It is not uncommon for car owners to hit deer while driving. On a national average, your chances of hitting a deer are one in 164, and doubles during deer season (usually October through December). In 2015, the national rate for colliding with a deer, elk, or moose was one in 169. In 2016, the number slightly decreased and the insurance claims cost for deer collisions dipped by $140.
West Virginia leads the nation as the state where you are most likely to hit a deer, where the odds are one in 41, which is up 7% from 2015. Montana, Pennsylvania, Iowa, and South Dakota rank behind West Virginia as the next worst states for deer accidents.
Here is a full list of your probability of hitting a deer while driving by state:
| Probability of Deer Collision by State | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Ranking 2015-2016 | State | Probability of Collision With Deer 2015-2016 |
State Ranking 2014-2015 | Probability of Collision With Deer 2014-2015 |
Percent Increase or Decrease |
| 1 | West Virginia | 1 in 41 | 1 | 1 in 44 | 7% Increase |
| 2 | Montana | 1 in 58 | 2 | 1 in 63 | 9% Increase |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | 1 in 67 | 4 | 1 in 70 | 5% Increase |
| 4 | Iowa | 1 in 68 | 3 | 1 in 68 | No Change |
| 5 | South Dakota | 1 in 70 | 5 | 1 in 73 | 4% Increase |
| 6 | Wisconsin | 1 in 77 | 6 | 1 in 77 | No Change |
| 7 | Minnesota | 1 in 80 | 7 | 1 in 81 | 1% Increase |
| 8 | Michigan | 1 in 85 | 10 | 1 in 97 | 14% Increase |
| 8 | Wyoming | 1 in 85 | 12 | 1 in 100 | 18% Increase |
| 10 | Mississippi | 1 in 87 | 8 | 1 in 88 | 1% Increase |
| 11 | North Dakota | 1 in 91 | 14 | 1 in 113 | 24% Increase |
| 12 | South Carolina | 1 in 93 | 9 | 1 in 95 | 2% Increase |
| 13 | Virginia | 1 in 94 | 10 | 1 in 97 | 3% Increase |
| 14 | Arkansas | 1 in 96 | 13 | 1 in 101 | 5% Increase |
| 15 | Kentucky | 1 in 103 | 14 | 1 in 113 | 10% Increase |
| 16 | North Carolina | 1 in 115 | 16 | 1 in 115 | No Change |
| 17 | Missouri | 1 in 117 | 17 | 1 in 120 | 3% Increase |
| 18 | Kansas | 1 in 125 | 18 | 1 in 125 | No Change |
| 19 | Georgia | 1 in 126 | 19 | 1 in 128 | 2% Increase |
| 19 | Ohio | 1 in 126 | 20 | 1 in 131 | 4% Increase |
| 21 | Nebraska | 1 in 132 | 25 | 1 in 143 | 8% Increase |
| 22 | Alabama | 1 in 135 | 21 | 1 in 133 | 2% Decrease |
| 23 | Indiana | 1 in 136 | 23 | 1 in 142 | 4% Increase |
| 24 | Maine | 1 in 138 | 28 | 1 in 158 | 15% Increase |
| 25 | Maryland | 1 in 139 | 22 | 1 in 134 | 4% Decrease |
| 26 | Idaho | 1 in 147 | 26 | 1 in 146 | 1% Decrease |
| 26 | Tennessee | 1 in 147 | 29 | 1 in 170 | 16% Increase |
| 28 | Delaware | 1 in 148 | 23 | 1 in 142 | 4% Decrease |
| 29 | Utah | 1 in 150 | 30 | 1 in 195 | 30% Increase |
| 30 | New York | 1 in 161 | 27 | 1 in 159 | 4% Decrease |
| 31 | Vermont | 1 in 175 | 30 | 1 in 195 | 11% Increase |
| 32 | Illinois | 1 in 192 | 33 | 1 in 199 | 4% Increase |
| 33 | Oklahoma | 1 in 195 | 32 | 1 in 198 | 2% Increase |
| 34 | New Hampshire | 1 in 234 | 35 | 1 in 252 | 8% Increase |
| 35 | Oregon | 1 in 239 | 35 | 1 in 252 | 5% Increase |
| 36 | New Jersey | 1 in 250 | 34 | 1 in 234 | 6% Decrease |
| 37 | Colorado | 1 in 263 | 40 | 1 in 304 | 16% Increase |
| 38 | Texas | 1 in 288 | 39 | 1 in 297 | 3% Increase |
| 39 | Louisiana | 1 in 300 | 41 | 1 in 335 | 12% Increase |
| 40 | Washington | 1 in 307 | 42 | 1 in 337 | 10% Increase |
| 41 | Connecticut | 1 in 313 | 38 | 1 in 293 | 6% Decrease |
| 42 | Rhode Island | 1 in 345 | 37 | 1 in 264 | 24% Decrease |
| 43 | Alaska | 1 in 468 | 44 | 1 in 516 | 10% Increase |
| 44 | New Mexico | 1 in 475 | 45 | 1 in 518 | 9% Increase |
| 45 | Massachusetts | 1 in 635 | 43 | 1 in 443 | 30% Decrease |
| 46 | Washington, D.C. | 1 in 689 | 48 | 1 in 1035 | 50% Increase |
| 47 | Florida | 1 in 903 | 46 | 1 in 930 | 3% Increase |
| 48 | Nevada | 1 in 1018 | 49 | 1 in 1134 | 11% Increase |
| 49 | California | 1 in 1064 | 47 | 1 in 1048 | 9% Decrease |
| 50 | Arizona | 1 in 1175 | 50 | 1 in 1334 | 14% Increase |
| 51 | Hawaii | 1 in 18955 | 51 | 1 in 8765 | 54% Decrease |
| United States Average | 1 in 164 | 1 in 169 | 3% Increase | ||
How hitting a deer affects your car insurance
The average deer strike claim was $3,995 in 2016, less than $4,135 in 2015, according to State Farm. Damages from deer collisions are covered by comprehensive insurance, which is optional coverage. Comprehensive insurance also covers theft, vandalism, hail, fire, and other incidents that are deemed to be beyond your control. Comprehensive claims don't generally raise your rates unless you have recently filed additional claims.
If you swerve to miss a deer and are successful but crash – perhaps you hit a tree instead – that damage is covered by collision insurance. If your car doesn't make contact with the deer the damage is considered a collision claim because you hit another car or object (or rolled your vehicle).
Deer are the most common wild animals to watch out for – even a small deer can completely total your car in an accident. And although your chances are highest in the states listed above, deer can be encountered almost anywhere, not just in rural areas. A deer warning whistle can provide you with at least some additional protection as they provide an added layer of protection. You should always remain alert to the threat posed by deer and drive carefully at all times.
This article is adapted with approval from carinsurance.com: http://www.carinsurance.com/Articles/odds-of-hitting-deer.aspx
