Picture this: you’re driving down a back road at night, windows down, radio on. All of a sudden, out of the corner of your eye, you see something. Before you have time to think or react BAM it hits you! It was a deer and you never saw it coming. So what do you do now? Well, if you don’t have comprehensive coverage on your auto insurance you might be looking at a large bill at the auto shop. Make sure you’re covered!
But what are the chances that this situation is going to happen to you? Well, according to State Farm, the total number of deer collisions has increased by 2% over the last five years. The truth is, it really matters what time of year it is. Deer collisions are mostly likely to happen in November, followed by October and December. It also matters where you live. Drivers who live in certain states are more likely to have deer collisions.
Here are the top 5 states that you are most likely to hit a deer in:
- West Virginia- The odds here are 1 in 41 drivers will collide with a deer over the next year
- Montana- 1 in 65 drivers will be unlucky enough to hit a deer this year
- Iowa- A driver has a 1 in 73 chance of colliding with a deer this year
- South Dakota- Folks who drive in this state have a 1 in 75 chance of hitting a deer this year
- Pennsylvania- Lastly, in PA you have a 1 in 77 chance of colliding with a deer
Ways to travel safely and avoid a collision with a deer this fall:
- Be aware of posted deer crossing signs, they are placed in areas where deer are more active
- Deer are most active from 6-9 pm, so be extra cautious at these times
- Use high beam headlamps
- Always wear your seatbelt
- Avoid distractions, like using your cellphone
- If a deer collisions seems inevitable: do not attempt to swerve out of the way because it could cause you to lose control of your vehicle
To make sure that you are covered if this should happen to you or for more information on this topic or to discuss your insurance needs, please contact us at 888.304.6678 or visit our virtual insurance office.