{"id":5698,"date":"2026-08-27T11:00:27","date_gmt":"2026-08-27T18:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vernfonk.com\/blog\/?p=5698"},"modified":"2026-08-27T11:00:34","modified_gmt":"2026-08-27T18:00:34","slug":"car-accidents-what-to-do-if-you-hit-a-deer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vernfonk.com\/blog\/car-accidents\/car-accidents-what-to-do-if-you-hit-a-deer\/","title":{"rendered":"Oh Deer! What to Do When You Hit a Deer (or a Deer Hits You) While Driving\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Picture this: You\u2019re cruising along a Washington road; the playlist is good, traffic is behaving, and then\u2014deer. One second, you\u2019re thinking about dinner. The next, you\u2019re braking hard and trying to keep a very startled animal out of your hood ornament collection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deer collisions happen fast, so knowing what to do before Bambi makes an unexpected cameo can save you some confusion. Keep control of the car, move somewhere safe if you can, check for injuries, stay away from the animal, document the damage, and call your insurer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And yes, this is a real Washington driving risk. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)<\/a> recorded 39,258 wildlife carcass removals from state highways from 2019 through 2023. Deer made up about 54% of them. WSDOT also notes that those numbers don\u2019t capture every collision because some animals leave the roadway or are never reported. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why deer and wildlife accidents happen<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Deer aren\u2019t trying to play chicken with your car. Roads cut through habitats wildlife uses for food, water, shelter, and migration, which can turn rural highways and wooded roads into busy crossing zones. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Washington drivers may encounter deer, elk, black bears, coyotes, and smaller animals. An elk can do much more damage than a rabbit, but even a small animal can cause trouble if a driver panics and loses control. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When are deer and elk collisions most common in Washington?<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Fall is prime time for extra caution. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) guidance<\/a> says more than half of mule deer-vehicle collisions occur in October and November, and deer are especially active around dawn and dusk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s a rough combination: more animal movement, shorter days, and commute times that overlap with low light. Elk also cross highways while moving between feeding and seasonal ranges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re driving on a wooded road at 6 a.m. in November, be ready for a surprise guest. Slow down, scan both shoulders, and give yourself room to react. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What to do after hitting a deer: step-by-step checklist<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first few minutes are not the time to debate whether your grille is salvageable. Safety comes first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Keep control and slow down.<\/strong> Hold the steering wheel firmly and brake in a controlled way. Avoid a sharp turn that could send you into another lane, a guardrail, or a ditch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Move to a safe location if possible.<\/strong> If the car can still be driven safely, pull out of active traffic and turn on your hazard lights. If it can\u2019t move, stay aware of surrounding traffic and call for help. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Check for injuries.<\/strong> Check yourself and your passengers before worrying about the car. Call 911 if anyone is injured or needs medical attention. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Call law enforcement when appropriate.<\/strong> Contact police or emergency services if someone is injured, the vehicle or animal is blocking traffic, the crash creates a roadway hazard, or the scene feels unsafe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Do not approach the animal.<\/strong> A wounded deer, elk, or other large animal can kick, charge, or move suddenly. Give it space and let trained authorities handle it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Document what happened.<\/strong> From a safe spot, take photos of the vehicle damage, debris, roadway, nearby signs, and the animal if you can do so without getting close. Note the time, location, weather, and direction you were traveling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Check whether the car is safe to drive.<\/strong> Look for fluid leaks, damaged tires, broken lights, windshield damage, warning lights, or deployed airbags. When in doubt, call a tow truck. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Report the claim.<\/strong> Tell your insurer the crash involved an animal and explain exactly what happened. Save your photos, repair information, and any police or incident number. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Need the broader crash version? Keep Vern Fonk\u2019s accident checklist<\/a> handy before your next road trip. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What if the deer is still alive?<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Helping from a distance is safest. Don\u2019t pet, restrain, move, or try to load an injured deer into your vehicle. Even a stunned animal can suddenly kick or bolt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the deer is alive near the road, give law enforcement the exact location. If it runs away, don\u2019t follow it. Photograph your car, note where the collision happened, and continue with the insurance process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does auto insurance cover hitting a deer?<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Usually, a direct hit with a deer or another animal falls under comprehensive coverage, not collision coverage. Comprehensive can cover certain non-collision events such as theft, weather damage, falling objects, and direct animal strikes, depending on the policy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI)<\/a> classifies animal-strike damage as a comprehensive loss. Your deductible, limits, exclusions, and policy terms still matter. Vern Fonk\u2019s guide to auto insurance coverages<\/a> breaks down the main types of protection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When collision coverage may apply<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s the twist: If you miss the deer but hit something else, the claim can look different. If you swerve and hit a guardrail, for example, the damage may fall under collision coverage because your car hit the guardrail, not the animal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The same idea can apply if you swerve into another car. What coverage applies depends on the facts of the crash and your policy, so report what actually happened rather than trying to label the claim yourself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more, see Vern Fonk\u2019s guide to collision insurance<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Deer<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Which coverage usually applies to common animal collisions?<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Scenario<\/strong> <\/td>Coverage that typically applies<\/strong> <\/td>What to know<\/strong> <\/td><\/tr>
You directly hit a deer <\/td>Comprehensive <\/td>Animal strike; deductible and policy terms apply <\/td><\/tr>
You directly hit an elk <\/td>Comprehensive <\/td>Direct animal strike; deductible and policy terms apply <\/td><\/tr>
You directly hit a bear <\/td>Comprehensive <\/td>Generally treated as a direct animal strike <\/td><\/tr>
You hit a small animal <\/td>Comprehensive <\/td>Whether a claim makes sense depends on the damage and deductible <\/td><\/tr>
You swerve and hit a tree or guardrail <\/td>Collision <\/td>Your vehicle hit a fixed object, not the animal <\/td><\/tr>
You swerve and hit another vehicle <\/td>Collision and\/or liability <\/td>Fault and coverage depend on the facts of the crash <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A liability-only policy generally doesn\u2019t pay to repair your own car after a direct animal strike. If wildlife is part of your normal commute, it\u2019s worth checking your policy before a deer checks it for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why swerving can make a wildlife collision worse<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Nobody wants to hit an animal, but yanking the wheel at highway speed can make things worse. A hard swerve can send you into oncoming traffic, another car, a tree, guardrail, ditch, or even a rollover. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If an animal appears, brake firmly when conditions allow, keep both hands on the wheel, and try to stay in your lane. The goal is to keep control and avoid a more serious secondary collision. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For other crash scenarios, Vern Fonk\u2019s car accident resources<\/a> cover what to do next. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to avoid hitting deer and reduce your risk of hitting other wildlife<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You can\u2019t schedule wildlife, but you can give yourself more reaction time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n