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If you drive along roads where deer, elk or other animals might run in front of you, it’s worth investing in extra coverage in case you hit an animal or swerve and hit another car. A policy with liability, comprehensive and collision coverage will make sure that you have protection for almost any situation involving an animal. If you do hit an animal, you’ll want to call the policy for an accident report for your insurance claim and to properly take care of the animal.
Yes, but only if you buy comprehensive coverage on your car insurance. With comprehensive coverage, your policy will cover any damage to your car if you hit a deer or another animal. This coverage also protects you if you swerve to avoid an animal and hit a tree, pole or another object.
On the other hand, if you see a deer and swerve into another vehicle, your car insurance should already protect you for the liability damage to that person’s car or property.
You will need collision coverage on your policy to kick in for your car’s damage, rather than comprehensive. Because you hit another car, the accident is considered a collision. One way to make sure you’re protected in either case is to buy full coverage car insurance.
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Usually no, but it depends on your state and insurance. Hitting an animal is generally considered a not-at-fault accident that’s paid for under your comprehensive coverage. So it won’t affect your rates unless you make several claims around the same time.
But if it’s considered a collision — for example, if you swerve away from the deer and hit another car — your rates could go up. Also, some states allow your insurer to raise your rates after an accident where you aren’t at fault, in which case you could see a premium hike.
Drivers file nearly 2 million animal collision claims each year, according to an annual State Farm study. Overall, drivers have 1 in 116 chance of hitting an animal, but the chances are even higher in one of these states.
State | Chances of hitting an animal |
---|---|
1. West Virginia | 1 in 37 |
2. Montana | 1 in 47 |
3. Pennsylvania | 1 in 51 |
4. South Dakota | 1 in 53 |
5. Michigan | 1 in 54 |
6. Wisconsin | 1 in 57 |
7. Iowa | 1 in 58 |
8. Mississippi | 1 in 59 |
9. Minnesota | 1 in 64 |
10. Wyoming | 1 in 64 |
The steps for making an insurance claim after hitting an animal are similar to any other accident.
It’s often a good idea to make a claim if the cost of damage is more than your deductible, and you can’t pay out of pocket. If your deductible is higher than the repair costs, there’s no point in filing a claim unless another person or someone else’s property is involved.
If there’s significant damage to your car, you’ll save the most by filing a claim.
If you were driving in a residential area and hit someone’s stray pet, you’ll want to let the police handle the situation. Your instinct might be to try to get the animal into your car so you can get to the vet quickly. However, rely on the police and animal control to help the animal or give you instructions on what to do.
Be careful about approaching the animal. You don’t know if it’s tame or feral, and even tame pets can lash out when hurt or scared. The safest method is to call animal control and let them take care of the situation.
But if you choose to handle it yourself, make sure you have the supplies in your car to safely contain the animal temporarily until you can get to the vet or animal control. A box or leash is a good quick solution.
You’ll also want to protect yourself, so consider wrapping a shirt or jacket around your hands and arms to avoid getting bitten or scratched. Frequent animal rescuers will also know a can of wet cat food is a great lure for a stray or injured animal.
It’s difficult to predict animal collisions, but you can take some precautions to avoid hitting an animal in the first place.
Hitting an animal can be scary, expensive and heartbreaking — especially if it’s a pet. If it happens to you, pull over, call 911 and call a towing company or roadside assistance if your car isn’t safe enough to drive home. If you have comprehensive car insurance, you can also file a claim so your insurer can cover the cost of the repairs.
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