Pennsylvania Ranks #2 in the USA for Deer-Car Collision Accidents
State Farm Insurance has reported that Pennsylvania drivers are the second most likely to be involved in a deer-car collision, with one state edging Pennsylvania out for the number one spot. The state in the number one spot is West Virginia. State Farm’s Insurance Agency’s annual report on deer-car collisions stated that new data suggests 1 in 71 drivers will hit a deer in Pennsylvania within the next year (12 months). This is a 7.8 percent jump from last year, when it was reported that almost 124,000 deer-car collisions occurred in the state. This information comes as a surprise since hunters claim that deer numbers in Pennsylvania are down and yet Pennsylvania continue to climb the ranks as the years progress. Just three years ago, according to State Farm Insurance, Pennsylvania ranked fifth in the nation for deer-car collisions. The odds of being in a deer-car collision were only slightly lower than what it is currently—that being 1 in 76 people were likely to hit a deer in Pennsylvania at that time.
The price of being number one for West Virginia means that one in every 30 people will be involved in a deer-car collision. State Farm Insurance claims that the average cost of a deer-car collision this year is about $3,900, which is also an increase from last year—allegedly a 14 percent increase. State Farm Insurance also claims that the most hazardous time of the year for a deer-car collision ranges from October to December because that is the season when the whitetails are mating and the hunters cause the deer to run and disperse. It should not come as a surprise as to what state came in last place for deer-car collisions. Hawaii had the lowest odds of hitting a deer. The data suggests that 1 in 10,281 drivers will hit a deer this year in Hawaii. Who knew that there were any deer on the island of Hawaii?
If you are in a car collision with a deer, the claim will usually be paid by the comprehensive coverage of your car insurance policy, but you must validate that the collision was caused by a deer or the claim may end up under your collision coverage. In general, car insurance companies don’t require you to fill out a police report to file a comprehensive claim for hitting a deer, but having a police report to back up your claim will help you be able file this claim under your comprehensive coverage. If you do not file a police report, do not clean evidence of the deer off of your car before giving your insurance company an opportunity to inspect the vehicle. The evidence is another way to verify to your insurance company the nature of the collision.
Even though the accident with the deer was not your fault, you still will have to pay your comprehensive deductible amount. If you swerve to avoid contact with the deer and end up running into another vehicle or object (such as a tree or guardrail), the collision portion of your policy will apply.
Source: P.J. Reilly from lancasteronline