It's finally fall and that means it's an especially dangerous time of the nation's roads when it comes to animal collisions. That's because the most dangerous months for car crashes involving wildlife are November, October, and December, in that order, according to State Farm.
Top 5 States for Animal Collisions
The insurance giant says the odds of U.S. drivers hitting an animal at 1 in 127 this year, according to its latest data. So where are you most likely to hit an animal while driving? Here are the top five most likely states where State Farm says it's most likely to hit an animal while on the road:
- West Virginia (1 in 38)
- Montana (1 in 53)
- Pennsylvania (1 in 59)
- Michigan (1 in 60)
- Wisconsin (1 in 60)
State Farm says it estimates that over 1.8 million auto insurance claims were filed across the industry from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023 involving animal collisions. Pennsylvania had the highest number of claims out of all the states, with an estimated 153,397 claims for the same time period. Michigan is second in terms of highest claims counts with 133,636, followed by Texas (96,000), North Carolina (88,770) and Ohio (82,395).
In the latest claims data analysis, State Farm says deer collisions once again led as the top animal struck, followed by rodents, dogs, raccoons, and coyotes.
The insurance giant says the most common scenario for animal collisions: driving on a paved, rural road without much traffic when the sky is not quite dark yet. State Farm says results from a survey indicate between 30% and 50% of drivers had accidents during those conditions. Additionally, researchers say just one risky driving behavior, such as speeding or using your phone, increases the chance of an animal collision by 23%.
How To Avoid Animal Collisions
State Farm shares these tips to help avoid an animal collision:
- Slow down, especially if you see an animal close to the road.
- Stay alert. Scan the road for animals at any time of the day or night.
- Pay attention to “deer crossing” and other animal signs.
- Reduce distractions. Put the cell phone away.
- Brake as necessary. If you can avoid hitting the animal, reduce your speed, honk your horn and tap your brakes to warn other drivers.
- Don't swerve. If a crash with an animal is inevitable, maintain control of your vehicle and don't veer off the road.
- Use high beams. Flicking your high beams on wildlife may cause the animal to scurry away.
- Be aware of peak season. Animal crashes, especially deer, happen most often during October through December, which is hunting and mating season.
- Watch for animals on the road between dusk and dawn.
- Watch for herds. If you see one deer, there are probably more nearby.
If you do hit an animal while driving, make sure you and you passengers are okay. Call 911 if the animal is large and still there after you hit it. Check if your vehicle is drivable. When it's safe to do so, take pictures that you'll need to make an insurance claim.
Photo Credit: State Farm.