Deer, Deductibles, and One Split Second | Reynolds Insurance
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Deer, Deductibles, and One Split Second

Hitting the animal is comprehensive. Swerving to miss it is collision. Two different deductibles, decided in the same instant.

Reynolds Insurance Agency, Bellingham WA 3 min read Auto Insurance
“Deer

Quick answer: Strike the deer and it’s a comprehensive claim. Swerve and hit a tree, a ditch, a guardrail, or another car and it’s a collision claim. Those are usually two different deductibles on the same policy, and the choice gets made by reflex in under a second.

This is one of the few places where the insurance answer and the safety answer point the same direction, which makes it worth knowing before the moment arrives rather than after.

The two claims, side by side

 You hit the deerYou swerve and hit something else
Coverage that respondsComprehensiveCollision
Typical deductibleOften the lower of the twoOften the higher of the two
Treated as at-faultGenerally noOften yes
Typical severityFront-end damageRollover, tree strike, oncoming traffic

The last row is the one that matters most. The deductible difference is money. The severity difference is everything else.

Brake hard, stay in your lane. A deer strike is survivable and usually a repair bill. Leaving the roadway at speed, hitting a fixed object, or crossing the centre line are the outcomes that hurt people. The animal is almost never the worst thing in that scenario.

What makes November the month

Deer move most during the autumn rut, and the clocks have shifted so the evening commute now runs straight through dusk. More animals, less light, same roads at the same hour. If you drive rural stretches, field edges, or wooded corridors around Whatcom County, this is the window.

They also travel in groups. If one crosses in front of you, slow down and expect the second and third rather than accelerating back up to speed.

If it happens

  1. Pull off the roadway if the vehicle is drivable, hazards on.
  2. Stay in the car if traffic is still moving. A second collision is the real danger.
  3. Do not approach the animal.
  4. Photograph the damage, the road, and the scene before anything moves.
  5. Check for fluid leaks before driving on. Deer strikes frequently damage radiators and cooling systems behind what looks like a modest dent.
  6. Call us to start the claim and confirm which deductible applies.

Frequently asked questions

Is swerving to avoid a deer a collision or comprehensive claim?
Swerving and hitting another object, such as a tree, ditch, guardrail, or vehicle, is generally a collision claim. Striking the animal itself falls under comprehensive. The two often carry different deductibles.
Which deductible is usually lower?
Comprehensive deductibles are commonly set lower than collision deductibles on the same policy, though it varies by driver and selection. The same split-second reaction can change what you pay.
Should I brake or swerve?
Safety guidance generally favours braking firmly while staying in your lane. Swerving raises the risk of hitting a fixed object, leaving the road, or entering oncoming traffic, all of which tend to be far more severe than the animal strike.

Do you know your two deductibles?

Most drivers don’t, and they aren’t the same number. We’ll tell you both in one reply, and whether comprehensive is still on your policy at all.

Check My Deductibles Call 360-676-0224
Auto InsuranceDeductiblesComprehensive CoverageWinter DrivingWhatcom County

This article is for general educational purposes. Coverage terms, deductibles, and claim rating practices vary by carrier and policy. This is not a quote, binding offer, or guarantee of coverage. Reynolds Insurance Agency LLC is a Farmers Insurance agency serving Bellingham and Whatcom County, WA. 360-676-0224