Does insurance cover cars that hit deer?

Motor Vehicles Accidents - August 15, 2022

In some cases, insurance does cover deer-related accidents. Your carrier will likely process the claim in the same way as a collision with another car. However, it’s important to understand that this coverage is limited to very specific situations.

If a deer hit your car, contact a Chicago car accident lawyer at Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates. We’ll help you determine whether your insurance will cover your accident.

You might be covered under comprehensive insurance

If you have comprehensive insurance (also known as “other than collision” insurance), your policy will likely cover property (vehicle) damage caused by a deer or any other type of animal.

Damages will typically cover the cash value of your car. This means that if your car is totaled in an accident, your insurance company will only pay you what the car is worth at the time of the accident, not what you paid for it. For this reason, it’s important to have enough comprehensive coverage to cover the full value of your car. These and other reasons make it crucial for you to hire an attorney. It’s too easy for insurance to deny your claim without one.

Comprehensive vs. collision insurance

Collision insurance covers damage to your car that is the result of a collision with another vehicle. This includes accidents in which you are at fault, as well as those in which the other driver is at fault. If you swerved to miss the deer and hit another car, your collision insurance would cover that damage. Collision insurance is generally cheaper than comprehensive, but it may not cover all the damages that you experienced in the crash.

Comprehensive insurance covers damage to your vehicle caused by non-collision events, which could include falling trees, damage from natural disasters, or damage caused by animals.

You won’t be covered under liability-only insurance

If you only have liability insurance, your policy will not cover any damage to your car, regardless of whether the accident was your fault. This is because liability insurance only covers damage to other people’s property, not your own. This means that if you hit a deer and damage your car, you will be responsible for the repairs yourself.

If you’re not sure whether or not your insurance policy covers damages caused by hitting a deer, contact a Chicago car accident lawyer. An attorney can review your policy and help you understand your options. Contact Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates at (800) 985-1819 to schedule your free consultation.

Will I have to pay a deductible?

Yes, you will likely have to pay a deductible if your car is damaged in an accident with a deer. A deductible is the amount of money you are responsible for paying before your insurance company will cover the rest of the costs.

For example, if you have a $500 deductible and your car is damaged in an accident that costs $5,000 to repair, you will have to pay the first $500 and your insurance company will cover the remaining $4,500.

The amount of your deductible will depend on your insurance policy. Some policies have a deductible for each type of coverage, while others have a single deductible that applies to all coverages.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys are ready to help

After you’ve been in a car accident, the last thing you want to deal with is insurance. At Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates, we can deal with the insurance companies on your behalf so that you can focus on recovering from your injuries.

We will handle all communication with the insurance company and make sure that your rights are protected. Contact our team today at (800) 985-1819.