What to Do After a Collision with an Animal

You’re driving on a familiar road in the Tacoma area at dusk—perhaps a stretch of SR 7 or a quiet backroad near Puyallup—when suddenly, a deer leaps into your path. You have no time to react. The impact is jarring and frightening, leaving you shaken and your car seriously damaged.

Collisions with animals, particularly deer, are a frequent and dangerous reality for drivers in Washington State. In the confusing moments after the crash, you’re faced with a unique situation. There’s no other driver to exchange information with, and it’s clearly not your fault, but you’re still left with the aftermath.

Knowing the correct safety procedures to follow and understanding how your own car insurance works in this specific scenario are the keys to navigating the situation safely and effectively.

Useful Information for You: In a Nutshell

• Prioritize Safety Above All Else: Do not approach the animal. Pull your car to a safe location, turn on your hazard lights, and stay in your vehicle if you are on a busy road.
• Call for Help: Report the accident to 911 or the local non-emergency line. This creates an official record and alerts authorities to a potential hazard on the road.
• Document the Scene: Take photos of your vehicle’s damage, the animal (from a safe distance), and the surrounding area, including any animal crossing signs.
• It’s a “Comprehensive” Insurance Claim: Damage to your car from hitting an animal is typically covered under your comprehensive insurance, not your collision coverage.
• Do Not Swerve (If Possible): While your instinct is to avoid the animal, swerving can often lead to a more dangerous secondary collision with another car or a fixed object, which can change how your claim is handled.

Immediate Steps to Take After Hitting an Animal

1. Pull Over Safely and Assess the Situation

Your first move is to get your vehicle to a safe spot. Pull over to the shoulder as far as possible, turn off the ignition, and switch on your hazard lights to warn other drivers. Take a few deep breaths to calm yourself.

2. Do NOT Approach the Animal

This is a critical safety rule. A large, wounded animal like a deer is frightened and in pain, and it can be extremely dangerous. It may kick, charge, or bite, causing serious injury. Keep a safe distance.

3. Call the Police or 911

Even if no other vehicles are involved, you should always report a collision with a large animal.

• Why it’s important:
  • It creates an official record that your insurance company will need. A police report is the best proof that the damage was caused by an animal.
  • It alerts authorities to a road hazard. The animal, living or dead, is a danger to other drivers, and the police or animal control can arrange for its removal.
  • It documents the incident for your insurance claim.

4. Document the Scene with Your Phone

If it is safe to exit your vehicle, take photos of everything:

• The damage to your car from multiple angles.
• The animal (from a distance).
• The surrounding area, paying special attention to any yellow animal crossing signs.

How Does Insurance Work for an Animal Collision?

This is where many drivers are pleasantly surprised. Damage from hitting an animal is not considered a typical “collision” for insurance purposes.

• Comprehensive Coverage is Key: The damage is typically covered under the comprehensive portion of your auto insurance policy. Comprehensive coverage is for damage caused by things other than a collision with another vehicle, such as theft, hail, or, in this case, hitting an animal.
• Why this is good: Comprehensive claims are generally not considered “at-fault” accidents and are less likely to raise your insurance premiums than a collision claim. You will still have to pay your comprehensive deductible, which is often lower than a collision deductible.

What if I swerved to miss the deer and hit a tree instead?

This is a crucial distinction. If you swerve and hit a tree, guardrail, or another car, the incident is now classified as a collision. This will be treated as an at-fault accident on your record and will be covered by your collision insurance, likely causing your rates to increase. This is why safety experts often advise braking firmly but staying in your lane if a collision with an animal is unavoidable.

While most animal collisions are single-vehicle events, if another driver’s negligence was a factor (for example, if they swerved into you to avoid an animal), the case becomes more complex. If you’ve been injured in any type of accident in the Tacoma area, search the Car Accident Lawyer Directory Tacoma. An experienced local attorney can help you understand your insurance coverage and explore all avenues for compensation.

References

• Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) – “Vehicle Collisions with Wildlife”:Official state resource providing safety tips and information on the frequency of wildlife collisions in Washington.

  https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/living/wildlife-transportation/collisions

• Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) – Comprehensive coverage:The official consumer guide explaining what comprehensive insurance is and that it covers collisions with animals.

  https://www.insurance.wa.gov/what-comprehensive-coverage

• Insurance Information Institute (III) – “What to do if you hit a deer”:A national resource providing a clear checklist and explanation of how insurance handles collisions with animals.

  https://www.iii.org/article/what-do-if-you-hit-deer