Damage to your car after an accident with an animal is covered under comprehensive auto insurance. Vet bills from an accident with a pet are usually not covered by car insurance. Instead, the pet owner’s homeowners insurance does.
If you’re going 65 miles per hour on the interstate and hit a deer, moose, coyote, or even a bear, it could damage your car badly. Luckily, comprehensive car insurance will cover most animal hits.
If you live in an area with many wild animals crossing over roadways, consider upgrading your car insurance. Adding comprehensive coverage can protect against expensive vehicle repair bills if you hit an animal.
Encountering a bear while driving is a frightening experience that most motorists hope to avoid. But in certain parts of the country with large bear populations, bear-vehicle collisions are a real possibility. So what happens if a bear damages your car? Will your auto insurance cover the costs?
The good news is that as long as you carry comprehensive coverage, your auto policy will usually cover bear damage Here’s what drivers need to know about making a claim after a bear encounter on the road
What is Comprehensive Coverage?
Comprehensive insurance is a component of auto insurance that covers damage to your vehicle from incidents other than collisions. While collision coverage pays for repairs when you hit another car or object, comprehensive steps in for damage from sources like:
- Extreme weather events – hail, floods, lightning
- Fire
- Theft or vandalism
- Falling objects – a tree branch falling on your car
- Animal collisions – deer, bears, birds
So if a bear swipes your car and leaves gashes in the side panel, or smashes a window, comprehensive insurance will pay for the cost of repairs (subject to your deductible).
Without comprehensive coverage, you’d have to pay out of pocket for any bear damage And body work and replacing glass can get expensive fast
Does Collision Insurance Also Apply?
If you hit a bear while driving, resulting in damage to your car, collision coverage will also come into play. Collision pays for damage to your vehicle when you collide with an object, which includes large animals like deer and bears.
So in the event of a bear collision, both comprehensive and collision can help pay for auto repairs and replacement parts. Collision covers the physical impact damage, while comprehensive kicks in for any claw or bite scratches left by the bear.
Having both types gives you the most protection financially after tangling with local wildlife.
Steps to File a Bear Damage Claim
To make a comprehensive or collision claim due to bear damage:
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Take plenty of photos documenting the damage – capture all sides of the vehicle. Photos help prove your case to the insurance company.
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Call the police and file an incident report. The report provides official documentation that can help the claims process.
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Contact your insurance company right away to start your claim. Most companies have 24/7 claims hotlines. Be ready to describe what happened and provide your policy number.
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Your insurer will likely ask you to get a damage estimate from a licensed auto body shop. Get at least two estimates for the insurer to review.
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Submit any supporting documents requested by the insurance company, like police reports and repair estimates. Respond promptly to any additional inquiries.
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Once your insurer accepts liability based on your comprehensive or collision coverage, they will arrange payment to you or the repair shop, minus your deductible.
Bear Damage Claim Challenges
One hurdle with bear damage claims is that you’ll rarely have a “second party” – i.e. another driver who admits fault for the incident. The burden is on you as the policyholder to prove that a bear caused the damage. That’s where clear photos, police reports, and body shop estimates come in handy.
Some dishonest drivers do attempt to blame wildlife for damage that occurred through other means, like an at-fault accident. Insurance companies will scrutinize your claim evidence closely to prevent fraud. As long as you provide honest, accurate information, a legitimate bear encounter shouldn’t pose any issues.
Adding Higher Limits
If you travel in bear territory regularly, it’s smart to opt for higher comprehensive and collision coverage limits if possible, such as $1,000. This ensures you’ll have enough coverage in the event of a major mauling. Higher limits do come with increased premiums, so weigh the costs.
You can also set aside savings for your deductible amount in case you need to pay it out of pocket. Deductibles of $250 or $500 are common.
Other Animal Collisions
Bear damage claims grab headlines. But deer collisions are far more common, causing over 1 million U.S. auto accidents annually according to State Farm data. Comprehensive and collision insurance work the same way no matter the animal species damaging your car or causing an accident.
Even large birds like turkeys can dent hoods or crack windshields, all covered by comprehensive policies as long as feathers or blood evidence proves the animal collision.
The Bottom Line
Coping with your car getting mauled by an angry bear is the last thing you need. But comprehensive auto insurance is designed for precisely this scenario (and luckily it’s rare). While no amount of money can undo the trauma of a bear encounter, comprehensive and collision coverage keep the financial damages to a minimum so you can move on.
To make the claims process smooth as possible if you do tangle with wildlife:
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Take detailed photos of all damage
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File a police report
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Contact your insurer ASAP to start the claim
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Provide all documentation requested to substantiate your case
With comprehensive insurance watching your back, you can drive more confidently even in bear country knowing you have protection. Stay alert on the roadway and don’t speed around corners to improve your odds of avoiding confrontations. But if the bear damage does occur, insurance coverage has you covered.
How Do I Sign up for Comprehensive Coverage?
To have coverage in case of an accident with an animal, you can purchase a comprehensive coverage policy. You can sign up for comprehensive insurance when you purchase car insurance online. Also, you can ask your insurance agent to add it to your existing auto policy.
Comprehensive is an extra coverage you must choose. Most states don’t require you to have it, so if you only have the bare minimum coverage where you live, you probably don’t have full coverage yet.
If you borrowed money to buy your car, on the other hand, and you still owe money on it, you probably do have a full policy. Thats because most lenders require full coverage for their financed vehicles.
When making a claim through your comprehensive coverage, you must pay your deductible. Then the rest of the associated costs should have coverage. This costs extra, but it might be worth it if you think about how much damage a moose could do to your car.
What Type of Car Insurance Covers Hitting an Animal?
If you hit a big wild animal, it could damage your car and cost a lot to fix. You might even have to pay for medical bills for yourself or other people in your car. If you have comprehensive car insurance, these repair costs might be covered.
Though you have collided with the animal, it does not fall under a collision policy. In this rare case, your comprehensive coverage pays instead. This is because your comprehensive coverage is meant to pay for things that weren’t your fault.
It’s possible that your comprehensive coverage won’t pay if you hit a dog or horse that gets away. In this case, while the claim is being looked into, your insurance company may go after the animal’s owner for money under their homeowners insurance. This usually happens if your insurance company determines the animal owner was—even unintentionally—negligent in their animal getting loose. If this happens, your insurance company and the animal owner’s insurance company will usually take care of it on their own, but your insurance company will let you know if they’re going this route.
Does Car Insurance Cover Pothole Damage?
FAQ
Does full coverage auto insurance cover rodent damage?
What type of insurance pays for a bear runs out in front of your truck causing major vehicle damage?
Is hitting an animal comprehensive or collision?
What type of insurance covers damage to your own car?
Does car insurance cover animal damage?
Comprehensive insurance covers damage to your car not caused by a collision. This may include damage done by animals of all types and sizes. It may also cover theft, vandalism, fire and weather damage. Comprehensive coverage can be added to your auto policy for an additional premium.
What does comprehensive insurance cover in a car accident?
Comprehensive coverage helps cover the cost of damages to your vehicle when you’re involved in an accident that’s not caused by a collision. Comprehensive coverage covers losses like theft, vandalism, hail, and hitting an animal. For example, if you are driving and hit a deer, the damage would be covered under comprehensive coverage.
Does car insurance cover rodent damage?
A car insurance policy with comprehensive coverage might help save the day when you face an expensive repair due to rodent damage. Some comprehensive policies don’t protect against rodents gnawing on wiring, so check with your insurance provider to ensure that you’re covered. Comprehensive coverage is an optional product if you own your car.
What types of animal damage does insurance cover?
Handling different types of animal damage can vary, depending on whether the animal has an owner. Comprehensive coverage is also helpful if you encounter storm damage, flying debris, fire, or theft. Check your declarations page to find out what types of coverage you have.