Will Insurance Cover Me If I Hit a Deer?

When you set out to purchase insurance, you make sure you have coverage for obviously important things, such as renters’ insurance and home insurance to cover your home and valuables in the event of anything from theft to a natural disaster.

Medical insurance is designed to protect you and your loved ones in the event you or they need health insurance to cover an endless array of medical needs.

You need car insurance in case you’re in an accident with your vehicle.

But what about what is covered for more obscure but totally possible incidents, such as hitting a deer?

Driving in Rural East Texas Increases the Risk

East Texas has a lot of beautiful rural areas. It’s known for its’ majestic piney woods, acres of flowering azaleas and wild bluebonnet flowers that bloom in season, and lovely rolling hills.

However, with this picturesque countryside comes the animals that inhabit it: skunks, racoons, and large amounts of deer.

If you live in a rural area, the likelihood of seeing and possibly hitting a deer increases significantly, but it can also happen in an urban neighborhood.

Do you often drive at night or in the early morning hours? Driving at these times of day raises your likelihood of encountering a deer.

 

Does Your Policy Include Comprehensive Coverage?

Do you have comprehensive coverage on your vehicle? If you’re not sure, it’s a good idea to contact your insurer and find out for sure. Trusted local insurance companies such as Bosworth & Associates in Tyler, Texas, offer comprehensive policies with the purpose of providing coverage for events that cause damage to your car or truck that were not in your control. Hitting a deer (or a deer hitting you, which has also been known to happen) falls under these criteria.

Comprehensive coverage is different than collision coverage, and especially if you live in areas that are prone to large amounts of deer, it’s important to know the difference and know whether your insurance policy covers both.

What’s the Difference Between Comprehensive and Collision Coverage?

Collision coverage’s purpose is to provide you with protection in the event you’re in a collision with something other than an animal. If you swerve to avoid hitting a deer and instead run into a tree or another vehicle, collision coverage gives you insurance coverage for damage to your car, truck, or SUV.

If you’re unsure what your truck insurance covers in terms of collision or comprehensive, it’s a good idea to contact your local East Texas insurance provider and find out. It’s better to have the coverage than find out too late that you don’t.

 

What About Medical Coverage?

Do you know what kind of medical coverage your insurance policy covers? This is important to know in the unfortunate event that you or a passenger is injured in an accident with a deer. The above covers damage to your car or truck, but you need medical coverage to make sure any injuries don’t incur expensive hospital bills.

 

Understand Your Deductible

Do you know what your deductible amount would be in the event you hit a deer? It can be helpful to have an understanding of both your premium and deductible, just in case of an emergency such as hitting a deer.

A tip for helping make sure you have enough for your deductible is to have a separate savings account to help pay the deductible if you’re concerned about finances.

For questions about your premium, rates, or deductibles, contact your local East Texas Insurance Agency, such as Bosworth Insurance, and clarify exactly what your coverage entails.

Should You File a Police Report?

Will you need to file a police report if you hit a deer?

If there is damage to your vehicle and/or bodily injury to anyone in the car, it’s a good idea to file a police report. A police report can be a helpful document when it comes time to file a claim with your insurer.

If you’re uninjured and able to, it’s also a good idea to take documentation of the accident: take photos and videos of the vehicle and, if possible, the body of the deer involved.

If the deer is injured, it’s important not to approach it. An injured animal can be a danger to itself or anyone coming close, so always keep your distance. Contact animal control to have the animal safely dealt with by professionals.

 

Be Prepared, even for the Unexpected

No one likes to think about hitting an animal, but it does happen, especially in rural areas like East Texas. In addition, deer are increasingly to be found in urban spaces as they move about in search of food or get pushed out of their territories by developments.

While the thought of hitting an animal isn’t a fun one, especially a large animal like a deer it’s better to be prepared and know whether your insurance will cover you if you hit a deer.

 

Contact your local East Texas insurance company today and find out if you’re covered.