How big the risk is
State Farm estimates about 1.65 million animal collision insurance claims in the US between July 2025 and June 2026, a little fewer than the year before. The average driver’s odds of hitting an animal in a year are about 1 in 145. In West Virginia, the riskiest state, they are about 1 in 46, and Pennsylvania has the most claims. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety counted 164 deaths in animal collisions in 2021.
The timing matters too. Deer are most active at dawn and dusk. When clocks go back an hour on Sunday, November 1, the evening commute in most of the US moves into dusk, right when deer are moving.
Before you drive: make sure you can see
- Check that both headlights and the high beams work, and clean the lenses. Cloudy or dirty headlights shorten how far you can see.
- Replace streaky wiper blades and top up washer fluid. Autumn roads throw up a lot of grime.
- Clean the inside of the windshield. A film on the glass causes glare from oncoming lights.
On the road
- Slow down near deer crossing signs and on roads lined with woods or fields, especially at dawn and dusk.
- Use high beams on empty roads at night, and dim them for oncoming drivers.
- Expect more than one. Deer often travel in groups. If one crosses, others may follow.
- Brake, do not swerve. Hold the wheel firmly and brake hard in a straight line. Swerving can send you into a tree or oncoming traffic, which is usually far worse than hitting the deer.
- Wear your seat belt and stay off the phone. A second of distraction is often the difference.
If you hit a deer
- Pull over somewhere safe and turn on the hazard lights. If you get out, stay off the road.
- Call the police if anyone is hurt, if the deer blocks traffic, or if there is damage. A police report helps with an insurance claim.
- Do not go near the animal. An injured deer can kick and hurt you badly.
- Take photos of the car, the road and the surroundings. If the deer ran off, photograph any hair or blood on the car.
- Before driving on, look for leaking fluid, loose parts, damaged tires, broken lights or a hood that will not latch. If anything looks wrong, call a tow.
- Report the claim to your insurer promptly.
Which insurance pays? Damage from hitting an animal is usually covered by the optional comprehensive part of a policy, minus your deductible. Liability only coverage does not pay for your own car. If you swerve and hit another car or a tree instead, insurers usually treat it as a collision claim. Check your policy before deer season, not after.
After the repair
Even a minor hit can damage the radiator, the headlight aim or sensors behind the bumper, so ask the shop to check them. Keep the repair invoice: a documented, properly fixed repair matters when you sell the car.
Log the repair cost in Badger’s expenses so it counts in what the car really costs you, and keep your insurance renewal date in documents so you get a reminder 30 days before it expires.
