State Farm Paid $1.9 Billion for Animal Collisions. Would a Deer Hit Be Covered Under Your Policy?

What your car hits first determines the coverage that applies, and a liability-only policy will not repair your own vehicle.

Animal-collision claims tend to spike late in the year. In State Farm’s data from its report, October, November and December accounted for about 41% of claims, and deer were the animals struck most often.

The insurer’s latest report estimates more than 1.6 million claims nationwide, with State Farm paying $1.9 billion in animal-collision claim costs over the reporting period.

The chance of a collision averaged 1 in 145. West Virginia drivers faced the highest risk at 1 in 46, followed by Montana at 1 in 54, Wisconsin at 1 in 62, Pennsylvania at 1 in 64 and Michigan at 1 in 68.

Whether a driver sees any payment depends on a coverage type that is optional unless a lender requires it.

Drivers with liability-only coverage are on their own

Comprehensive coverage pays for damage caused by hitting a deer or another animal, and Progressive says drivers who carry only liability coverage likely will not be protected. Liability coverage pays for damage a driver causes to other people and their property, not to the driver’s own car.

Even with comprehensive coverage, the deductible is paid first. Progressive says typical comprehensive deductibles range from $100 to $2,000. If a vehicle is totaled, comprehensive pays its actual cash value minus the deductible.

Swerving can change the type of claim

Comprehensive coverage applies when the car actually hits the animal. If a driver swerves and strikes a tree, guardrail or another vehicle, or rolls the car, the claim usually falls under collision coverage instead.

Comprehensive and collision are separate protections. Sliding into a ditch and having a branch fall onto the hood can fall under different coverages, so carrying one does not mean the other is included.

Swerving into another lane can also make the driver responsible for what follows. Neither comprehensive nor collision pays medical bills. Those would go through medical payments or personal injury protection, if either is included in the policy.

How a claim can affect your rate

Progressive says the impact depends on the state and the insurer. In some states, a rate may not increase because a driver is generally not considered at fault for hitting a wild animal, though that is not guaranteed.

A deer strike usually does not appear on a driving record unless another vehicle or property was damaged, but the claim does become part of the claims history.

Claims history can matter at renewal, and a renewal bill can rise even when national prices are falling.

Review your policy before animal season peaks

The declarations page lists each coverage and its deductible. Look for a comprehensive line, then compare the deductible with what your household could pay on short notice. If the line is missing, the agent or insurer can confirm whether comprehensive coverage is included.

If you do not have comprehensive coverage, or if the deductible is higher than you want, compare quotes to see what a change would cost. Prices for the same coverage can vary from one insurer to another, making side-by-side comparisons useful.

Pennsylvania had the most claims in State Farm’s latest report, at about 141,000 industry-wide. A $1,000 deductible looks very different on a rural road at dusk in early November than it does on a spreadsheet in summer.