OAI: Resource Could Help Drivers Avoid Auto Insurance Claims for Deer-Vehicle Collisions

    RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA, October 17, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- State transportation officials are helping North Carolina motorists steer clear of deer by posting online maps of areas with the highest numbers of animal-related crashes.

With more deer on roadways in October and November, the online tool could help drivers avoid accidents that could lead to serious injury and, even if no one is hurt, would likely necessitate filing for damages on their North Carolina auto insurance policies.

The state has seen nearly 20,000 animal related crashes each year since 2008, with nine-tenths of those crashes involving deer. The state has seen about 3,500 injuries, 17 deaths more than $135 million in property damages as a result of those crashes in the past three years.

Source: https://apps.dot.state.nc.us/pio/releases/details.aspx?r=5556

Maps available on the state Department of Transportation website show the frequency of deer- and other animal-related crashes by county for each of the last two years, letting users know in which parts of the state to be especially vigilant for hoofed hazards.

Wake County has been home to the highest number of crashes involving deer and other animals for each of the last 10 years, with more than 1,050 of those accidents in 2010.

Transportation officials say deer pose a greater crash danger during the fall, when their activity increases due to their mating season and because of hunters. Deer-vehicle crashes happen most frequently between dusk and dawn.

Nearly 19 percent of accidents involving deer and drivers take place in the month of November, according to State Farm Insurance. Those crashes caused an average of about $3,170 in property damage.

According to data released earlier this month by State Farm, deer-vehicle collisions increased by 6 percent last year in North Carolina, despite a 7 percent decrease in crashes nationwide.

To learn more about this and other safety and car insurance issues, readers can go to http://www.onlineautoinsurance.com/north-carolina/ where they will find informative resource pages and a free-to-use rate-comparison generator.

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