Deer-Related Crashes: Understanding New York State's Unique Approach To Auto Insurance Reimbursement

If you're involved in a road accident with a deer in New York State, your insurance company will reimburse you for damages as long as you have comprehensive coverage. Comprehensive coverage is optional and pays for damage to your car not related to a collision. However, if you only carry liability coverage, you will likely not be covered for hitting a deer.

Comprehensive insurance covers deer accidents

If you're leasing, financing your car, or driving in an area with a high deer population, it's important to know what to do in the event of a collision with a deer. While it's not a required form of coverage, comprehensive insurance will cover any damage to your car caused by hitting a deer or other animals on the road.

Comprehensive insurance is an optional coverage you can add to your auto policy. It covers damage to your car caused by events out of your control, such as hitting an animal. It's usually paired with collision coverage, which provides physical protection for your vehicle.

Comprehensive insurance covers any damage to your car caused by hitting a deer or other animals. This includes any animal that damages your vehicle, such as an animal running into your car or burrowing into it. If you run over an animal, or if an animal chews or damages internal wiring, you're covered.

What to do if you hit a deer

If you hit a deer, take the following steps:

• Move your vehicle to the side of the road, away from the animal, and turn on your hazard lights.
• Stay inside the vehicle until it's safe to exit.
• Notify the police and let them know if the animal is blocking the road.
• Document the accident by taking pictures of the road, surroundings, damages, and any injuries to you or your passengers.
• Contact your insurance company to file a claim.
• Check if your car is safe to drive by looking for leaking fluids, broken lights, or a hood that won't stay latched. If necessary, get your car towed.

Will hitting a deer raise my insurance rates?

Whether or not hitting a deer will raise your insurance rates depends on the state you live in and your insurer. In some states, your rate won't increase because you're typically not considered at fault when you hit a wild animal. However, your rates may still increase, especially if you're found at fault or if you have a history of claims.

Collision insurance covers crashes into objects

Collision insurance is particularly useful if you'd have a hard time paying to repair or replace your wrecked car on your own. It's worth noting that collision insurance doesn't cover damage to another person's vehicle or property, nor does it cover repairs to an object you crash into. Additionally, collision insurance won't cover damage from non-traffic events like running into a deer, extreme weather, or theft.

The cost of collision insurance varies depending on factors such as the car you drive, your driving record, age, and where you live. On average, the annual cost for collision insurance is $381, but this can differ significantly from person to person.

When deciding whether to get collision insurance, consider the value of your car. Collision insurance becomes less valuable over time because it will never pay out more than the car's value. If your car is older and has a low market value, collision coverage won't pay out much, if anything, in a total loss.

In summary, collision insurance provides financial protection and peace of mind for drivers who want to ensure they can cover the costs of repairing or replacing their vehicle after a collision with an object or another vehicle.

Liability insurance protects against harm to others

Liability insurance is a type of insurance that protects individuals and businesses from financial losses due to claims of property damage or injury to others. It is often required for automotive insurance policies, product manufacturers, and professionals in fields such as medicine and law.

Liability insurance covers legal costs and payouts for which the insured party would be found liable. This includes medical costs incurred by a customer who gets hurt on the insured's property, as well as any on-the-job injuries sustained by employees. It also covers legal defense expenses and any settlement offerings or awards mandated by legal judgments.

Liability insurance is particularly important for small business owners, as it protects their personal finances in the event of a business-related lawsuit. Without liability insurance, business owners may be held personally liable for debts and other issues, such as being sued.

There are different types of liability insurance, including general liability insurance, professional liability insurance, and product liability insurance. General liability insurance covers bodily harm to others, property damage, and personal injury. Professional liability insurance protects against errors in the products or services a business sells, while product liability insurance is for businesses that manufacture or distribute products for sale.

In the context of auto insurance, liability insurance covers damages to other people or their property in the event of an accident. Comprehensive insurance, on the other hand, covers damage to the insured's own vehicle, such as in the case of hitting a deer.

No-fault insurance covers personal injury

No-fault insurance, also known as personal injury protection (PIP), covers personal injury in the event of a car accident, regardless of who is at fault. This type of insurance is mandatory in some states, including New York, and optional in others. It covers the policyholder's medical expenses and loss of income, as well as their passengers' medical expenses. PIP coverage may also pay for lost wages or reimburse you if you need to hire someone to help with household chores while you recover.

In the state of New York, PIP coverage is capped at $50,000 per person, and the lost wages payout is 80% of income, up to a maximum of $2,000 per month.

It's important to note that no-fault insurance typically doesn't cover vehicle damage. That would be covered by collision insurance or the other driver's liability policy. Additionally, no-fault insurance usually doesn't pay damages for pain and suffering. However, in some no-fault states, you may be able to sue an at-fault driver for severe injuries depending on the circumstances.

In the context of accidents involving deer, it's worth noting that comprehensive insurance covers damage to your vehicle caused by collisions with animals, including deer. Medical bills resulting from such accidents would be covered by medical payments coverage or personal injury protection (PIP) coverage.

Uninsured motorist coverage for hit-and-run accidents

Uninsured motorist coverage is a type of car insurance that can pay for medical expenses if you or your passengers are injured in an auto accident caused by:

• A driver who doesn’t have any liability car insurance.
• A hit-and-run driver.
• A driver whose insurance company denies coverage or goes out of business.

If you are the victim of a hit-and-run, your insurance policy may help cover the cost of repairs and injuries. Depending on your policy and state, the following insurance coverages may cover a hit-and-run:

• Collision
• Uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD)
• Uninsured motorist bodily injury (UMBI)
• Personal injury protection (PIP)
• Medical payments (Med Pay)

If you are injured in a hit-and-run, you can file a claim under your uninsured motorist bodily injury (UMBI) coverage for your medical expenses. If you have uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) coverage, you can file a claim for damage to your vehicle.

In some states, uninsured motorist coverage for property damage (UMPD) will not cover hit-and-run incidents. In this case, you would need collision coverage for your insurance to cover the damage to your vehicle from a hit-and-run driver.

Uninsured motorist coverage is mandatory in many states and highly recommended for all drivers. About one in eight motorists is uninsured, according to the Insurance Research Council. Without this coverage, you could end up paying for medical bills or vehicle repairs out of your own pocket if you're in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver.

Frequently asked questions