Car Accident Compensation for Collisions with Animals
Not every car accident involves a collision with another vehicle. Hitting a large animal can also cause serious damage to your car and injuries. With deer mating season underway from October to December, you should always be on careful watch to prevent hitting a deer. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), people report about 1.5 million deer-related crashes per year, with significant spikes during mating season.
The problem is that deer obviously can’t pay for your medical bills or vehicle damage. With no other drivers involved, you will need to look to your own insurance coverage, which can be more difficult than you may imagine. In fact, it’s possible that you may not be covered at all for a collision with a wild animal. To learn your what your options are, you should discuss the matter with a Sumner County car accident attorney.
Examine Your Insurance Policy
Tennessee requires all drivers to carry a minimum amount of insurance coverage. However, the required insurance is only liability insurance, which provides coverage in the event that you cause injuries to someone else or damage to another vehicle. Specifically, you must carry up to $15,000 for property damage, $25,000 for each injury or death, or $50,000 for total injuries or deaths in a single accident. This insurance coverage does nothing to cover your own damages, however.
Many drivers choose to also purchase collision insurance, which will cover their own costs for injuries and car repairs if they cause a crash. While collision insurance can provide much needed financial benefits, it only applies to crashes with other vehicles. Comprehensive insurance is the coverage that kicks in when your vehicle is damaged in another way, such as by hail, falling branches, or hitting an animal. Comprehensive insurance is completely optional and too many people learn too late that they don’t carry this coverage. With mating season underway, it may be a wise idea to add this coverage to your policy.
Stay Calm after Hitting an Animal
When you suddenly see a deer in your headlights, keep a firm grip on the wheel and try to stop. Swerving off the road can cause you to lose control, which may result in your rolling over, going into oncoming traffic, or hit a tree or another object. If you hit the animal, see if you can move your car out of the path of traffic. If the deer is in the way, call 911 right away so they can assist in clearing the road. You also want to do the following:
- Take photos of the damage to your car and the condition of the road
- Seek medical attention for any injuries immediately
- Make sure nothing is leaking and that your car is in safe condition before you try to drive it
- Speak with a skilled auto insurance claim lawyer to help with a possible insurance claim
Discuss Your Accident with Our Tennessee Personal Injury Lawyers Today
The car accident attorneys at Bednarz Law help accident victims through the insurance process, which can be complex and confusing for you. We stand up for your rights to insurance companies and fight for the compensation you deserve. Please call 615-590-7276 to contact us and schedule your free consultation.