start the claims process after you’ve moved yourself and your automobile out of harm’s way and assessed any immediate injuries. The steps are as follows:

§  Contact your insurance company’s claims department: You may be directed to fill out a claims form or have your information taken over the phone by a person.

§  Provide documentation: Photographic evidence is critical in this situation because it is frequently the only proof you will have that damage occurred.

§  Verify mechanic: If your automobile isn’t already in the shop, find out if you’re required to utilize an approved repair facility and, if so, where you can find one in your region.

§  Ask about a rental car: When you hit another vehicle, your insurance may pay temporary rental fees, but this isn’t necessarily the case when you hit an animal. Before you spend money on anything that might not be covered, be sure you ask.

§  Have the necessary repairs made: You will be responsible for paying your deductible as well as any expenditures in excess of your coverage limits directly to the repair shop.

Conclusion

Deer collisions are common in US. Knowing what to do if you come across a deer will help you avoid serious injuries and save money on your insurance. Make certain you know what your insurance covers before filing a claim. Check your deductibles. When they apply, you should be aware. Please contact your agent if you have any queries concerning your