You’re driving down a Minnesota road when a deer suddenly appears in your headlights.
However, there may be only a second to react.
Sometimes there isn’t enough time to avoid a collision; your deer accident car insurance can help afterward.
Once everyone is safe and the initial shock wears off, consider this question.
Does deer accident car insurance cover hitting a deer in Minnesota?
The short answer is that it can, but only if your auto policy includes the appropriate coverage. Damage caused by hitting a deer or another animal is generally covered by comprehensive auto insurance, sometimes called “other than collision” coverage. Comprehensive coverage is optional under Minnesota law, so simply having legally required auto insurance does not necessarily mean damage to your vehicle from a deer accident is covered.
For Minnesota drivers, especially those traveling rural highways and roads in Central Minnesota, understanding deer accident car insurance before an incident occurs can prevent an unpleasant surprise afterward.
If your policy includes comprehensive coverage, physical damage to your vehicle caused by hitting a deer will generally fall under that portion of your policy, subject to its deductible, limits, exclusions, and other terms.
This sometimes surprises drivers because hitting a deer certainly feels like a collision. From an insurance standpoint, however, an animal collision is generally treated differently from hitting another vehicle, guardrail, tree, or other object.
The Minnesota Department of Commerce specifically lists animal collisions among the losses covered by comprehensive auto insurance.
If you have only Minnesota’s required auto insurance coverage, and have not purchased comprehensive coverage, damage to your own vehicle from hitting a deer generally will not be covered.
That distinction makes understanding your policy especially important.
One of the most confusing parts of Minnesota auto insurance is understanding the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage.
Comprehensive coverage generally protects your vehicle against certain losses that aren’t traditional vehicle collisions.
Depending on your policy, covered losses commonly include:
So, if a deer runs into the road and you strike it, your comprehensive auto insurance would generally be the coverage used for damage to your vehicle.
Collision coverage generally addresses physical damage to your vehicle when you collide with another vehicle or an object.
Examples could include hitting:
The difference becomes especially important when trying to avoid a deer.
If you hit the deer, comprehensive coverage generally applies. If you swerve to miss the deer and instead strike a tree or guardrail, the resulting vehicle damage may be handled under collision coverage rather than comprehensive.
The circumstances of every accident differ, so drivers should report what actually happened rather than trying to determine the claim category themselves.
No. Minnesota law does not require drivers to purchase comprehensive coverage.
Minnesota does require several types of auto insurance coverage, including Personal Injury Protection, liability, uninsured motorist, and under-insured motorist coverage. Comprehensive and collision coverage are optional under state law.
However, if you finance or lease your vehicle, your lender or leasing company may require comprehensive and collision coverage as a condition of the loan or lease.
If you own your vehicle outright, you may have more flexibility in deciding whether to carry these optional coverages.
That makes it worth checking your policy rather than assuming you have deer collision coverage simply because you have “full coverage” car insurance. “Full coverage” isn’t a specific standardized insurance policy. Look at your actual declarations page to see whether comprehensive coverage is listed.
Usually, yes.
Comprehensive auto insurance commonly includes a deductible. This is the amount you’re responsible for paying toward a covered loss before insurance pays the remaining covered amount, up to applicable policy limits.
For example, suppose hitting a deer causes $4,500 in covered damage and your comprehensive deductible is $500. You would generally be responsible for the $500 deductible, while insurance would address the remaining covered repair costs according to the policy.
Deductibles vary. Your comprehensive deductible could be different from your collision deductible.
Reviewing that number before an accident is helpful because it tells you how much you might need to pay out of pocket following an animal collision insurance claim.
What Should You Do After Hitting a Deer in Minnesota?
A deer accident can be disorienting, especially at night or on a rural road. Safety should come before worrying about insurance.
If you hit a deer, consider these steps:
Minnesota officials specifically caution drivers against approaching an injured animal. A frightened or injured deer can be unpredictable and may cause additional injuries.
Photographs can also provide useful documentation for your Minnesota car insurance deer accident claim. Capture multiple angles of the vehicle damage and, when safely possible, the general accident scene.
A deer doesn’t need to remain at the scene for you to report an accident.
If the animal runs away after the collision, focus on your safety and document what you can. Photograph the damage and surrounding area and write down the approximate time, location, and circumstances while they are still fresh in your memory.
Your insurance carrier will determine coverage based on the facts of the loss and the terms of your policy.
Avoid putting yourself in danger trying to locate or follow the animal.
A deer can cause surprisingly extensive vehicle damage.
Modern vehicles often contain expensive technology in areas that are vulnerable during an animal collision. Headlights, bumpers, grilles, cameras, radar units, sensors, cooling systems, hoods, windshields, and other components can make what appears to be front-end damage considerably more expensive to repair.
If repair costs become high relative to the vehicle’s value, an insurance company may determine that the vehicle is a total loss.
The Minnesota Department of Commerce explains that Minnesota insurers evaluating a totaled vehicle must consider the cost of a comparable automobile in the insured’s local market, adjusted for factors such as mileage, condition, and options.
Keep records related to your vehicle, particularly documentation of its condition, features, and recent significant improvements or equipment that may be relevant during the claim evaluation.
Your instinct may tell you to jerk the steering wheel when a deer appears. That reaction can sometimes create an even more dangerous situation.
Swerving can send a vehicle into oncoming traffic, a ditch, guardrail, tree, or another vehicle. Minnesota officials advise drivers that if a collision cannot be avoided, they should not swerve in a way that could cause them to lose control.
Instead, remain alert in areas with deer activity, reduce speed when conditions warrant, use appropriate braking, and maintain control of the vehicle.
Be particularly attentive when visibility is limited and where deer-crossing signs indicate known wildlife activity.
Filing any insurance claim can potentially affect future premiums, but there is no universal answer stating that every deer claim will increase your rate.
Insurance companies use different rating methods, and many factors influence auto insurance premiums. Your driving history, claims history, vehicle, location, coverage selections, deductibles, and carrier-specific rating practices may all play a role.
If the damage is relatively minor and close to your comprehensive deductible, you may want to understand the repair cost and discuss your options before deciding how to proceed.
For substantial damage, however, having comprehensive coverage can provide important financial protection.
The easiest time to determine whether you have hitting a deer insurance is before a deer is standing in front of your vehicle.
Pull out your auto insurance declarations page and look for comprehensive coverage. While you’re there, review:
If you aren’t sure what a coverage means, an insurance professional can explain how the individual pieces of your policy work together.
National Insurance Brokers – Hice Agency is an independent insurance brokerage serving Minnesota and represents more than 40 insurance companies. Because coverage, deductibles, pricing, and underwriting can vary between carriers, an independent broker can compare options rather than being limited to a single insurance company.
So, does car insurance cover hitting a deer in Minnesota?
If your policy includes comprehensive coverage, damage caused by a direct collision with a deer is generally covered under that portion of your auto policy, subject to your deductible and policy terms. Liability coverage alone does not pay to repair your own vehicle after an animal collision, and Minnesota does not require drivers to purchase comprehensive insurance. The focus keyphrase deer accident car insurance should appear naturally in this context.
For drivers throughout Baxter, Brainerd, Grand Rapids, Longville, Remer, and other Minnesota communities, deer are simply part of sharing the road.
Understanding your deer accident insurance in Minnesota before an accident occurs can make the claims process less confusing. Review your declarations page periodically, know whether you carry comprehensive coverage, understand your deductible, and remember that the exact terms of your individual policy ultimately determine coverage.
For questions about comprehensive auto insurance, deductibles, deer collision coverage, or other Minnesota auto insurance options, National Insurance Brokers – Hice Agency provides insurance guidance for new and existing clients.
National Insurance Brokers – Hice Agency
7111 Forthun Rd., Suite 200 A
Baxter, MN 56425
Phone: 218-203-5540
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