Does Collision Insurance Cover Hitting a Dead Deer in the Road in North Carolina?

Getting into an accident with a deer can be a complicated situation. Although you may assume that your insurance policy will cover a hit and run accident that involves a wild animal, the fact is that many policies may have limited protection for a situation that involves a deer.

Collision Protection

Although it might seem logical to assume that your collision coverage will pay for the damages to your vehicle, a deer is not classified in the same way that a car or inanimate object is classified. As a result, it may not be covered under your collision protection plan.

Generally, a deer is excluded from collision coverage due to the fact that it is a live creature and can act in unexpected ways. It is not another vehicle or a lamp-post and it is usually classified under a different situation.

Comprehensive Protection

Even though a collision policy may not cover a hit and run accident with a deer, it may be possible to make a claim on a comprehensive policy.

Comprehensive coverage is designed to address the unexpected problems that can arise in relation to the weather, animals or other natural situations. An accident with a deer or other wild-life is usually covered by a comprehensive plan unless it is specifically excluded from the policy. The reason is that an accident with an animal is classified as an act of nature and you did not have any control over the situation.

There are a variety of problems that can arise when you are driving, but that does not mean that you need to make a claim on your collision policy. To learn more about the process of filing a claim, contact us to speak to an agent.