Insurance · General

An insured calls to report they hit a deer with their vehicle. Which coverage applies?

Correct answer

Comprehensive (Other Than Collision) coverage — animal strikes are classified as comprehensive, not collision, because a collision specifically means contact with another vehicle or object the insured drove into

  1. A Liability coverage
  2. B Collision coverage
  3. C Comprehensive (Other Than Collision) coverage — animal strikes are classified as comprehensive, not collision, because a collision specifically means contact with another vehicle or object the insured drove into
  4. D Medical payments coverage only

Why this is the answer

COMPREHENSIVE vs COLLISION COVERAGE: COLLISION: Contact between the insured vehicle and another vehicle or stationary object that the insured vehicle drove into; COMPREHENSIVE (OTC — Other Than Collision): All physical damage NOT from collision — including: Animal strikes (deer, birds, dogs); Hail and weather damage; Falling objects (tree branches, rocks); Theft and vandalism; Fire; Flood; Windshield cracks; DEDUCTIBLE: Comprehensive typically has a lower deductible than collision (some policies have $0 comprehensive deductible); WHY IT MATTERS: Many insureds incorrectly assume deer strikes are collision; adjuster correctly applies comprehensive to prevent incorrect deductible application; adjuster must clearly explain the applicable deductible to the insured at first notice of loss.
Source: Insurance Adjuster — Auto Claims, Comprehensive vs Collision

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