As the largest insurer of cars in the U.S., State Farm estimates over 1.8 million auto insurance claims involving animal collisions were filed across the industry from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. 

Deer once again led as the top animal struck, followed by rodents*, dogs, raccoons and coyotes.

The most dangerous months for animal collisions are, in order, November, October and December.

A paved, rural road with little traffic and low light is a common scenario to hit wildlife. Results from a State Farm Survey indicate between 30% and 50% of drivers had accidents during those conditions. Additionally, just one risky driving behavior, such as speeding or using your phone, increase the chance of an animal collision by 23%.

West Virginia remains the #1 riskiest state with odds at 1 in 40. West Virginia has held that spot for more than a decade.

Montana is next with (1 in 54), followed by Michigan (1 in 59), Pennsylvania (1 in 61) and Wisconsin (1 in 63).

Pennsylvania had the highest number of claims out of all the states, with more than 150,000 claims. Michigan is second in terms of highest claims counts with approximately 131,000. It is followed by North Carolina (98,000), Texas (92,500) and Ohio (82,500).

Here are some important tips to help avoid and/or handle an animal collision:
 

• Slow down, especially if you see an animal close to the road. Speed is the greatest safety factor in the magnitude of damage and physical injury.
   
• Stay alert. Scan the road for animals at any time of the day or night.
   
• Pay attention to “deer crossing” and other animal signs.
   
• Reduce distractions. Put the cell phone away.
   
• Brake, as necessary. If you can avoid hitting the animal, reduce your speed, honk your horn and tap your brakes to warn other drivers.
   
• Don't swerve. If a crash with an animal is inevitable, maintain control of your vehicle and don't veer off the road.
   
• Use high beams. Flicking your high beams on wildlife may cause the animal to scurry away.
   
• Be aware of peak season. Animal crashes, especially deer, happen most often during October through December, which is hunting and mating season.
   
• Watch for animals on the road between dusk and dawn.
   
• Watch for herds. If you see one deer, there are probably more nearby.

If despite all of this you hit an animal, take a deep breath. Make sure you and your passengers are well. Call 911 if the animal is large and still there after you hit it. Check if your vehicle is drivable. When safe to do so, take pictures and, if needed, you can file a claim in multiple ways.

Speak with your State Farm agent about comprehensive coverage, which typically covers repairs for collisions with animals, after your deductible.

*Rodents are not only involved in collisions, but included in claims data as an animal related loss for damage they cause to vehicles, like chewing wires.

New data released from State Farm pegs the odds of U.S. drivers hitting an animal at 1 in 127 this year. Drivers in West Virginia held on to the number one spot with the least favorable odds at 1 in 38. Montana (1 in 53), Pennsylvania (1 in 59), Michigan (1 in 60), Wisconsin (1 in 60) round out the top five most likely states to hit an animal while on the road.

As the largest insurer of cars in the U.S., State Farm estimates over 1.8 million auto insurance claims were filed across the industry from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023 involving animal collisions. Pennsylvania had the highest number of claims out of all the states, with an estimated 153,397 claims for the same time period. Michigan is second in terms of highest claims counts with 133,636, followed by Texas (96,000), North Carolina (88,770) and Ohio (82,395).

Deer collisions once again led as the top animal struck, followed by rodents*, dogs, raccoons, and coyotes.

The most dangerous months for animal collisions are November, October, and December, in that order.

If you’re driving on a paved, rural road without much traffic and the sky is not quite dark, you are in the most common scenario to hit wildlife. Results from a State Farm Survey indicate between 30% and 50% of drivers had accidents during those conditions. Additionally, just one risky driving behavior, such as speeding or using your phone, increase the chance of an animal collision by 23%.

Here are some important tips to help avoid and/or handle an animal collision:
 

• Slow down, especially if you see an animal close to the road.
   
• Stay alert. Scan the road for animals at any time of the day or night.
   
• Pay attention to “deer crossing” and other animal signs.
   
• Reduce distractions. Put the cell phone away.
   
• Brake as necessary. If you can avoid hitting the animal, reduce your speed, honk your horn and tap your brakes to warn other drivers.
   
• Don't swerve. If a crash with an animal is inevitable, maintain control of your vehicle and don't veer off the road.
   
• Use high beams. Flicking your high beams on wildlife may cause the animal to scurry away.
   
• Be aware of peak season. Animal crashes, especially deer, happen most often during October through December, which is hunting and mating season.
   
• Watch for animals on the road between dusk and dawn.
   
• Watch for herds. If you see one deer, there are probably more nearby.

If despite all of this you hit an animal, take a deep breath. Make sure you and your passengers are well. Call 911 if the animal is large and still there after you hit it. Check if your vehicle is drivable. When safe to do so, take pictures and, if needed, you can file a claim in multiple ways.

Speak with your State Farm agent about comprehensive coverage, which typically covers repairs for collisions with animals, after your deductible.

*Rodents are not only involved in collisions, but included in claims data as an animal related loss for damage they cause to vehicles, like chewing wires.

Between July of 2021 and June 2022 an estimated 1.9 million of these types of collisions happened across US roads (5.5% less than in the previous twelve months) according to an annual analysis by State Farm, the leader auto insurer in the United States.

Crashes between motor vehicles and animals happen in every state and all year round, yet the data confirms that the most dangerous months for animal collisions are November, October and December, in this order, and just like in the previous 12-month period.

From a state perspective, Pennsylvania had the most auto animal collision claims, with an estimated total industry animal collisions count of 156,176 claims, and a likelihood of 1 out of 57 for licensed drivers to hit an animal while being behind the wheel. There, the animals most commonly hit by motorists were deer (by far), "unidentified animals" and rodents, in this order.

However, the state where drivers have the highest likelihood of hitting an animal is West Virginia, with a probability of 1 in 35. There, the animals most likely to be hit by drivers are deer (by far), followed by "unidentified animals," and by dogs, in this order.

These two different state rankings differ because for the likelihood or probability of animal collisions state ranking, both the number of license drivers and the total number of animal collisions in each state affect the calculation, while for the industry claims ranking only the first variable (number of claims) matters.

Many times animal collisions end up in road kills, and often in injuries or even deaths of drivers and passengers. From a material perspective, the damage to the vehicles can vary wildly, from a scratch or a bump to a car being completely totaled, depending on factors such as the speed at which one is driving or the size of the animal being hit.

The range of animals involved in auto crashes is extremely diverse. Although there are differences among states, nationwide, the top 5 animals most commonly hit by motorists in US roads were: 1. Deer (industry estimated 1.3 million), 2. Unidentified animals (236,000), 3. Rodents (102,000), 4. Dog (60k), 5. Raccoon (56k).

Awareness and Preparedness helps

Here are 10 tips that could help you reduce the odds of going through the experience of hitting an animal with your motor vehicle.

• Slow down, especially if you see an animal close to the road.
• Stay alert. Scan the road for animals day and night, both in the countryside and in the city, and pay attention to “deer crossing” and other animal signs.
• Reduce distractions. Put the cell phone away. It can help you avoid injuring motorcyclists, bicyclists, pedestrians and animals too.
• Brake as necessary. If you can avoid hitting the animal, reduce your speed, honk your horn and tap your brakes to warn other drivers.
• Don't swerve. If a crash with an animal is inevitable, maintain control of your vehicle and don't veer off the road.
• Use high beams. Flicking your high beams on a deer may cause the animal to scurry away.
• Be aware of peak season. Deer crashes happen most often during October through December, which is hunting and mating season.
• Be mindful of meal time. Watch for animals on the road between dusk and dawn.
• Watch for herds. If you see one deer, there are probably more nearby.
• Speak with your State Farm agent about comprehensive coverage, which typically covers repairs for collisions with animals, after your deductible.

If despite all of this you hit an animal, take a deep breath. Make sure you and your passengers are well. Call 911 if the animal is large and still there after you hit it. Check if your vehicle is drivable. When safe to do so, take pictures and, if needed, you can file a claim in multiple ways.