A car after it was struck by a deer.
Credit: Newtown Borough Police Department
The Pennsylvania Insurance Department and Pennsylvania State Police are reminding drivers that November has the highest rates of accidents involving deer.
According to State Police Cpl. Adam Reed, who recently spoke with the insurance department, the increase in accidents involving deer is due to rutting season, which lasts from about November 10 to November 23. The end of daylight savings also means more Pennsylvanians are commuting to and from work in the dark, when deer are most active.
According to a recent state press release, Pennsylvania ranked third in the nation for number of deer crashes; where state residents have a 1 in 67 chance of hitting a deer, a 5.8% increase from last year.
Reed mentioned that motorists should be careful while driving, remembering to scan the roadway and shoulder for deer, drive slower to give themselves more reaction time and even use their high beams when other vehicles are not on the roadway. If a deer does run out in front of your car, Reed has advised motorists to not immediately speed up after the deer safely crosses the road, as more than likely another deer is right behind it.
The good news for motorists that do come in contact with a deer is that crashes involving the animals are considered not-at-fault accidents and are covered under comprehensive insurance.
Insurance Commissioner Teresa Miller is reminding consumers who are involved in deer-related car accidents that they cannot be penalized by their insurance company for the accident. “Insurance companies cannot increase the premiums or penalize policyholders,” Miller’s department noted.
Drivers are also not required to call the police to report a collision with a deer, but are asked to report a dead deer for removal from the road, by calling local law enforcement or the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for state-maintained roads at 1-800-FIX-ROAD.
