What Happens If You Hit a Deer with Your Car?

Hitting a deer is typically considered a no-fault situation. That’s because wild animals are unpredictable and not controlled by any person. In that scenario, you would most likely file a damage claim with your insurance carrier to cover any necessary repairs on your car.

That isn’t to say your claim will be without challenges.

When you submit any kind of insurance claim, it will go through a review process conducted by the insurance company’s adjuster. They will make the final determination about the value of your claim. This could also lead to a dispute in which they undervalue your car’s value.

In those instances, you might need to speak with an experienced Bardstown car accident attorney.

However, there’s one major caveat to consider. If you have just the minimum liability insurance, your policy might not pay for damage that you cause to your own car. It’s only for damage you cause to other cars.

You can have additional coverage, but it would be a separate policy. That’s why it is vital to review your policy before you head out to those rural roads.

According to the most recent data collected by the Kentucky State Police, there were 3,397 collisions with a deer across the state in a single year. In many of those crashes, cars swerve to avoid a deer and end up crashing into another car.

Even though you were trying to be safe, you would still be liable for any damage you caused to another car.

Fortunately, your liability insurance should provide coverage for the damage you cause to the other car, but only up to the limit of your policy.

If there’s a gap, you might be personally liable to pay for the balance.

If your accident with a deer causes you or a passenger any injury, your mandated Personal Injury Protection (PIP) will probably cover your medical expenses. That only applies if you have an active PIP policy.

If you’re in a crash with another car, you should absolutely call the police. They will generate an accident report and help manage traffic until the vehicles can be safely cleared.

What if you hit a deer? Should you report that accident? The law requiring reporting to the police would apply to a collision with a deer. If the damage to your car is more than $500 and/or there are injuries involved, you have to report the accident to the police.

Even though the police accident report will be straightforward, it can still help you with any future insurance claim.

As for that claim, there could be challenges to your reimbursement. That is when you want to reach out to the legal team at McCoy & Hiestand, PLC. We have helped many clients with their insurance claims.

We’re familiar with all the potential delay tactics that insurance companies try to deploy to slow-roll their payouts. They might also delay in the hopes you’ll get frustrated and drop the claim. If we step in, we’ll take over communication and ensure the insurance company fulfills its obligations.

If you’ve had a run-in with a deer, call to set up a free consultation to discuss what should happen next.