It’s frustrating when people say that you hit a deer, because unless you drive into a forest, the deer is the one hitting you.
That’s why some types of insurance will cover you in the event of a deer hitting your car.
Keep reading to learn the specific kind of insurance you’ll need to be covered.
You Could Be Covered Under Comprehensive Insurance
Comprehensive insurance is designed to cover things other than collisions that you cannot control. This usually includes damage caused by deer or other animals.
Comprehensive insurance policies typically require that your car comes in contact with the animal, so if the deer runs into the road and hits your car, you should be covered. Unfortunately, the comprehensive insurance policy will not cover any injuries you could get from hitting a deer.
Comprehensive insurance can also cover the cash value of your car. So, if your vehicle is totaled, the insurance company will probably pay you the value of your car, leaving you to choose whether you would like to put that money toward your repairs or buying a new car.
Comprehensive vs. Collision Coverage
What is the difference between comprehensive coverage and collision coverage policies? Well, collision insurance covers you if you get in an accident with another car or inanimate object. For instance, if you swerve to avoid hitting a car and you hit a stop sign, that would still likely be covered under collision insurance.
Comprehensive insurance, on the other hand, covers you in situations that were not your fault and were out of your control. Examples of this include a tree falling on your car in a storm, vandalism, or if it gets damaged by an animal such as a deer.
Those are all things that you could not control, but don’t fall under collisions, so they will most likely be covered under comprehensive insurance.
You Won’t Be Covered Under Liability-Only
When you take out a liability-only insurance policy, you are ensuring that if you cause an accident the damage you caused to the other person or their property will be covered. With liability-only insurance, you are not covering yourself.
Therefore, if a deer hits your car, liability-only insurance will not cover the damage.
Will I have to pay a deductible after hitting a deer?
You will most likely need to pay a deductible after hitting a deer. When you took out your insurance policy, you decided on your deductible, which is the amount you will contribute to any covered events.
Usually, the more you pay for your insurance policy, the lower your deductible is, and the less you pay to be ensured, the higher your deductible is.
For example, let’s say your deductible is $500, and you hit a deer and damage your car. You take your car to the shop and it will cost $1,200 to fix it. You would likely be responsible for contributing the $500 deductible toward those repairs, and your comprehensive insurance policy would cover the difference of $700.
However, if your car is totaled, meaning the amount it would cost to fix it surpasses the amount the car is worth, then your insurance company may just pay you the cash value of your car. It’s important to check your insurance policy since policies and their terms can vary.
We’ll Deal With Insurance on Your Behalf. Call Ernst Law Group Today.
The good news is that you don’t have to worry about figuring out if your insurance does cover a deer hitting your car, because we will deal with the insurance side of things on your behalf.
Insurance policies can be confusing. Insurance companies can also try to manipulate you out of coverage to save themselves money by assuming you don’t understand insurance. Having an accident attorney on your side who knows the ins and outs of car insurance can save you a lot of trouble in the long run.
At Ernst Law Group, our San Luis Obispo car accident attorneys will handle all of the correspondence with your insurance company for you, so you can focus on recovering from the crash. Your first case consultation is always free, so there’s no reason to hesitate to call us. Don’t wait, call (805) 541-0300 today.
