States with the most deer accidents
It is not uncommon for car owners to hit deer while driving. Nationally, your chances of hitting a deer are one in 164 and double during the deer season (usually October to December). In 2015, the national deer, elk, or elk collision rate was one in 169. In 2016, that number dropped slightly, and deer collision insurance costs dropped by $140.
West Virginia leads the nation as the state where you are most likely to run into a deer, with a one in 41 chance, up 7% from 2015. Montana, Pennsylvania, Iowa, and South Dakota are second only to West Virginia. worst states for deer accidents.
Here is the full list of your likelihood of hitting a deer while driving by state:
| Probability of being hit by deer by state | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State rating 2015-2016 | Area | Probability of colliding with a deer 2015-2016 | State rating 2014-2015 | Probability of colliding with a deer 2014-2015 | Percentage increase or decrease |
| 1 | West Virginia | 1 41 in | 1 | 1 44 in | 7% increase |
| 2 | Montana | 1 58 in | 2 | 1 63 in | 9% increase |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | 1 67 in | 4 | 1 70 in | 5% increase |
| 4 | Iowa | 1 68 in | 3 | 1 68 in | No Change |
| 5 | North Dakota | 1 70 in | 5 | 1 73 in | 4% increase |
| 6 | Wisconsin | 1 77 in | 6 | 1 77 in | No Change |
| 7 | Minnesota | 1 80 in | 7 | 1 81 in | 1% increase |
| 8 | Michigan | 1 85 in | 10 | 1 97 in | 14% increase |
| 8 | Wyoming | 1 85 in | 12 | 1 100 in | 18% increase |
| 10 | Mississippi | 1 87 in | 8 | 1 88 in | 1% increase |
| 11 | North Dakota | 1 91 in | 14 | 1 113 in | 24% increase |
| 12 | Южная Каролина | 1 93 in | 9 | 1 95 in | 2% increase |
| 13 | Virginia | 1 94 in | 10 | 1 97 in | 3% increase |
| 14 | Арканзас | 1 96 in | 13 | 1 101 in | 5% increase |
| 15 | Kentucky | 1 103 in | 14 | 1 113 in | 10% increase |
| 16 | North Carolina | 1 115 in | 16 | 1 115 in | No Change |
| 17 | Missouri | 1 117 in | 17 | 1 120 in | 3% increase |
| 18 | Kansas | 1 125 in | 18 | 1 125 in | No Change |
| 19 | Georgia | 1 126 in | 19 | 1 128 in | 2% increase |
| 19 | Ohio | 1 126 in | 20 | 1 131 in | 4% increase |
| 21 | Nebraska | 1 132 in | 25 | 1 143 in | 8% increase |
| 22 | Alabama | 1 135 in | 21 | 1 133 in | 2% reduction |
| 23 | Indiana | 1 136 in | 23 | 1 142 in | 4% increase |
| 24 | Maine | 1 138 in | 28 | 1 158 in | 15% increase |
| 25 | Maryland | 1 139 in | 22 | 1 134 in | 4% reduction |
| 26 | Idaho | 1 147 in | 26 | 1 146 in | 1% reduction |
| 26 | Tennessee | 1 147 in | 29 | 1 170 in | 16% increase |
| 28 | Delaware | 1 148 in | 23 | 1 142 in | 4% reduction |
| 29 | Utah | 1 150 in | 30 | 1 195 in | 30% increase |
| 30 | New York | 1 161 in | 27 | 1 159 in | 4% reduction |
| 31 | Vermont | 1 175 in | 30 | 1 195 in | 11% increase |
| 32 | Illinois | 1 192 in | 33 | 1 199 in | 4% increase |
| 33 | Oklahoma | 1 195 in | 32 | 1 198 in | 2% increase |
| 34 | NH | 1 234 in | 35 | 1 252 in | 8% increase |
| 35 | Oregon | 1 239 in | 35 | 1 252 in | 5% increase |
| 36 | New Jersey | 1 250 in | 34 | 1 234 in | 6% reduction |
| 37 | Colorado | 1 263 in | 40 | 1 304 in | 16% increase |
| 38 | Texas | 1 288 in | 39 | 1 297 in | 3% increase |
| 39 | Louisiana | 1 300 in | 41 | 1 335 in | 12% increase |
| 40 | Washington | 1 307 in | 42 | 1 337 in | 10% increase |
| 41 | Connecticut | 1 313 in | 38 | 1 293 in | 6% reduction |
| 42 | Rhode Island | 1 345 in | 37 | 1 264 in | 24% reduction |
| 43 | Alaska | 1 468 in | 44 | 1 516 in | 10% increase |
| 44 | New Mexico | 1 475 in | 45 | 1 518 in | 9% increase |
| 45 | Massachusetts | 1 635 in | 43 | 1 443 in | 30% reduction |
| 46 | Washington, DC | 1 689 in | 48 | 1 1035 in | 50% increase |
| 47 | Florida | 1 903 in | 46 | 1 930 in | 3% increase |
| 48 | Nevada | 1 1018 in | 49 | 1 1134 in | 11% increase |
| 49 | California | 1 1064 in | 47 | 1 1048 in | 9% reduction |
| 50 | Arizona | 1 1175 in | 50 | 1 1334 in | 14% increase |
| 51 | Hawaii | 1 18955 in | 51 | 1 8765 in | 54% reduction |
| US average | 1 164 in | 1 169 in | 3% increase |
How being hit by a deer will affect your car insurance
According to State Farm, the average deer strike claim was $3,995 in 2016, down from $4,135 in 2015. Damage from collisions with deer is covered by comprehensive insurance, which is not mandatory. Comprehensive insurance also covers theft, vandalism, hail, fire and other incidents that are considered beyond your control. Complex claims generally do not raise your rates unless you have recently filed additional claims.
If you swerve to avoid hitting a deer and succeed but crash (maybe you hit a tree instead), that damage is covered by collision insurance. If your vehicle does not make contact with the deer, the damage is considered a collision claim because you hit another vehicle or object (or rolled your vehicle over).
Deer are the most common wild animals to watch out for - even a small deer can completely wreck your car in an accident. And while your chances are highest in the states listed above, deer can be found just about anywhere, not just in the countryside. A deer warning whistle can give you at least some extra protection as they provide an extra layer of protection. You should always be on the lookout for the threat posed by deer and drive carefully at all times.
This article is adapted with the approval of carinsurance.com: http://www.carinsurance.com/Articles/odds-of-hitting-deer.aspx
