Insurance coverage for hitting a deer

Hitting a deer can cause some serious damage. That’s why you’ll need proper car insurance to cover hitting a deer with your car. However, you might wonder how much you’ll have to pay out of pocket. For this reason, it’s important to know what is covered and what is not before you make a claim.

Not having car insurance is illegal. However, it’s important to know that there are optional policies and coverages that you have to pay to opt into. A wildlife collision isn’t something you should shrug off because a large animal like a deer can cause some severe damage. Does insurance cover hitting a deer? Here is BrokerLink’s guide to insurance coverage for hitting a deer.

Does car insurance cover hitting a deer?

In short, yes! Car insurance will cover hitting a deer. However, you will have to speak to a representative from your insurance company to ensure you have the right coverage in place to provide coverage if you end up in one of these situations. By making a car insurance claim, you won’t have to pay for all the damage out of pocket. What about a deductible? Read on to find out more:

Paying a deductible

Even if you have the two coverages you need to cover hitting or almost hitting a deer, you will still have to pay a deductible. You have to pay this predetermined amount out of pocket, which you agreed upon with your insurer. Outside of the deductible, your insurance company will pay the repair costs. It’s important to know that if your car is totalled, there is a maximum amount that your insurance company will pay.

Speaking of insurance policies, you should know which ones cover hitting a deer. A deer accident can happen to anyone regardless of how observant they are. If you follow our safe driving tips, you won’t have to worry as much. Next, we will discuss the insurance policies you will need in case you run into a deer or other wildlife.

Types of car insurance you need to cover hitting a deer

When you purchase car insurance, there are a few types of policies you need to buy to operate your vehicle legally. However, only certain ones provide coverage if you end up hitting a deer. Let’s find out more about these car insurance policies:

Comprehensive coverage

If you hit a deer, you’ll need comprehensive coverage. Having this policy will help you pay for the costs of repairing or replacing your vehicle if you hit a deer. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. Your vehicle has to make physical contact with the deer for the coverage to take effect. For example, swerving to avoid hitting a deer and crashing into oncoming traffic falls under collision coverage.

Collision coverage

As mentioned earlier, if you don’t directly hit the deer, you will have to file a collision coverage insurance claim. Hitting a tree, fence, or another car to avoid hitting a deer is considered a collision. When this happens, the coverage will help you pay to repair your vehicle. However, you will have to pay a deductible regardless of the insurance claim you have to file.

These are the two policies you will need to have if a deer causes you to get into an accident involving a deer. It comes down to if you hit the deer or not. Wildlife can be unpredictable, but you should avoid swerving to avoid causing a multi-vehicle accident or a rollover. Contrary to popular belief, liability insurance will not cover hitting a deer. We’ll get into that in the next section.

Why liability insurance does not cover hitting a deer

Liability coverage works differently from its counterparts in the sense that it only compensates you for bodily injury or property damage you cause directly. If you get into an at-fault accident and damage another person’s vehicle, your liability coverage will come into effect. However, if the accident involves an animal like a deer, you have to opt into one of the previously mentioned policies.

Any licensed insurance agent will help you navigate the process of finding the right coverage. Getting into a car accident is a bit different from wildlife collisions. However, you might be wondering if the accident will increase your insurance premiums. We will get into that next.

The effect hitting a deer can have on your car insurance

Does hitting a deer increase your car insurance? No, hitting a deer doesn’t increase your car insurance premiums. That’s because it’s considered a not-at-fault accident. Despite this, if you are involved in an accident with an animal, it doesn’t work out this way every time.

However, there is one exception to this rule. If you are making multiple claims over a short period of time, your insurance company might raise your rates because you are considered a high-risk driver. Speak with your insurance broker to find out more about this.

Anyone can hit a deer if they aren’t careful. Wildlife is often unpredictable, making it hard to plan your next move if an animal runs onto the road. Although car insurance will compensate you if this happens, there are some steps you can take to avoid hitting a deer. Follow our tips in the next section to avoid hitting wildlife.

How to avoid hitting a deer

Losing control of your vehicle from hitting or narrowly avoiding hitting a deer can be scary. However, there are precautions you can take when driving in areas with high populations of wildlife. Here are some precautions you can take to avoid hitting a deer:

Understand animal behaviour

To stay safe on the road, you should know how animals think. The majority of wildlife have a flight-or-fight response when they are in danger, leading to unpredictability. This means they may run across the road out of nowhere. If you see one deer, you should be aware that they travel in packs.

Drive slowly

Take your time while driving to avoid having your vehicle compromised by wildlife on the road. This is especially true if you are driving in an area known to be populated with wildlife. Slowing down will allow you to observe your surroundings better and see wildlife warning signs.

Be careful during certain times of the year

Collisions involving deer are most likely to happen between October and December since November is mating season. The peak time for deer to come out is when it’s dark out. Take precautions to avoid driving at dawn or dusk if possible.

Observe the road

Deer scare easily and usually prefer to blend in with their surroundings. If you see the deer before it runs onto the road, you can have more reaction time to avoid a collision. That’s why you should look around when you’re driving, especially in low-light conditions.

Turn on your high-beam headlights

If you’re driving down the road and no other vehicles are approaching, turn on your high-beam headlights. This will improve your visibility and let you see deer before they approach. Being caught in the headlights will also cause them to react sooner.

Use your horn

If a deer gets on the road in front of you, blare your horn because it has the potential to scare it off the road. It’s important to note that you should only use the horn if the deer is already on the road. If you honk your horn when the deer is on the side of the road, it might run in front of you.

Sometimes, even if you take these preventative measures, you might still hit the deer. In most cases, such as on two-lane roads, it’s safer to hit the deer than swerve to avoid it. However, there is a safe way to hit a deer if you have to do so, which we will go into detail about shortly.

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What to do if you have to hit a deer

If it’s impossible to avoid hitting a deer, there are some steps you can take to minimize the damage to your vehicle and the harm to the animal. Here’s what you can do so you don’t lose control of your vehicle when you hit a deer:

Turn on your lights

If you’re driving in the dark, you should turn on your lights right away. If a deer approaches, try turning on your high-beam headlights to scare it off. This may or may not work.

Avoid swerving

If you’re close to hitting an animal like a deer when driving, you should never swerve to avoid it. Swerving increases the risk of more damage. You could crash into a guardrail, tree or even worse, another vehicle. Unfortunately, hitting the deer is your safest option in this situation.

Start braking

If you are about to hit a deer, remain in your lane and brake firmly. Right before you hit the deer, take your foot off the brake pedal. It will stop the front of your vehicle from coming back up, lowering the risk of the deer smashing through your windshield.

Move the vehicle off the road if you can

If your vehicle is still drivable after hitting the deer, find a safe location to report the incident. This can be a driveway, parking lot or the next exit if you’re on the highway.

Get on the side of the road if you can’t drive

In the event that the damage disables your vehicle, try to get to the side of the road. Turn on your hazard lights, call the police and keep your seatbelts fastened. The moment you hit a deer can be stressful. Now that you know what to do when you hit a deer, let’s talk about what you should do following the incident. You might feel overwhelmed, but there are steps you need to take after this happens, which we will get into shortly.

After you hit a deer

Hitting a deer will have you worried, especially if there is significant damage to your car. However, you should remain calm and take the appropriate steps to report the incident. Here’s what you can do to stay safe to avoid blocking traffic and hitting other animals after you run into a deer:

Find out what’s going on

If you can, you should pull off the road and turn your hazard lights to let other drivers know that you have come to a stop. Next, you should see if you or anyone in your car is injured and call emergency services if this is the case. How do you report a car accident involving a deer? Depending on your province, you will have to contact either local police or the appropriate wildlife authority. Leaving a large dead animal on the road after you hit it can lead to demerit points and fines.

Record what happened

If you’re safely pulled over, look around before getting out of your vehicle. Then, take photos of any damage caused by the accident. It will help with your insurance claim. Additionally, you should take note of the time, location and any other information relating to the accident.

Look at your vehicle damage

Look at your vehicle and search for obvious and not-so-obvious signs of damage. You should never attempt to make repairs while you are still on the road, especially in the dark or poor visibility situations like fog. Making an insurance claim can cover the damages. Depending on the extent, you might have to call a tow truck to bring your car to a mechanic.

Get in touch with your insurance company

Contact your insurance provider right away with all the information you’ve gathered about the incident to make a claim as soon as possible. Filing a covered claim sooner rather than later makes more sense because you will be compensated for the damages to your vehicle. Check your policy to see if your insurance will cover damage caused by wildlife collisions.

Having insurance to cover the costs of repairing your vehicle will allow you to get back on the road sooner and pay less out of pocket. However, there are a few things to think about when deciding what to do after getting into an accident with a deer. What are the common types of repairs after hitting a deer? It’s time to find out.

When it's worth it to repair your vehicle

Your insurer can help pay for the costs of repairing your car. The extent of damage may vary depending on where you hit the deer and how big of an impact it had. However, we have compiled a list of common repairs needed after hitting a deer to help you become more aware of the consequences. Consider repairing your car if you encounter any of the following damages after hitting a deer:

Shattered headlights and fog lights

Running into animals increases your chances of headlight damage. Your lights are composed of a few key parts, including housing covers and bulbs. Sometimes, a cracked headlight will continue working after an incident. Even if this is the case, you should replace it to prevent moisture from seeping in and burning out the bulb.

Cracked or broken bumpers

Your car’s bumper is the metal bar that helps prevent injuries by decreasing the impact of collisions with objects. You will likely have to replace your bumper cover. Common fixes include buffing out small scratches, replacing the entire bumper or patching the bumper cover when the damage is less severe. You need working bumpers to drive safely and protect yourself if you get into another accident.

Cracked or broken windshields

If you don’t take your foot off the brake as you hit a deer, it can break or crack your windshield. Your windshield acts as a barrier between you and the other things on the road. For your safety, you should vacuum any small glass fragments out of your car. Before taking it in for repairs, you should clean it and tape small cracks.

Bent or dented hood

Your vehicle hood is designed to protect essential parts of your car, including the engine and other parts that help your vehicle run. If you ignore it for too long, a collision can damage the hood and cause more complex issues. Not resolving this problem can cause rain and snow to fall. If the damage is severe enough, you may need to get a new hood.

Damaged underhood and transmission

As mentioned earlier, your car’s hood protects all the important parts that allow it to run safely. If the radiator gets punctured, coolant can leak and damage the car. After getting into a collision, you should look under your hood and call a tow truck if you notice a leak. If this happens, your transmission may require a fluid change, flushing, rebuilding, or, in some cases, replacement.

Damaged brake system

Never try to stop abruptly before hitting a deer. Hard braking can result in various types of damage. If you notice your brake pedal sinking into the floor, shaking or wobbling, squeaking or squealing noises, the car veering off to one side or the ABS warning light coming on, that spells trouble. These signs often indicate more serious issues that a mechanic should address.

Damaged shock absorbers and struts

When you’re driving, your shock absorbers keep your vehicle steady. They also carry your vehicle’s weight while keeping your steering system and wheel alignment in check. If you damage these components, you risk compromising mechanical and structural components, control on uneven terrain and bumps, handling, braking time, and tires.

These are some of the most common types of repairs associated with animal-related collisions. When your vehicle is brought to the repair shop, your mechanic will tell you what’s wrong, and you can relay this information to your insurance company. In turn, your insurer will pay for the portion of the damage that you don’t pay out using your deductible. However, if the repairs cost as much as a replacement or your car is undrivable, it’s often more affordable to purchase a new vehicle.

Contact BrokerLink for all your car insurance needs!

How much is car insurance per month in Ontario? What car insurance policies are mandatory in my province? By getting in touch with BrokerLink, you can find out the answers to these questions and many more. We are your car insurance experts who are to match you with a company that will provide you with coverage in the event that you hit a deer.

Having insurance to cover the costs of damage is convenient. However, depending on the incident, you will need a certain policy. Here are the most common mandatory and optional car insurance policies available:

• Third-party liability coverage
• Accident benefits coverage
• Direct compensation - property damage coverage
• Uninsured automobile coverage
• Collision coverage
• Comprehensive coverage
• Accident forgiveness coverage

Are you looking for a car insurance company that advocates for you? Whether you’ve just purchased your first vehicle or you’re an experienced driver, BrokerLink is here for you. Contact us today!

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