Hitting any animal or type of wildlife is a driver’s nightmare. Not only is it a traumatizing experience, but a collision with an animal can cause extensive damage to your vehicle. Furthermore, it can also be life-threatening to both you and the animal. This is especially true when you collide with a large animal, such as a deer or moose. So, if you find yourself in this situation, are you covered by your auto insurance? Here’s what to know when it comes to wildlife collisions, how to avoid them, and what to do if it happens to you.
How Does Car Insurance Work When It Comes To Hitting Wildlife?
Unfortunately, hitting an animal with your car will likely cause damage to your vehicle. The good news is that this is where Collision coverage comes into play. This will provide you with financial protection in the event your vehicle is damaged by a car, object, or, in this case, animal. Comprehensive coverage can also be helpful in a situation like this. It will cover you for non-collision-related damage that is out of your control. Depending on the intricacies of your policy, both types of coverage will usually have a deductible.
Will My Premium Be Affected If I Hit Wildlife?
Whether your premium will be affected when you hit an animal depends on the situation. For example, if you accidentally hit a dead animal that is lying on the road, your coverage may apply. With this being said, hitting a dead animal comes with the expectation that you should have been able to avoid it in the first place, safely. This means that in situations such as these, your premiums may increase if you submit a claim. Why? Because it will likely be considered an at-fault collision. On the other hand, if an animal darts onto the road and you hit it, your comprehensive or collision coverage will apply. This means your premium won’t be affected, but please be sure to check with your isure broker.
I’ve Hit An Animal With My Car. Now what?
When you hit an animal on the road, you’re going to want to treat it similarly to any other collision. First, you’ll need to pull over to a safe location and make sure your hazards are turned on. This way, you avoid any further accidents. Your priority from here should be to make sure you and any passengers are safe after the collision. If you need to get out of your car, it is important to be extra cautious of any oncoming traffic.
If you strike a larger animal, or if another vehicle was involved in the collision, you will have to report it to your insurance provider. Depending on where you live in the country, contact the police, even if there are no injuries. At the very least, this will help care for the injured animal, especially if it is blocking oncoming traffic and becoming a hazard to other drivers. Before you leave the scene, you should make sure your vehicle is still drivable. Also, if told to stay put by authorities, please do so. Make sure you check for any leaking fluid, broken lights, or any other signs of damage. If you believe your vehicle is not drivable, call a tow truck to avoid further accidents.
When Is Wildlife Most Active In Canada?
Roadkill is entirely seasonal. This is due to animals being more active at certain times of the year. For example, October and November, as well as the spring, are mating seasons for deer and moose. This means they will be out and about more than in the winter or summer. On the other hand, smaller animals, such as raccoons and skunks, emerge from hibernation as temperatures rise. A good rule of thumb is to be extra cautious during the fall and spring.
While hitting a small animal is less likely to cause significant damage to your vehicle, swerving to avoid it can itself cause an accident. On top of this, many drivers don’t realize just how deadly a collision with a larger animal can be. If you hit a bear, moose, or deer, it is likely to die in such a collision. Depending on the severity of the damage to your vehicle or windshield, it can also be fatal for the driver or passengers. The underbelly of a moose can take the roof of a car clean off. As a result, fatalities involving the occupants of the car are far too common in collisions such as these.
Avoiding Animals On The Road
In Ontario, it is estimated that a collision with an animal occurs roughly every 38 minutes. This accounts for approximately 10% of all collisions in the province. The Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF) released data in 2023 that shows 570 people were killed in wildlife collisions between 2000 and 2020. Nearly half of all of these collisions involved moose, with a third involving deer and a tenth involving bison, bears, foxes, and coyotes. Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec are the top three provinces where the most significant number of wildlife collisions resulting in deaths have occurred.
7 Tips For Avoiding Wildlife Collisions
To keep you and your passengers safe, the Wildlife Road Sharing Resource Centre offers guidance on navigating roads and avoiding collisions with wildlife.
- Pay attention to wildlife road signs. If you’re in an area prone to animal crossings, road signs will be posted to warn drivers of their presence.
- Always wear a seatbelt. This is something you should be doing anyway! A seatbelt can be the difference between life and death.
- Be on high alert. This is especially important during seasons in which you are more likely to encounter wildlife on the roads. You can take extra care in rough weather and at dusk and dawn.
- Be mindful of your speed. You should always be going at the posted speed limit. With this being said, it is more important than ever to abide by the speed limit when you are in areas with lots of surrounding forestry and animals.
- Be mindful of your surroundings and be alert. Animals can dart out of anywhere at any time, especially in forested areas. Make sure your eyes are glued to the road at all times!
- If you see an animal, there is probably more nearby. Many animals travel in groups, so be on extra high alert if you spy any furry friends on the side of the road.
- Stay calm. If you encounter an animal on the road, take your foot off the gas and gently brake. Make sure to turn on your hazards to inform cars behind you that something is obstructing the roadway up ahead!
Driving and Wildlife: Conclusion
It is important to remember that the best precaution to avoid wildlife collisions is to follow the rules of the road and avoid distracted driving. In the unfortunate event that an accident does occur, having a proper auto insurance policy is key. If you’re in the market, don’t hesitate to contact us or request a quote today!
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