Animal collisions may not pay under your insurance policy

Many consumers may not realize it, but there were several million auto accidents last year that involved collisions between automobiles and large animals. Such animals might include cows, deer, elk or bison, although collisions with deer are far and away the most common. These accidents caused billions of dollars worth of damage to vehicles as well as causing serious injuries to the occupants of the vehicles involved. Vehicles involved in crashes with large animals are often rendered total losses.

“That’s OK”, you might think. “I have insurance.” Do you? You might want to read your policy carefully. While auto insurance policies certainly cover collisions with other vehicles, they do not necessarily cover collisions with animals. Why? These sorts of accidents are classified differently from insurers, and are sort of treated in the same way as if a tree fell on your car while it is parked. Such accidents can be covered under auto policies, but they are not covered under collision policies. In order to get coverage for accidents involving animals, a driver must also carry comprehensive insurance. Many drivers do not carry comprehensive insurance, as the cost is deemed by many drivers to be too expensive. This is especially true for those consumers who drive older cars.

Comprehensive insurance is required by lenders who offer vehicle loans and is required for the length of the loan. This protects the lender against any sort of damage to the vehicle while they are still responsible for it. Many drivers cancel this coverage as soon as the vehicles are paid off, usually citing cost concerns. From that point on, the drivers may carry only liability coverage, or perhaps liability and collision coverage. Unfortunately, it’s the comprehensive coverage that protects the driver against anything else that might happen. That also includes a collision with Bambi.

The likelihood of an accident with a large animal varies depending on where you live. If you live in downtown Philadelphia, you are unlikely to have any serious risk of colliding with a deer. On the other hand, if you live in central Pennsylvania, your risks are much higher, as the Keystone State has the highest number of auto-deer collisions in the United States each year.

Your best bet is to consult with your agent if you aren’t sure if you are covered. He or she can look over your policy, tell you what is and is not covered, and assess your risk of being in the sort of accident that might not be covered under your policy. Your chances of colliding with a cow aren’t that great, but if you do hit one it could mean the end of your vehicle and thousands of dollars in medical costs for you. It’s always better to be prepared than to find out you aren’t covered in such a situation. These types of accidents are traumatic enough without worrying about your coverage, too.

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