Deers are nervous and innocent creatures who often cross highways without warning. The only thing you can do to avoid an accident is to control your vehicle when you see it in your path. However, that won’t be enough every time. Deer-related accidents can be infuriating, especially if it is not your fault. And it’s not like the deer has an insurance company you can deal with.
So it is beneficial to know the answer to the question, “is hitting a deer considered an accident?” and if your auto insurance will cover the damages. Surex can be your best bet for low cost auto insurance policies providing maximum coverage.
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Will your auto insurance company pay for the damages if you are involved in a deer-related accident?
To determine the coverage, we must first answer the question, “is hitting a deer considered an accident?”.To get insurance coverage for the accident, your vehicle must come in contact with the deer. Some of the common scenarios are:
- An animal slams into your vehicle.
- You accidentally run into a deer or other animal.
- Animals like raccoons or rodents tearing your seat cushions or chewing the wires under the hood.
If you have a car insurance policy, any damage to your vehicle from hitting a deer will be covered by your insurer under comprehensive coverage. Comprehensive coverage will pay for all the damages to your vehicle caused by numerous events which are not within your control, like hitting an animal.
However, if you try to avoid hitting the animal or the deer and, in the process, you hit another vehicle, collide with an object, or overturn your vehicle, comprehensive coverage will not pay for the damage. Instead, you will need collision coverage to cover the damage to your vehicle.
In most cases, if you have comprehensive coverage, you also have collision coverage. But it is better to check your auto insurance policy.
Will your insurance company pay for any injuries related to a deer accident?
Comprehensive pollution coverage will only pay for vehicle damage. Claims related to medical bills (after being involved in the accident) will be covered by your medical insurance, medical payments coverage, or Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage.
Whatever the issue, it is recommended that you share your health insurance information with your health care providers. In rare cases, auto Insurance might pay a percentage of your medical bills. But the injury-related coverage, the payment will be much less than your total medical bills. In this case, your health insurance will cover the extra amount.
Additionally, a tow may be required when you are involved in a deer-related accident. It will be covered as a part of your claim if you have comprehensive coverage or roadside assistance.
What is the deductible?
Most insurance companies offer comprehensive coverage with a deductible. However, some companies may also offer zero deductible options, depending on how you set up your car insurance policy. So it is recommended that you check the declaration page or contact your agent to learn about the deductible.
Additionally, the policyholder can also compare the costs of the deductible limits. You need to know that choosing a higher deductible won’t always save you a lot of money. In most cases, you must get a low deductible on comprehensive coverage.
This is because the probability of you filing comprehensive coverage claims is always higher since it covers multiple cases like fire, theft, vandalism, hitting an animal, flood, tree fall and other weather-related issues. Thus, the deductible you will choose will apply to all these types of losses.
Before buying the deductible and car insurance, ensure you can afford the monthly premium. If you choose a low deductible, your car insurance policy might get more expensive. You might need to pay a higher cost to repair your vehicle before your Insurance company pays for the coverage if you choose a high deductible.
Is hitting a deer considered an at fault accident in Canada?
In most cases, hittting a deer is not an at-fault accident. An insurance provider has numerous rules on comprehensive claims, which vary from one company to another. Therefore, insurance claims related to the accident might not affect your rate in most cases, but you should check this with your insurer.
Some companies may even apply a surcharge to your premium if you have been in more than one deer-related accident in a certain period. On the other hand, some other companies apply a minimum surcharge for any deer-related car claims.
What should you do if you hit a deer on the highway?
Suppose you were driving through a wooded road, and suddenly a deer comes out of nowhere, and you inevitably hit it. In such a case, you need to follow the following steps to ensure your safety and so that you get coverage from your Insurance company:
- Move your vehicle to the side of the road a couple of metres away from the animal. You need to turn on your hazard lights and stay in the vehicle until it is safe to exit.
- Call the police. Let the operator know if the animal is blocking the road as it can be hazardous to oncoming drivers.
- Stay away from the animal. When you hit the deer, it will be frightened and might harm you if you come closer. However, the police will handle the situation.
- When it is completely safe, document the entire accident. When everything is under control, take multiple pictures of the road, the surroundings, damages to your vehicle and if there is any injury to you or your co-passenger.
- If another car stops to help you, you need to record their accident story and get their contact information for later.
- Contact your Insurance company. Once everything is documented, you must immediately contact the Insurance company to file a claim.
- Ensure that your vehicle is safe to drive. After the accident, carefully scrutinize your vehicle for leaking fluids, damaged hood, broken windshield, broken lights etc.
- If you have roadside or comprehensive insurance in your auto Insurance policy, call them, and they can help tow your vehicle.
Is hitting a deer considered an accident? — Endnote
Deer accidents are pretty common in Canada. Therefore you must know how to react when you see a deer while driving. This can help limit your injuries and insurance bills. Most deer accidents occur during October and December, their mating season. Therefore, you must be very careful during the time of the year and drive within the speed limit in wooded areas.