Just hit a deer while ago. Questions about insurance

[Shutup and Deal, I'm Losin']

While ago a deer ran out in front of me and caused a bit of damage to my 2002 Toyota Camry. Although the damage doesn't appear to be too bad, (hood and bumper are bent, and the right headlight is a bit out of place though it still works fine, car drives fine) I didn't have my cell phone so I had to drive back home (not very far) from where the incident happened.

1. Will the insurance still pay because I left the scene? (I wasn't speeding, had my headlights on, and our seatbelts)

2. Will my insurance rates go up? (The damage can't be over $2000, so I can just pay that huge bill once, but that higher insurance will haunt me forever)

3. Will this go on my driving record? (The car is still very drivable and neither me nor my passenger were injured in any way). (I did not get a police report, at least not yet)

[charlene]

Sorry - can't help..Jenney had a couple of run-ins with some wild-life a few years ago..on the same night in two different cars..lots of damage tho.

Not sure if you should call cops/wildlife folks or insurance company..
depends if you plan on repairing and making a claim..
glad you weren't injured tho..
Was the deer killed or did it run off?

[Yuri]

Forget the deer and damage for the moment and be thankful that you're safe.
I have no idea about (1) but it would seem that if you had no phone with you and nobody was hurt, leaving was the logical action and (2) probably depends on your insurance carrier's policy. The argument would be that you didn't do anything wrong, just as if a tree fell on your car. There was no negligence. (3) I probably would submit a police report but again if there is no evidence towards your negligence, I would think you'd be ok.
Just curious. What happened to the deer?
Best of luck to you.
Yuri

[RM]

Did the deer have a name tag ? If it did, and the name was Bambi, you're in big trouble.

Seriously, just call the insurance company, explain the situation, and then be prepared to be dismembered.

[podunklander]

A few years back...a friend of mine had 2 vehicle deer/mishaps within days. 1st...she hit a deer, it went atop the hood of the car (the injured deer took off). A few days later...a deer hit her car. It ran smack into the driver's side door (injured, took off).

She did have collision insurance ..but chose to incur the repair costs so as to not affect her insurance rate. She found a used hood (it did have to be painted) and the total cost was about $200. Her brother-in-law was able to pop out the dent to her door.

Another thing to keep in mind when filing a claim....I believe the insurance co. is required to report the damage/repair to the motor vehicle dept., (I think) and this would then be documented in your motor vehicle history report. Even if there wasn't a police report.

No need to file a police report to sustantiate an insurance claim if you chose that route. If you caused property damage other than your own (private, city, state-owned, utility pole, etc) as a result of the accident, you could be cited for leaving (and not reporting) the damage.

I've never hit a pet or any wildlife other than maybe an opposum...but a pet or a larger mammal, I'd call to report (anonymously, at least).

Well, I did once hit a 'farm animal' which ended up being an unexpected fiasco of sorts...I'll post about this in a few!

[Shutup and Deal, I'm Losin']

The deer temporarily ran off, as they sometimes do, but I'm sure it's dead now as it was a direct hit toward the back end, so it probably suffered a bit before it died.

RM: That would be 'Bambette', not Bambi. ;)

Yes, we're alright and the car IS drivable, though that big dent is rather embarrassing. I hope the damage won't be too expensive. I'll post a picture of it later if I can.

[brink-]

In Minnesota, Montana and Colorado hitting wildlife is considered an Act of God. I don't know what other states say. It does not go against the driving record and it is not a point issue. You will have to check with your insurance carrier. Also, if you do not have full coverage your insurance won't cover it. Check your deductible amount too.

[Borderstone]

Deal hit "Bambs" ???!!! :( :( M-o-o-oh-mmm-a-a-a-a!!! *waaaaahhhh*

I'm tellin' Disney on you! :mad:
...and after I told you about "Do They Know It's Christmas"! :eek:
Lump o' coal your stocking mister! :p

(Okay,serious time)----> Did it happen at night? If so,it really can;t be your fault,the last thing you expect is a deer to vault in front of your car. I feel so bad for the deer but glad you're okay. ;)

[podunklander]

The deer temporarily ran off, as they sometimes do, but I'm sure it's dead now as it was a direct hit toward the back end, so it probably suffered a bit before it died.

RM: That would be 'Bambette', not Bambi. ;)

Yes, we're alright and the car IS drivable, though that big dent is rather embarrassing. I hope the damage won't be too expensive. I'll post a picture of it later if I can.

Awwwwwww...but still many survive and adapt. You most likely will never find out one way or another and as you know, there's no point in thinking about it any further.

Don't know if this would help any for you to know -there is a "3-legged" in the herd that crosses in my yard every eve for years now, and she seems to have gotten by just fine! ooooh which reminds me, almost buck fight time!! I get a front row seat!

I've gotten to know the deer crossings around these parts pretty well but this time of year, almost any place can be. Even during the day, I'll be driving slowly when passing by wooded areas.

Sorry that happened to you and good luck with you car. Hope it's not too much $$$!

Pam

[Kathy in Michigan]

I've hit 2 deer in Michigan. $3500 to repair the damage to a minivan and $2900 to repair damage (last year) to my '96 Sunfire (I was surprised they didn't total it.) I did not have collision on either vehicle, but I do carry full comprehensive with no deductible. In Michigan, comprehensive covers deer damage...and we have about 40,000 car/deer accidents every year. Don't quote me on that number...I'm pulling it out of my 50 sumpin year old memory. Both times I left the scene and called the sheriff's dept to report it. Both times they looked at my vehicle somewhere other than the scene of the accident. My insurance rates did not increase.

[podunklander]

Hope y'all don't mind...but I just have to tell you this, it was so bizzare! A little embarassing though - never heard of this happening to anyone else, but who knows.

Was just a few years ago, my uncle and I decided to take a late-night ride to Foxwoods Casino here in Connecticut, about an hour drive from where I live. Before the casino was built - that area was all farmland. There are still 1 or 2 working farms along the road. There's even one right next to a huge casino/employee commuter lot.

Anyhooo, my uncle drove to my house and we took his car from there, I drove. On a stretch of dark road, about 2 miles from the casino....I felt a thud and it was obvious that I hit 'something'. :confused: I never saw a thing. Didn't feel like it was a flat tire, but I had to pull over of course.

We heard some noises but had to get a flashlight from the car to get a better look. Not far from the side of the road...we couldn't tell what the animal was at first even with the flashlight, but then realized of all things it was a pig :eek: ! It was hurting for sure! Neither of us had a cell phone! The pig wasn't all that big but we had no clue as how it would behave if we got too close. This was in a cornfield (the pig had wobbled a little way into the field from the road by now) and I could see a house way out past it, but there weren't any lights on, so we decided we'd call the police from the nearest pay phone.

There was a small gas station before too long but we were almost to the casino and decided to wait and call from there. It didn't take us long to find a place in the parking garage and there was a house phone and pay phone right after we got off the elevator to the casino level.

My uncle called 911 and told the dispatcher what happened and the location of the incident. I could hear every word the dispatcher said and at one point, the dispatcher asked my uncle for his name and where he was from. My uncle refused to tell him and then just hung up!

We left the casino after a few hours, and even thought about stopping to check to see if the pig was still in the field on the way home. But I decided to take another route home, which turned off before the section of road where this happened.

When we got back to my house -my uncle waited until I got to the door and we waved to eachother and once I was inside, he took off. When I had opened the door to my house, there had been a card wedged into the door that I had taken out. Not at all uncommon, I assumed it was one of the many advertising cards I would get...usually Domino's Pizza.

But it wasn't. I couldn't quite get what I was looking at first but clearly, it was a citation from the police dept., "Town of Ledyard" ...where I hit the pig!! It was a $50 fine for "hitting a farm animal"!

Ever since then I've learned to take it slow and be extra cautious while driving at night...especially near farmland!

[brink-]

Most everyone on this board knows that I am an animal lover, so here goes. If you hit an animal look for it, and deal with it. Animals do have a nervous system and they feel pain. I live where there are a lot of road kill, several times I have been on my way to work and seen a deer along the road with a broken back trying desperately to get up. I used to call D.O.W. but it would take so long and they would suffer so that I quit waiting. I carry a knife in my car, and also have a concealed weapon permit and usually carry a gun. I put the animal out of their misery and then call D.O.W. although the boys in camo are used to me, it is against the law to do that. Get permission first. Don't let them suffer, we moved into their territory.
Here also it is illegal to hit a farm animal and there is a fine, also a bigger one for not reporting in a timely manner and leaving the scene.
Putting my soapbox away......

[brink-]

While ago a deer ran out in front of me and caused a bit of damage to my 2002 Toyota Camry. Although the damage doesn't appear to be too bad, (hood and bumper are bent, and the right headlight is a bit out of place though it still works fine, car drives fine) I didn't have my cell phone so I had to drive back home (not very far) from where the incident happened.

1. Will the insurance still pay because I left the scene? (I wasn't speeding, had my headlights on, and our seatbelts)

2. Will my insurance rates go up? (The damage can't be over $2000, so I can just pay that huge bill once, but that higher insurance will haunt me forever)

3. Will this go on my driving record? (The car is still very drivable and neither me nor my passenger were injured in any way). (I did not get a police report, at least not yet)


Good onya for wearing the seat belt. You might check the junk yards you may be able to get a hood and bumper for little or nothing. You may have to have the hood painted but it could be cheaper than the deductible.

[Sundown17]

In most states (I can't say "all" with certainty), as KathyIM says, the insurance company regards an accident involving hitting a wild animal as a comprehensive, no fault accident. If you carry comp on your vehicle (which is always a good idea as that is what covers your glass, theft and fire losses in addition to these kinds of animal accidents), it will cover the cost of getting it fixed and your insurance shouldn't go up. It will show up on your driving record and the report of what accidents your vehicle has been involved in, but just for info sake.

Best thing is to call your insurance company. I don't think it will affect your insurance rates...but I can almost guarantee if you don't call and they find out about it later...they will not be very happy with you and may drop you. You never want to have it on your record that you were dropped by an insurance company.

Just as an aside...I used to work for an insurance company as a processor. I would input the information received from agents for new policies, changes, etc. Accident/Violation info was part of that...and one of the questions would be if there was any BI (bodily injury...to a human). When it was a deer hit and the answer was usually "no" (when properly belted, humans rarely are injured in these kind of accidents...kudos to you Douglas!) I would always think..."I betcha the deer would disagree."

I echo brink's sentiment...when at all possible...please let the authorities know there is an injured animal and give the location. (I don't necessarily advocate taking care of it yourself...unless you are trained...wounded animals are dangerous. And you could be breaking some laws.)

Glad to hear you and your passenger are okay.

Diane

[podunklander]

Most everyone on this board knows that I am an animal lover, so here goes. If you hit an animal look for it, and deal with it. Animals do have a nervous system and they feel pain. I live where there are a lot of road kill, several times I have been on my way to work and seen a deer along the road with a broken back trying desperately to get up. I used to call D.O.W. but it would take so long and they would suffer so that I quit waiting. I carry a knife in my car, and also have a concealed weapon permit and usually carry a gun. I put the animal out of their misery and then call D.O.W. although the boys in camo are used to me, it is against the law to do that. Get permission first. Don't let them suffer, we moved into their territory.
Here also it is illegal to hit a farm animal and there is a fine, also a bigger one for not reporting in a timely manner and leaving the scene.
Putting my soapbox away......


When an injured animal runs off into the woods -best to leave it be (especially nighttime)unless you are able to assist the animal properly or call animal control/wildlife dept. Many hunters and some others have the experience/training to do this. I'm glad to know that you do, brink. An animal on the side of the road, suffering is something I've never come across (except the pig)..despite years of living in the country. I certainly would do everything I could within reason. With wildlife especially, it's best to proceed with caution because the animal could be rabid.

Had a bird fly into the side of our house, fall about 40' and it was partially immobilized when it landed on the ground. The local animal control officer arrived in a short time and he was just wonderful. Watching him care for the bird and interact with my then young son (who had seen the bird fly into the house) was very touching. After he told me about the animal shelter and funding issues too - I later went down and toured the facility and offered to volunteer to find some grant $$$, etc.

As far as the pig...I guess $50 was a slap on the wrist. Still, it was a surprise as to how they found out my name and address!!

Pam

[Shutup and Deal, I'm Losin']

Awwwwwww...but still many survive and adapt. You most likely will never find out one way or another and as you know, there's no point in thinking about it any further.

Don't know if this would help any for you to know -there is a "3-legged" in the herd that crosses in my yard every eve for years now, and she seems to have gotten by just fine! ooooh which reminds me, almost buck fight time!! I get a front row seat!

I've gotten to know the deer crossings around these parts pretty well but this time of year, almost any place can be. Even during the day, I'll be driving slowly when passing by wooded areas.

Sorry that happened to you and good luck with you car. Hope it's not too much $$$!

Pam

Actually, they say the deer was laying dead on the other side of the ditch. It was a pretty direct hit, so it did not get far.

[podunklander]

Actually, they say the deer was laying dead on the other side of the ditch. It was a pretty direct hit, so it did not get far.

AWWWWWWW, but just as well it didn't suffer for long.

Just a couple of hours ago, driving back home to Connecticut from Mass. on busy Interstate 91 I saw a young doe grazing just a few feet from the highway. She was right at the edge of an exit ramp...unaffected by the hundreds of cars whizzing by.

[Jesse Joe]

The poor thing won't probably get to see another sunrise... :(

[brink-]

The poor thing won't probably get to see another sunrise... :(

I'm with you on that JJ. I hate to see all the road kill here, the animals are so use to the traffic that they ignore it. What annoys me here, is that we have all these out of staters that want to live in the mountains, by the ski areas, "wanting to be closer to nature", build great big houses that they use once or twice a year and then gripe because there is wildlife by their homes.

[Sundown17]

I'm with you on that JJ. I hate to see all the road kill here, the animals are so use to the traffic that they ignore it. What annoys me here, is that we have all these out of staters that want to live in the mountains, by the ski areas, "wanting to be closer to nature", build great big houses that they use once or twice a year and then gripe because there is wildlife by their homes.

We get the same thing here, brink. People from the big cities in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, etc, drive up on a fall foliage trip, see the town I live in, fall in love, so decide to move up here. Then within months are showing up at Selectmen meetings and such, trying to change things to be more like the place they just left. Grrrr... In the 20+ years I have lived here, I have watched this lovely little New England town turn from a farming community to an upscale retreat for artists and hollywood types. Thank you Ken Burns et al.

Now I'll get off my soapbox...lol

How's things going with the insurance/vehicle Douglas?

[Jesse Joe]

I agree completely Brink & Sundown17. People are strange...

[podunklander]

The poor thing won't probably get to see another sunrise... :(

:( I had the same sad thought.

In addition to the overpopulation of deer and other wildlife (no natural 'predators' except us), there's been so much development in Connecticut and in what had once been considered fringe areas - forcing wildlife onto the highways and other developed areas. Wildlife simply do not have an uninterrupted habitat ANYWHERE here. We're inadvertantly creating 'edge' for deer and this 'edge' is harmful to them (and us!).

I saw an old newspaper from the early 1910's...that was BIG news! A herd of deer had been spotted in a small town in Eastern Connecticut. A subsequent article unfortunately reported that having heard the news of the deer - someone went out and hunted/killed them all.

Also, in the late 1920's -the 1st aerial deer count in our state...2!

Food (not venison though...not me anyway) for thought.

[brink-]

probably because some stupid idiot went out and hunted/killed them all.

[podunklander]

I came across these photos last night - didn't know I still had them on my PC. This is 'my herd'. They were getting used to me and I could sometimes come up to about 20' before they took off.

About 3 years ago, I got even closer to a black bear! It was nighttime, so I couldn't quite make out what it was until it came into the lamplight. He/she kept approaching (probably trying to figure out what I was too)...but I wasn't sure what would happen if I let it come too close. At about 10' I being curious, took a step forward at which time it stopped and showed me it's lovely teeth.

At that, I let out a scream I didn't know I was capable of producing! A primative, high pitched shrill. As the echo died down, it 'barked' at me then turned and ran off! In the morning, I went to look for tracks and found some under a grove of trees where I hang my hammock.

I've also seen red fox, a grey fox, a coyote, turkeys (came right up to my back door), but on a daily basis it's deer, chipmunks, squirrels and rabbits!

So any update on your car, Deal? You making out ok so far?

[SilverHeels]

A friend of mine in the US had a massive back yard. It was practically a whole forest, and the deer would stroll thru, past the pool, and gradually became so confident, they would wander up to the back porch and gaze at us from beautiful, gentle eyes. I took so many photographs but am so 'blonde', I am unable to post. I'll ask Char if she will post some for me. He has now moved and I will not be able to see our 'family' of deers again. I think about them, hoping they remain safe from the nearby traffic.
There were the two large ones (mummy and daddy) and three others, including a baby one, we watched grow bigger. Deer are so beautiful and should be watched for on the roads. I know they can be a danger to humans but IMO humans are certainly a danger to them!
Pam, your photos are so cute! :)

[podunklander]

A friend of mine in the US had a massive back yard. It was practically a whole forest, and the deer would stroll thru, past the pool, and gradually became so confident, they would wander up to the back porch and gaze at us from beautiful, gentle eyes. I took so many photographs but am so 'blonde', I am unable to post. I'll ask Char if she will post some for me. He has now moved and I will not be able to see our 'family' of deers again. I think about them, hoping they remain safe from the nearby traffic.
There were the two large ones (mummy and daddy) and three others, including a baby one, we watched grow bigger. Deer are so beautiful and should be watched for on the roads. I know they can be a danger to humans but IMO humans are certainly a danger to them!
Pam, your photos are so cute! :)


Aw thanks -would love to see your photos!! I love wildlife photos. I can PM you instructions...but prolly it would be much easier for you, if you would just dye your hair RED!!! hehe Sorry but I just couldn't let that one slip on by!!

Another neat thing about the herd in my yard: heard some commotion one night and ran upstairs, looked out the bedroom window and right below...couldn't believe my eyes...a buckfight! That was AMAZING!!

Oh I feel bad to have left out my many reptilian and amphibious visitors! Of the latter...well one of my hanging plants, which hung from a lampost was lopsided. I went to adjust it and it wouldn't. Took it down and low and behold...there she was! The most beautiful fat toad I ever did see!

I removed her from the plant and placed her on the deck - which was actually closer to the light, so she could catch more insects/bugs. She liked in there! We hung out for a few weeks!

[Dream Street Rose]

SilverHeels and Char,

Those are beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

DSR

[charlene]

SilverHeels and Char,

Those are beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

DSR
trying again to post the pics and not just the links:

[charlene]

trying again to post the pics and not just the links:

here's another from Silverheels:
(seems the images only show up as jpg.not bitmap..)

[podunklander]

Awwwwwwwww they're just soooo beautiful!!!

[SilverHeels]

[QUOTE=podunklander;131237]Aw thanks -would love to see your photos!! I love wildlife photos. I can PM you instructions...but prolly it would be much easier for you, if you would just dye your hair RED!!! hehe Sorry but I just couldn't let that one slip on by!!

QUOTE]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH! DIE BOSTON DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;)

[SilverHeels]

Char, thanks for posting the pix and I am glad you guys liked them. I think they are soooo cute!

[podunklander]

[QUOTE=podunklander;131237]Aw thanks -would love to see your photos!! I love wildlife photos. I can PM you instructions...but prolly it would be much easier for you, if you would just dye your hair RED!!! hehe Sorry but I just couldn't let that one slip on by!!

QUOTE]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH! DIE BOSTON DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;)

Now you know you wouldn't be writing such things if you lived anywhere near here! Just keep yer distance, loveya anyway ;)

[timetraveler]

My sister & her husband got hit by a deer recently, and the first thought I had in my mind was " did they get to take it home & put it int the freezer?" Turns out the thing survived but they had to get a rental car until it got repaired. It ran around $2000 to fix it(the car that is).

[Kathy Number Four]

My sister & her husband got hit by a deer recently, and the first thought I had in my mind was " did they get to take it home & put it int the freezer?" Turns out the thing survived but they had to get a rental car until it got repaired. It ran around $2000 to fix it(the car that is).

So what happened to poor "Bambi"? If this happened to me, I'd probably rush the deer to the vet's... forget the car!

[brink-]

My favorite sight on the side of the road is a car in worse shape than the deer. I am sure people drive along the highway here and see those signs with the jumping deer and wonder why those stupid highway people in Colorado would put up a sign like that. They don't pay attention to the speed limit, not a surprise they wouldn't pay attention to the signs warning of deer crossings. Since we put a highway right in the middle of their feeding ground.
I am with you Kathy. I took a coyote to the vet once, somebody hit it and left it dying on the highway. He had lost so much blood that they couldn't help him. We have some wonderful rehab centers here for wildlife, he just wasn't able to be one of the attendees.

[timetraveler]

So what happened to poor "Bambi"? If this happened to me, I'd probably rush the deer to the vet's... forget the car!i asked her about it, and she said that they watched it while they waited for the police, and were surprised to watch it just calmly walk away, grazing the whole time. So, apparently "Bambi" and it's family came out of it allright for a change.