Insurance Coverage for Vehicle Collisions with Deer and Other Wildlife
Colliding with wildlife while driving is a stressful experience that many motorists encounter, particularly during dawn and dusk. Whether it’s a high-speed impact with a deer or an unexpected encounter with a stray animal, the emotional stress is immediate.
Once the initial shock passes, the practical concern arises: which type of auto insurance covers the cost of damages sustained from hitting an animal?
Understanding Which Insurance Applies to Wildlife Collisions
It is important for drivers to know that comprehensive insurance coverage is the one that typically covers damages caused by animal strikes, including deer, elk, and moose. This can often cause confusion because the event involves a collision, but insurance companies treat it differently.
These incidents are almost always classified under “Other Than Collision” coverage, considered unexpected and outside the driver’s control. If comprehensive coverage is included in a policy, repairs to the vehicle will be paid for, minus the deductible.
Drivers only carrying state-required minimum liability coverage usually bear the cost of repairs themselves, which can lead to significant out-of-pocket expenses after an animal collision.
Why Animal Collisions Fall Under Comprehensive, Not Collision Insurance
The key difference lies in how insurance providers define a collision. Collision coverage applies to accidents involving other vehicles or fixed objects like guardrails or buildings.
Comprehensive coverage, on the other hand, accounts for damage caused by unexpected, non-collision events. This includes:
- Animal strikes (including deer, elk, and coyotes)
- Theft and vandalism
- Natural disasters such as fire, hail, and flood
- Damage from falling trees or branches
Insurance professionals categorize hitting a wild animal as a comprehensive event because such animals are not fixed objects or fellow vehicles, and these incidents occur unpredictably.
Wildlife Context and Biological Factors
From a wildlife perspective, deer collisions tend to peak during crepuscular hours—early morning and late evening—due to increased deer movement when foraging and avoiding predators.
Deer biology plays a role: their eyes are adapted for low light, but their sudden crossings combined with vehicle speeds create hazardous situations. Large ungulates like elk and moose present even more significant risks due to their size and weight relative to vehicles.
Understanding these patterns helps explain why comprehensive coverage is necessary and why these incidents are sadly common in many regions.
Conclusions for Drivers and Wildlife Advocates
Anyone who drives through rural or forested areas should carefully review their insurance policies to ensure they include comprehensive coverage, as it protects against the financial fallout of wildlife collisions.
As interactions between humans and wildlife increase with expanding road networks, recognizing the insurance distinctions and biological causes behind these crashes is vital for responsible wildlife coexistence and driver preparedness.
Additional reporting and sources from: The coverage that pays for deer and other animal collisions | Charlotte Observer
