Deer Collisions in the U.S. Are Declining: State Farm
Collisions with deer in the U.S. fell 3.5 percent according to State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance.
In the 12 months since June 30 of this year there were 1.22 million auto collisions involving deer according to State Farm. Deer collisions can be costly for vehicle owners and insurance companies, with the average accident costing $3,414. State Farm noted that crashes involving deer are most common in October and November, which is mating season for the animals.
Last year, reports of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease spiked for deer from Louisiana to Montana. There were about 15,000 deaths reported from the disease in Michigan during the summer, compared to a few thousand in years past.
As for the state where you’re most likely to hit a deer? That honor goes to West Virginia, where 2.4 percent will strike a deer within the next year. Hawaii has the lowest chance, with one in 6,787 drivers.
State Farm advises not to swerve if a collision with an animal is inevitable, because losing control of your vehicle puts you more at risk.
Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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