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

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.