I hit a deer last night....?

Question

I was on a 2 lane street in a wooded area at night and it dodged out. I didn't run it over, but I hit it. Not even half of it's body made contact with my car, but it still did some damage. The passenger side headllights are bashed out, theres a dent on the right side of the car & my hood is bent up a little. It was fine to drive last night (just had to use my high beams), but this morning, it jerked and shook as I turned it on & changed gears. I called my insurance place last night & left a message since it was after hours. They returned the call this morning & gave me the # to the place that handles claims for my state (VA). I'd like to know if you've experienced hitting a deer before and what are some tips and helpful advice that I can use? Just for the record, I have full coverage with a $250 deductable, but I'm not sure if there are any odd stipulations since I hit an animal & not another vehicle. What would it take for them to "total" my car out?

Answer 1

Deer (animal claims) are very common and are handled under comp. Despite what some bozo answered it will be easy for an appraiser to determine the difference between a live deer and a John Deere (just dont wash off the fur stuck to your grille and headlamp). Also, despite what another bozo answered, this type of damage can total a vehicle as well as any other type of loss. State laws and rules vairy but usually a vehicle is determined to be a 'total loss' if repair costs exceed the value of the car (or in most states, 70% to 80% of the market value). This does NOT mean the insurance co. will pay off the vehicle if you owe more than it's worth. Deer claims can run into multiple thousands of dollars to repair and dozens of people are killed every year because of them. Those little whistles that Wal-mart sells that are attached to front bumpers of cars do NOT repel deer. This is an urban myth and is a waste of money (I can't tell you how many photos I have taken of cars/trucks with those little glue-on whistles that have hit deer).
Drive careful out there.

Answer 2

This is a comprehensive claim, not collision. The same criteria for totaling a vehicle if you use collision for an accident are used if you hit a deer. The damages are the damages, it doesn't matter how they were caused. If the damages are within 75-80% (there could be some variation among companies) of the actual cash value of the vehicle it will be deemed a total loss. You would need to get more info from your claims adjuster. If it's repairable you just take it to the shop after the claims adjuster does your estimate and have them fix it, and you pay the shop your deductible. The adjuster may write a co-payable check to you and your shop for the rest of the damages, or he may pay the shop directly, or he may pay you if you have no lienholder.

Answer 3

I dont think it matters what you hit. It matters how damaged the car is, and how much it would cost the insurance company to fix it. If it's easier to for them to just pay off the car because it's too damaged to fix, then that's what they'll do. Normally, if there's damage to the frame of the car, and it won't drive right once it's fixed, they'll total it out. Since you hit the deer at the front of your car and not the side, I doubt they'll total it.

I was in an accident where my car was T-boned on the driver's side, and the lady's insurance company totalled my car. I was PISSED cuz I'd only had my car for two and a half months! Plus, to top it off, they only paid what the car was actually worth, not what I paid for it. Thank god I had GAP insurance to cover the 4 grand that her insurance company didn't pay.

Answer 4

You should have no problem getting the accident covered under your insurance. However, it would have been better if you had called the police to take a report. There should be little to no deductable as it is not your regular accident but covered under your acts of God portion of your coverage. I hit 4 deer in one year and everything was covered. You should be fine, just tell them what happend and be sure to get a complete examination of the car.

Answer 5

"Totaling" a car is based on the cost to repair vs. the cost to replace. If you drive a 1984 Ford station wagon, there's a good chance you just "totaled" your car. More than likely, the damage does not exceed the cost to replace your car, so it will be fixed. The insurance company should have "preferred" repair centers (discount to the insurance co.), but you are more than able to take your car to someone you trust (just be sure the deductible remains at $250).

Answer 6

That will be filed under your comprehensive insurance. Collisions with animals are not covered under collision, but under comprehensive. Most people have a lower decuctible for comprehensive coverage so this is generally a good thing.

To total your car, the cost of repairs is going to have to exceed 75% - 80% of the car's actual cash value.

Answer 7

It doesn't really matter whether you hit a deer, a street pole or a tree falls on your car - there is no other driver to hold liable so it will be handled the same. I would probably wash the car because my experience with hitting deer is that it starts to smell in a hurry if you don't wash off the blood etc.
Full coverage means your insurance company needs to pay costs no matter what damages your car.

Answer 8

Hitting a deer wont "total" a vehicle, but it can do several thousands of dollars in damage. I hit one a few years back and it did about 2000.00 in damage to my car, I took it in to get fixed, looks just like new, and the insurance paid it minus my 500.00 deductible without any hesitation. Nothing special you have to do.

Answer 9

you think of hitting deer is undesirable? attempt hitting a black angus bull, now that critter does some injury to a automobile plus there's a sturdy risk that the passengers in the motor vehicle would be heavily injury. Been there....achieved that..... do no longer want to do it returned!!!!!!

Answer 10

They more than likely will look for proof, such as hair left behind where it hit your car. Once they find that, they will declare it was an animal, not another car. So my suggestion is to NOT wash your car and "get rid of the evidence". Also, in order for them to "total" your car, they would have to determine that the amount it would take to repair is far more than what the car is worth. Next time, call the police to get an official report.