According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, over 1.5 million deer and car collisions occur every year in the United States.And with October through December being the height of their mating season, deer are very active. Hitting a deer is usually considered a random event and does not significantly affect insurance rates. Hitting an inanimate object with your vehicle is a collision. These crashes were costly for drivers, with a national cost per claim average of $4,179. After all what difference does it make if you buy it or someone else buys it. ... You should be able to buy back your car for the salvage value. Slow down and keep an eye out for more deer darting across the road. If a deer crosses in front of you, chances are there are more nearby. If impact with a deer looks inevitable, to increase your chances of receiving minimal damage, hold firmly onto the steering wheel and apply the brakes until you’ve come to a full stop. I have hit a deer Geico totaled my car. Timing is everything. The best-case scenario is you’re able to stop before hitting the deer. More . 6 Ways To Avoid Hitting A Deer 1. Deer are pack animals, and rarely travel alone. Move your vehicle to a safe place off the road. Here are steps you can take after you hit a deer. But if hitting the deer is inevitable, aim to reduce the impact as much as possible. Comprehensive claims go on your insurance record, but they don’t dramatically affect your rate because they’re not-at-fault accidents. Hitting a deer with your car or truck can cause extensive property damage and even serious injuries and death. Watch for the rest of the gang. No one ever expects to get hit by a deer, but it can certainly happen, especially this time of year. An animal runs into your car An animal burrows into your car (sounds crazy, but sometimes raccoons tear into seat cushions, or rodents make nests under the hood) Note: Your vehicle can still be covered if you swerve to avoid hitting an animal and then hit another vehicle/object or overturn your car. The consequences for swerving to miss a deer can be significant in regard to your car insurance policy, too. Being prepared can help prevent you from adding to these statistics. The latest insurance data show that the risk of hitting a deer with your car has not changed much from a year ago. Does car insurance go up after hitting a deer? Comprehensive claims, such as one for hitting a deer, don’t typically increase your car insurance rates. Pull over. However, with many companies, if you file a certain number of claims within a specified period, your rates can go up. ... Also check your insurance policy under comprehensive coverage for "how we handle total losses". Even if you're vigilant about avoiding animal collisions, the risk of hitting a deer with your vehicle heightens in the late fall and early winter.. State Farm ® estimates that 1.35 million auto-deer collisions occurred in the U.S. between July 1, 2016 and June 30, 2017. Even a simple reminder can help prevent deer collisions. WHAT TO DO IF YOU HIT A DEER. Taking the above precautions can help you avoid hitting a deer… but nothing can entirely rule out the possibility. Collision accidents often come with higher deductibles and higher surcharges than those covered by comprehensive policies, which usually cover animal accidents. 2.