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Hitting a deer with your car can be a frightening experience, and it's natural to wonder if your liability insurance will cover the damages. In most states, liability insurance does cover deer-related accidents, but there are some important details to keep in mind.
Liability insurance typically covers damages to other people or property, not your own vehicle. This means that if you hit a deer and damage your car, your liability insurance won't cover the repair costs. However, your comprehensive coverage may kick in to cover the damages.
In the event of a deer car accident, liability insurance will cover the costs of damages to other people or property, such as a fence or a building. This is especially important if you're found to be at fault for the accident.
If you're involved in a deer car accident, it's essential to report the incident to your insurance provider as soon as possible. This will help ensure that your liability insurance covers any damages to other people or property.
Michigan Deer Car Accidents
Michigan is a state where deer car accidents are a real concern, with a staggering 58,984 reported crashes in 2022 alone.
The majority of these crashes occurred in November, making it the month with the highest number of deer car accidents in Michigan.
In fact, the five counties with the most deer car accidents were Kent, Oakland, Jackson, Ottawa, and Lapeer.
To put this into perspective, these types of crashes resulted in 1,633 people being injured and 11 losing their lives in 2022.
If you're involved in a deer car accident in Michigan, you're entitled to No-Fault benefits, which can help cover medical expenses and other related costs.
However, it's essential to file an application for No-Fault benefits within one year from the date of the accident, or you'll lose any potential benefits.
Insurance Coverage
In Michigan, No-Fault insurance benefits do apply to deer car accidents, so you're entitled to recover benefits even if you're the only one involved in the crash.
If you only have liability coverage, you won't be covered for any damage caused by hitting a deer, so you'll need to cover the cost of repairs or a replacement vehicle out of pocket.
Comprehensive insurance is the type of coverage that will help you in situations like hitting a deer, as it covers damage caused by an animal or other out-of-control circumstances.
Comprehensive vs Collision
Comprehensive coverage is for situations that were not your fault and were out of your control, such as a tree falling on your car in a storm.
Collision insurance covers you if you get in an accident with another car or an inanimate object, like hitting a stop sign while swerving to avoid another car.
Comprehensive insurance covers damage from vandalism, which is something you can't control and wasn't your fault.
If you get into an accident with another car, collision insurance is likely to cover it, not comprehensive.
Comprehensive insurance is for unexpected events like a deer damaging your car, which you couldn't have prevented.
Liability Coverage Only
Liability-only insurance policies only cover damage you cause to others or their property, not damage to your own vehicle.
If you have a liability-only policy, you won't be covered for damage caused by hitting a deer.
You'll need to cover the cost of repairs or a replacement vehicle out of pocket if you collide with a deer without comprehensive coverage.
Liability insurance is designed to protect others, not you or your vehicle.
If you only have liability coverage, you won't be protected if a deer hits your car, and you'll be left to foot the bill.
Not Covered
If you only have liability-only insurance, you won't be covered for damage to your own vehicle.
You see, liability-only insurance is designed to cover damage you cause to others or their property, not damage to your own vehicle. This means if a deer hits your car, you'll be left to cover the cost of repairs or a replacement vehicle out of pocket.
Liability insurance won't cover damage to your vehicle, even if it's caused by an animal like a deer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much will insurance go up after hitting a deer?
Typically, hitting a deer won't increase your car insurance rate, but if you're at fault or there's damage to property, bodily injury, or death, your rates may go up
Is hitting a deer with your car considered an act of God?
Hitting a deer with your car is not considered an "Act of God" if you could have seen it or avoided it. However, if the animal appears unexpectedly and you can't avoid it, it may be considered an unforeseen event.
Does liability cover animal damage?
No, liability coverage typically doesn't cover damages caused by hitting an animal. Comprehensive insurance may be the only option for covering such losses.
Sources
- https://www.michiganautolaw.com/blog/2023/11/13/deer-car-accidents/
- https://www.ernstlawgroup.com/faqs/car-accident-faqs/does-insurance-cover-deer-hitting-car/
- https://www.nationwide.com/personal/insurance/claims/auto/pages/animal-accident
- https://weeksinsurance.com/blog/auto-insurance-deer-collision-coverage
- https://www.trustedchoice.com/ask-an-insurance-agent/does-car-insurance-cover-hitting-a-deer/
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