It is fall again in Michigan, which means whitetail deer are on the move, including crossing our roadways. In Michigan, all drivers are required to carry no-fault auto insurance, which ensures that after a crash, drivers turn first to their own policy for medical costs, regardless of who is “at fault.” However, no-fault by itself does not automatically cover damage to your own vehicle from a deer collision. For that, your policy must include comprehensive coverage, which is optional.
Comprehensive coverage is designed to protect against damage caused by events other than collisions with another vehicle — such as theft, fire, vandalism, natural disasters, and striking wildlife like deer. If your Arnouts auto policy includes comprehensive coverage, that is the likely mechanism for covering deer-related damage (minus the deductible). If it does not include comprehensive, then damage from hitting a deer would probably be your responsibility.
What Happens if You Hit a Deer?
If you strike a deer, your personal injuries (or those of your passengers) are typically handled under the no-fault / Personal Injury Protection (PIP) portion of your policy, up to your coverage limits. Passengers that are related to, and live with you, would also be covered by your policy. Passengers not it that category would be covered by their own auto policy. When it comes to damage to your vehicle, your policy pays for the damage you receive, and in the instance of a deer strike, the responding coverage is Comprehensive.
A few reminders on this:
.1. Review your auto policy coverages: check whether you have comprehensive coverage, and what your deductible is. If you don’t carry comprehensive, deer collisions might not be covered at all.
2. Document everything: if you hit a deer. Take photos, get a police report or incident number, note the time and location, etc. These will help when filing a claim.
3. File the no-fault injury claim promptly: (if there are injuries). Michigan law requires you to submit a written notice of injury within one year for those benefits.
4. Expect to pay a deductible: With your comprehensive claim For large repairs or total loss, you’ll be compensated up to the actual cash value minus that deductible.
5. Ask your insurance agent about the effect on premiums: Generally, insurance companies treat deer-strike claims differently than at-fault collisions, and many consider them “not at fault” for rate increases.
One nuance: comprehensive coverage usually pays only if the vehicle makes actual contact with the deer. If you swerve wildly to avoid hitting the deer and crash into a guardrail or tree instead, that damage would more likely fall under your collision coverage. And in that case, your deductible and policy limits for collision coverage will apply.
Yes, auto insurance in Michigan can cover a collision with a deer, but only if the policy includes comprehensive coverage (and you satisfy your deductible). The no-fault portion of the policy will take care of medical expenses for injuries, but it doesn’t cover damage to your vehicle itself in a deer strike. Without comprehensive, you’d likely end up paying for the repair or replacement for a deer collision out of pocket.