Hitting a Deer: Is It Collision or Comprehensive?
Unsure how your auto insurance covers deer collisions? Learn the key distinctions between comprehensive and collision claims and what steps to take.
When a vehicle strikes a deer, drivers often wonder how their auto insurance policy will respond. This common scenario can lead to confusion regarding the specific coverages that apply to vehicle damage. Understanding the distinctions between different types of auto insurance is important for knowing how these incidents are covered.
Understanding Auto Insurance Coverages
Auto insurance policies include various coverages designed to protect against different types of financial losses. Two primary types of coverage for damage to your own vehicle are collision and comprehensive. Collision coverage helps pay for damage to your car resulting from an accident with another vehicle or object, such as a pole, fence, guardrail, or if your car rolls over.
Comprehensive coverage addresses damage to your vehicle from events not related to a collision with another vehicle or object. These incidents include theft, vandalism, fire, natural disasters like hail or floods, falling objects, and striking an animal.
Coverage for Deer Collisions
Damage from hitting a deer or other animals is generally covered under comprehensive insurance, not collision coverage. This is because striking an animal is viewed as an act of nature, not an accident caused by driver action or contact with another vehicle. For comprehensive coverage to apply, your vehicle must make physical contact with the animal.
If a driver swerves to avoid a deer and hits another object like a tree, guardrail, or another car, the resulting damage is covered under collision coverage. This occurs because the damage stems from an impact with a fixed object or another vehicle, not direct contact with the animal itself.
Immediate Actions After a Deer Collision
After colliding with a deer, prioritize the safety of yourself and any passengers. Move your vehicle to a safe location on the side of the road, if possible, and activate your hazard lights. Check for any injuries to occupants and, if necessary, contact emergency medical services. Avoid approaching an injured or deceased animal, as it can behave unpredictably and pose a risk.
Contact law enforcement if the deer is blocking the roadway, causing a hazard, or if significant vehicle damage or injuries have occurred. A police report, while not always mandatory for an animal collision claim, can be valuable documentation for your insurance company. Document the scene by taking photographs of your vehicle’s damage, the animal if it is safe to do so, and the surrounding area. Note the time and location of the incident, and if there are any witnesses, gather their contact information.
Submitting Your Insurance Claim
Once you have ensured safety and gathered initial information, contact your insurance provider as soon as possible to report the incident. You can reach your insurer via phone, their online portal, or a mobile application. Provide all the details you collected, including descriptions of the damage, the incident’s circumstances, and any police report numbers if applicable.
When filing a claim for deer damage, your comprehensive coverage deductible will apply. This deductible is the amount you pay out-of-pocket before your insurance coverage pays for remaining repair costs. Deductible amounts vary, often from $500 to $1,000. Your insurance company will then guide you through the subsequent steps, which may include vehicle inspection, obtaining repair estimates, and establishing a timeline for resolving your claim.