If You Hit a Deer, Will Your Insurance Go Up?

Colliding with an animal, especially a deer, can be unsettling. Beyond immediate safety concerns and vehicle damage, drivers often worry about the impact on car insurance rates. Understanding how such an incident affects your insurance is important.

Insurance Coverage for Animal Collisions

Damage to your vehicle from an animal impact is typically covered under comprehensive insurance. This coverage addresses damages not resulting from collisions with other vehicles or objects. Comprehensive coverage extends to non-collision events like theft, vandalism, fire, certain weather-related damage, and animal impacts.

Comprehensive coverage differs from collision insurance, which applies when your car hits another vehicle or an inanimate object. Since deer collisions fall under comprehensive coverage, insurers often treat them differently than at-fault collision claims. This distinction can influence future insurance premiums.

Factors Affecting Insurance Premiums

Whether a deer collision claim increases your premiums depends on several factors. Insurers consider your prior claims history; a clean record may result in less impact than multiple claims. Each insurance company also has its own policies for comprehensive claim surcharges or rate adjustments.

State insurance regulations also influence how claims affect premiums, as laws vary on rate adjustments. The relationship between damage cost and your comprehensive deductible is significant; if repairs are marginally above your deductible, filing a claim might offer minimal financial benefit compared to a potential rate adjustment. While a single comprehensive claim may not significantly alter your rates, multiple comprehensive claims over a short period could lead to a more noticeable premium increase.

Immediate Steps After a Deer Collision

Immediately after a deer collision, prioritize safety. Pull your vehicle to a safe location, activate hazard lights, and check yourself and passengers for injuries. If injured, seek medical attention promptly.

Once safe, document the scene. Take photographs of vehicle damage, the animal’s location if visible, and the surroundings. Contact local law enforcement or animal control, especially for injuries, substantial vehicle damage, or if the animal poses a traffic hazard. Avoid approaching an injured or deceased animal, as they can be unpredictable or carry diseases.

Considering Filing an Insurance Claim

Deciding whether to file an insurance claim after a deer collision requires assessing your vehicle’s damage. Obtain a repair estimate to understand the financial implications. Compare this cost with your comprehensive deductible.

If repair costs are close to or less than your deductible, paying out-of-pocket may be more prudent than filing a claim. While comprehensive claims typically impact premiums less than at-fault accidents, they can still lead to minor adjustments. Weigh the cost of out-of-pocket repairs against a potential slight premium increase and the long-term impact on your claims history when deciding.