Deer hitting - Act of God

by Guest » Tue Jun 08, 2010 07:30 am
Guest

A deer hit our car and now we're scared that our rates might go up.
Please throw some light on it!

Total Comments: 22

Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 12:01 pm Post Subject:

This is considered a comprehensive loss. I know of no state that allows a comp loss to be coded as 'chargeable', (possibly generating a rate increase)..But to make yourself feel better, contact your carriers policy services dept and ask them, or check your states Dept of Ins web site, most will address this question.

Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 10:20 pm Post Subject:

What kind of car was the deer driving? Usually people hit the deer with their cars. Auto vs Deer is not a collision, even though it can do more damage to the vehicle. Comprehensive/Other Than Collision losses can affect your rates, but only if you have numerous claims. A one time event such as this is usually not a matter of concern.

Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 10:25 pm Post Subject:

Not that it matters, but just a funny fyi. Max, I'd say 1 out of 25 of the deer hits I work (and I handle a LOT of deer hits probably oh 150 or better per year x a ga-zillion years..man, I'm old :roll: )...the deer actually runs into the car, (side/doors etc)...rather than getting in front of the car and it hitting the poor creature.

Have even had a few where the inital impact is the roof!

Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 04:19 am Post Subject:

Yeah, I've heard that, too.

I just noticed the title of this thread -- Deer hitting - Act of God. It's always rubbed me the wrong way when insurance companies blame the few unexplained things on which they would prefer not to pay claims on God. But I guess it looks better in the contract than saying, under the heading exclusions, "And any other things we really don't feel like paying for on the day it happens to you."

:shock:

Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 08:54 am Post Subject:

It depends on our state rules whether or not to count such mishaps as "acts of God". I guess our state DMVs would show us under which category such accidents would fall.

Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 11:50 am Post Subject:

Yeah, that must be a state thing, our auto policys don't say 'act of God' at all...thing that always bugged me, was blaming mishaps on the Almighty... :roll:

Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 12:13 pm Post Subject:

What kind of car was the deer driving?

vey cute!!..LOL I know a person that (seems?) to hit a deer every Winter!!.. :roll: His rates don't go up. He drives a 4by4 truck and always leaves the pieces, in his grill (if he hits the deer 'headon') to prove to the Insurance Co that he DID hit one!! (YUCK!!)

Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 12:16 pm Post Subject:

The carrier I work for tells owners, when reporting any animal hit..'do NOT wash your vehicle before the adjuster inspects it'...good advise..

Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2010 10:23 am Post Subject:

Lori, does it really make any difference if the vehicle gets washed? How will the adjuster ever come to know what happened? I've heard that it makes some difference if the deer comes on your way, rather than you committing the mistake and hitting the deer. Is it correct?

Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2010 11:21 am Post Subject:

Lori, does it really make any difference if the vehicle gets washed?

You bet it can make a HUGE difference

..How will the adjuster ever come to know what happened?

In the thousands of deer hits I've seen, I have NEVER, not one single time, NOT been able to find 'evidence' that the vehicle had an impact with a deer...some times it's harder to find than others, but it's ALWAYS there...

I've heard that it makes some difference if the deer comes on your way, rather than you committing the mistake and hitting the deer. Is it correct?


No, that doesn't make any difference, what makes a difference, is .. is it a comp or collision claim? Comp=deer hit, and typically non-chargeable (no rate increase)...Collision=NOT an impact with a deer (maybe hit a pole, another car, whatever), and very well may be chargeable.

I'd guess that 1-2 out of 25 deer hits I see are fraud, (they did NOT hit a deer)..therefore not washing the vehicle is VERY important, so I can find what I need to find, if the claim is a little 'shaky'

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