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Car insurance Policy
Car insurance Policy is a contract or agreement between you and the insurance company which protects your finances against a theft, an accident or any other natural causes or destruction of your insured car. The company agrees to pay a certain insured amount if any mishap happens to your car as outlined in the policy. The coverage includes Property damage, Liability or any medical bills.
Types Of Insurance Coverage
Liability Coverage - It provides coverage for both the body injury and property damage caused to another by you or others covered under the policy.
Collision Coverage - It provides coverage for the damage done to your car by hitting another car or any other property such as building, fence, wall etc.
Comprehensive Coverage - It provides coverage to the damage occurred due to the theft , vandalism, theft, wild life collision and other unpredictable events.
What type of Insurance coverage covers hitting a deer?
The chances of hitting a deer are high in late fall and early winter. If you have Liability only coverage, you probably won't be covered by the insurance. Collision coverage doesn't cover the hitting of deer, it only covers protection against collisions against other vehicles and fixed objects.
Comprehensive Coverage
On the other hand Comprehensive coverage gives coverage up to your policy limit and protection against unpredictable events such as
Theft
vandalism
fires
collision with wild animals
Natural Disasters
The deductible for the coverage varies from insurer to insurer. The Deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket before the insurance kicks in.
Is hitting a deer Considered as an accident?
The insurance companies may consider hitting a deer as an accident due to the damage it creates on the vehicle. It may not be considered as an at fault accident but may be considered as an unavoidable accident. The auto insurance premium might go up because of the claim. The amount you receive for the claim depends on the amount of deductible you are supposed to pay and the coverage limit. For example, if your collision results in $4000 repair bill and you have a deductible of $500, then the company will cover the amount of $3500 and the remaining $500 must be paid out of pocket.
What to do if you hit a deer?
Move to a safe place - Move your vehicle to the side of the road and stay on the vehicle until it is safe to exit. Turn the hazard lights on the car, so that it will alert the oncoming drivers.
Document the scene - Note down the date, time and location of the incident happened. Take photos of the animal and the damages caused to the vehicle and note down the description of the incident
Call Police and Tow truck - Call the Police and alert about the incident so that it will not pose a danger to the oncoming vehicles. If the collision created any property damage or medical injury, you might need to fill a report and it might be needed during the insurance claim. If your vehicle has been damaged or not in a condition to drive, call a tow truck.
Retain the report and receipts - Retain the police report, medical reports or any receipts such as tow truck bill for insurance claiming purposes.
Contact insurance company to file a claim - File a claim to the insurance company by providing all the necessary documentation, ask them whether their car repairs are covered, is there any rental reimbursement available and have the necessary repairs made.
How dangerous can a deer collision be?
Hitting a deer can cause minor damage to totaling your car. Depending on the force and size of the deer, what type of vehicle and how much can a vehicle sustain, the damages can vary. Small cars like sedans have much higher chances of totaling than SUVs or trucks. Deer collision may also cause multi car accidents.
What to do if you hit a deer and the deer ran away?
If the deer ran away, you might want to safely pull over the car and note and document all the damages, date, time and location of the incident, pictures of stains of blood on the car if any etc as a proof for insurance claiming purposes.
What if you swerve to miss a deer?
If you swerve to miss a deer and caused damage or collision, document all the details date, time, location and take photos. Note down the description of the event for insurance purposes. Swerving damage might come under Collision coverage rather than the Comprehensive coverage.
How to avoid hitting a deer?
Turn your lights on high beam so that it not only increases visibility but also alerts the deer. If you see a deer, slow down the vehicle, flash lights and honk to alert them and make them get out of your way. Pay attention to the signs on the road which alerts the deer crossing. Deers are creatures of habit and they indicate their frequent crossing points.
Always be sure to verify with your insurance provider about the inclusions and exclusions of your policy. Being aware and alert are the best ways to avoid a collision. Document all the details in a detailed manner possible to be able to get a better claim.The events and items covered by your insurance policy differs based on your policy and insurance provider. The conditions and limitations of the coverage vary upon your specific policy.
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