Auto Insurance: Deer Damage Covered?

If you hit a deer with your car, you may be wondering if your auto insurance will cover the damage. The answer depends on the type of insurance you have. Comprehensive car insurance covers damage caused by hitting a deer, but if you only have liability insurance, you will have to pay for the damage yourself. Liability insurance only covers bodily injury and property damage that you cause to another person or their property in an accident. Therefore, it is important to review your insurance policy and understand what is covered before getting into an accident.

Comprehensive insurance covers deer damage

If you live in an area with a high deer population, you may be aware that deer collisions with vehicles are a common occurrence. Deer behaviour can be unpredictable, and even if you're paying attention, a deer may run into the road and hit your car. When this happens, the accidents can cause significant damage to your vehicle.

Comprehensive insurance can also cover the cash value of your car. So, if your vehicle is totalled, the insurance company will probably pay you the value of your car, leaving you to choose whether to put that money toward repairs or buy a new car. However, it's important to note that comprehensive insurance will not cover any injuries you may sustain from hitting a deer.

If you swerve to avoid hitting a deer and end up colliding with another vehicle or object, comprehensive insurance will not cover that. In this case, you would need collision coverage. Collision insurance protects you when you're in an accident with another car or hit an object like a tree or pole. It also covers single-car accidents.

Before a collision occurs, make sure you're protected with the right type of insurance. Damages from auto-deer crashes are typically covered under comprehensive insurance, not collision.

Liability insurance doesn't cover deer damage

If you have liability insurance and you hit a deer, your policy will cover any damage to another person's vehicle or property, but it will not cover the cost to repair your own vehicle. This is because liability insurance only covers bodily injury and property damage that you cause to another person or people in an accident.

If you want to be covered for damage to your own vehicle in the event of a collision with a deer, you will need comprehensive coverage as part of your car insurance policy. Comprehensive coverage can be added to your auto policy and will cover damage to your car caused by events that are out of your control, such as hitting a deer or other animal.

If you swerve to avoid hitting a deer and crash, this would be considered a collision claim, not a comprehensive claim, as your vehicle did not come into contact with the animal. In this case, if you have full coverage insurance, your collision coverage may apply. However, it is important to note that swerving to avoid a deer can cause you to lose control of your vehicle or cause a multi-vehicle crash or rollover accident. Therefore, it may be safer to hit the deer than to risk a more serious accident.

It is worth noting that even if you have comprehensive coverage, you will still need to pay your comprehensive deductible amount before your insurance company will cover the remaining cost of repairs. Additionally, while comprehensive claims typically do not increase insurance rates as much as collision claims, you may still see an increase in your premium at your next renewal if you file a claim for an accident involving a deer.

Collision insurance covers swerving to avoid deer

Collision insurance covers damage to your vehicle if you swerve to avoid a deer and crash. This is distinct from comprehensive insurance, which covers damage to your vehicle from hitting a deer.

If you swerve to avoid a deer and crash, this is considered a collision claim. Collision insurance covers damage to your vehicle if you collide with another car, object, or overturn your car. This is different from comprehensive insurance, which covers damage caused by events out of your control, such as hitting an animal.

Most car safety experts advise against swerving to avoid a deer. Swerving may cause you to lose control of your vehicle, potentially leading to a multi-vehicle crash or a rollover accident. If you swerve and hit another car, you may be deemed at fault and held responsible for the damage to the other vehicle.

If you have full coverage insurance, which includes both collision and comprehensive insurance, you will be financially protected if you hit a deer or swerve to avoid one and crash. When purchasing comprehensive coverage, consider the deductible amount. A higher deductible typically results in a lower premium, but ensure you can afford the deductible amount in the event of a claim.

Deductibles must be paid for deer damage claims

If you have comprehensive coverage as part of your car insurance policy, you will be covered for a collision with a deer. However, you will still have to pay your comprehensive deductible amount. When you added comprehensive coverage to your insurance policy, you chose a deductible amount (typically between $100 and $2,000). If you hit a deer and file a claim, you will have to pay that deductible amount, and your insurer will cover the rest.

For example, if a deer causes $2,000 worth of damage to your car and you have a $500 comprehensive deductible, your insurance company will pay out $1,500 if the claim is approved, which is the cost to repair your car minus your deductible. If hitting the deer totals your car, the insurance company will pay you the book value minus your deductible amount.

The liability portion of your car insurance does not cover damage to your own vehicle caused by hitting a deer. Liability insurance only covers bodily injury and property damage that you cause to another person or people in an accident. If you hit a deer, your liability insurance policy will cover any damage (up to policy limits) that the collision causes to another person's vehicle or property, but it will not cover the cost to repair your own vehicle.

If you only carry liability coverage, you likely won't be covered for hitting a deer. Damages from auto-deer crashes are typically covered under comprehensive insurance, not collision.

Deer damage doesn't count as an at-fault accident

If you do hit a deer, it is important to take the necessary steps to ensure your safety and the safety of others. Pull over to the side of the road, turn on your hazard lights, and stay inside your vehicle. If the deer is blocking the road, alert the authorities to remove it and prevent any potential accidents. Document the incident by taking pictures of the roadway, your surroundings, and any damage to your vehicle. If there are any witnesses, get their account of what occurred and their contact information.

It is also important to have the right type of insurance coverage to protect yourself financially in case of a deer collision. Comprehensive coverage will cover damages to your car from hitting a deer, while medical payments coverage or personal injury protection (PIP) coverage will cover any medical bills. On the other hand, liability insurance will not cover damage to your own vehicle but will cover damage to another person's vehicle or property if you hit a deer.

While hitting a deer is not considered your fault, it is still possible that your insurance rates may increase after such an incident. This is because, while you are not deemed at fault, insurance companies can still choose to increase premiums due to animal-vehicle collisions. Therefore, it is important to review your insurance policy and understand your coverage before getting into any accidents.

Frequently asked questions