Will your car insurance pay damages for a deer collision?
The Iowa Insurance Division (IID) offers tips for making sure vehicles are covered in case of accidents involving deer. Iowa drivers should be aware that they need a specific type of insurance to cover their car repair costs.
The spring and fall seasons bring an increase in the number of incidents involving deer. While no state agency actually tracks this data, recent years have seen as many as 4,000 accidents involving animals reported to the Department of Transportation. Officials believe that many accidents with animals go unreported. The department has picked up more than 10,000 carcasses along Iowa roadways that had been apparently hit by passing motorists in some years.
“Some consumers don’t realize that collision insurance does not cover damages when a car hits a deer,” said Tom Alger, communications director for the IID. “Automobile owners should check the declarations page of their policy to see if they have purchased the appropriate ‘Comprehensive Coverage’. The additional premium is usually minimal, but well worth the cost if you are involved in an accident.”
Insurance policies usually use one of two different terms to describe coverage that includes contact with animals: “Comprehensive Coverage” or “Other Than Collision Coverage.” The coverage included in those terms is protection against damage to a vehicle caused by hitting a deer, as well as damage from hail, theft or falling objects. It is optional and includes its own deductible.
Will your car insurance pay damages for a deer collision?
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