Welcome to Deer Season (Part Two)

Ways to prevent a deer season accident and the how your insurance comes into play.

Deer season in the fall sees more deer accidents than any other time of the year.

In part one, we started talking about deer season and why it is a dangerous time for drivers as well as the deer. We also covered one of the most dangerous things that you can do when you encounter a deer.

Here in part two, we cover additional things you can do to prevent a deer accident, states in which you need to be most vigilant in, as well as how your insurance plays a part if you do hit a deer.

What Else Can I Do to Prevent a Deer Season Accident?

A letter to the editor published in the Times in Munster, Indiana (August 2011):

“A lot of deer get hit by cars west of Crown Point on U.S. 231. There are too many cars to have the deer crossing here. The deer crossing sign needs to be moved to a road with less traffic.”

-Unlike the driver above, be cautious in areas that have deer crossing signs. These signs aren’t put out on the road at random, and they are not like school crossings where the kids purposely go to that location to safely cross the road. These signs get put out to advise drivers that your chances of encountering a deer are higher in these areas and to be on the watch for them.

-Be careful at dusk when the deer are most active.

-Use your brights (high-beams) whenever you can. It will allow you to see beyond the road, giving you a chance to see any deer that may be along the side of the road so you can take care when you approach them.

Who is Most Likely to Hit a Deer During Deer Season?

State Farm insurance scoured their statistics and provided a list of the top ten states where you are most likely to hit a deer. Each state was ranked by the odds in which they were most likely to hit a deer, and not by how many deer related accidents they had.

The top 10 states you are most likely to hit a deer with your vehicle:

10) Virginia

9) Arkansas

8) Minnesota

7) Wisconsin

6) Montana

5) Pennsylvania

4) Michigan

3) Iowa

2) South Dakota

1) West Virginia

West Virginia actually topped the list with a 1 in 39.9 chance of drivers getting into an accident with a deer. The next closest state (South Dakota) only had a 1 in 68 chance of a deer vs. car accident.

So where is the best place to drive without a chance of hitting a deer? That would be Hawaii.

Drivers in Hawaii only have a 1 in 6,801 chance of hitting a deer.

What Happens to My Insurance After I hit a Deer?

Any damages that you claim on your insurance policy from hitting a deer will fall under your comprehensive coverage. This is not considered an at-fault accident, nor is it a not-at-fault accident; it is just a comprehensive claim.

If you have liability only coverage, your insurance policy will not cover the damages from the deer. Coverage is also not available by any government agency that cares for the forest or the road.

Because you cannot control when a deer will run out in front of you and damage or total your car, deer season is a great example as to why it is highly recommended that you should carry more than just liability insurance on your vehicle.