Winter and fall seem to be the season’s car insurance companies detest. Based on statistics, there is a dramatic increase on animal-related accidents during these seasons. In fact, HLDI (Highway Loss Data News) say that the accidents are more or less three times higher than other seasons. After reviewing claims, insurance companies show that between July1, 2008 and June 30, 2010, there were 2.3 million deer-vehicle collisions. Animal –related accidents also recorded $3,000 worth of claims in 2008. The deer’s migrating and mating season and other factors may have lead to the increase in the number of deer collisions. Accidents are serious and likewise costly, according to car insurance agents. So motorists need to be very careful during the said seasons.
Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia are among the states who have the highest chances of colliding with a deer. Insurance companies estimates that 1 in every 39 motorists in these states would most likely have a deer-related accident in a given year. One the other hand, drivers in the Southwest regions of the same country are less likely to encounter such accidents. Car owners in California and Nevada have the lowest risks. Hawaiian motorists encounter deer accidents on the average of one to nine thousand nine hundred thirty one.
Remember that colliding with animals may cause serious damage to your vehicle and your passengers. Some people claim that the collision even traumatized their juvenile passengers. A father in Virginia said that after hitting a deer in one of their family trips, his 7-year old child had severe nightmares concerning deer. The mother mentioned that every time their daughter watches television and sees a deer, she breaks into tantrums. They had to take the child to a child psychologist.
Kangaroos and Wallabies are also likely to be victims of animal-related road mishaps that may result to vehicle damage and even death. More than 5000 accidents were recorded between 1996 and 2005. Roughly 1,700 people injured and 22 others were killed trying to avoid the animals. But car insurance companies believe that the real toll is much higher. According to them, animal-related car accidents are under-reported. In some incidents, drivers swerve to avoid the animals thus hitting trees and posts. Stray dogs and rider less horses are also related to some road accidents. Cats and rabbits also cause road mishaps. Car insurance companies pay a lot of money on animal accidents fro the past years and they are hoping that motorists would be more careful.
