November is marked as a high risk month, and states such as Michigan and Virginia are flagged as high risk states by insurance providers due to the expected number of auto-deer collisions this season.
For many insurance companies, deer and cars can be one deadly combination. Especially during the months of October, November, and December where deer mating and migration is at its peak, the chances of having an auto-deer collision are very fatal. Reports from the Insurance Information Institute say that the fourth quarter of every year brings forth a striking increase in the movement of deer population, causing more deer-vehicle collisions than any other months. This is the time of the year when motorists need to be extra careful when on the road.
According to past records compiled by the Insurance Information Institute, there have been approximately 1.6 million deer-vehicle crashes each year. The collisions have caused nearly 150 motorist deaths, hundreds of thousands of injuries and over $3.6 billion in automobile damage. In addition, more money is spent by drivers to cover medical payments and other out-of-pocket expenditures, raising the total costs to roughly $4.6 billion. The usual claim for auto-deer collisions is $3,000; but this can vary depending on the extent of the damage and the type of vehicle involved in the accident.
Studies made by insurance companies reveal that three out of four animal-vehicle crashes involve deer, and November is the month when auto-deer collision reports pile most every year. Reports from the National Safety Council also show that auto-deer collision represent hundreds of thousands of damages each year.
Insurance Information Institute consumer spokesperson and senior vice president Jeanne M. Salvatore said in one interview that with the continued degradation of wildlife habitats come the rise of collisions with deer and other animals. Salvatore also reminded drivers to stay alert at all times while on the road, paying attention to both sides of the road specially during the hours just before daylight and just before dusk.
Some motorists blame the city life displacing deer from their natural habitat as one of the causes of deer-car accidents. However, insurance companies put the blame to the growing deer population. Insurance insiders claim that too much deer can be unbearable even in their own environment, which is why they sometimes find themselves running into suburban neighborhoods and public highways. Certain states have more deer related accidents than others. A study of yearly claims statistics, reveal Arkansas, West Virginia, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Michigan, Maryland, North Dakota and Virginia as states that has the highest reported claims for auto-deer collisions.
