Does PLPD Cover Hitting a Deer in Michigan?

If you happen to drive around the sub-urban areas of Michigan, there’s a high chance that your car might crash into a deer leading to vehicle damage and even bodily injuries. According to Michigan Government Records, and Michigan Crash Facts there have been 58,000 to 58,806 deer-car crashes in 2023.

Furthermore, between July 2004 to June 2024, there have been around 1.8 million deer-car crashes through the U.S. As deer-car crashes are so frequent in Michigan and throughout the U.S., it is necessary to get auto insurance to stay financially protected.
The best solution is to ensure staying insured with adequate insurance coverage. If you’re under the impression that PLPD insurance covers deer accidents, then that’s entirely not accurate. You’ll need the right type of auto insurance coverage and PLPD alone won’t be enough.
Remember, PLPD insurance does not cover damage to your car or your bodily injuries, it’s exclusively designed to protect you financially against accidental liabilities by compensating other drivers.

Why Does PLPD Insurance Not Cover Deer Accidents?

PLPD insurance is specifically designed to cover liability costs when you’re at fault for the accident. Typically, the PLPD insurance covers the other driver, their passengers and any other third party harmed by the accident.
Now, in the case of a deer, it is not a person so by default it is not an insurable entity, and that’s why PLPD insurance is invalid for deer-car crashes. As hitting a deer is not considered a liability accident PLPD won’t cover the damages to your car or any injuries you sustain.

What Type of Auto Insurance Covers Deer Accident?

PLPD insurance may not cover deer accidents, but there are other types of auto insurance coverages that do. The best auto insurance coverage to financially protect your car against deer accidents is comprehensive auto insurance.
Additionally, gap insurance and rental car reimbursement insurance covers deer accidents with specific limitations, and conditions.
If you're looking to purchase auto insurance coverage such as PLPD, comprehensive, or gap insurance to protect yourself financially from deer-related accidents, it's important to choose a reliable auto insurance agency in Michigan.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of the types of auto insurance that covers deer accidents.

Comprehensive Auto Insurance 

The reason comprehensive auto insurance is the ultimate insurance coverage for deer accidents is, it is specifically designed to cover accidental damages to your car that’s beyond your control.
Animal related accidents such deer crashes often come off as a surprise especially when a deer suddenly comes in the middle of the road or jumps straight running towards your car out of fear.
Deer-car accidents are almost unpredictable, so it’s considered a situation that’s beyond your control, and that’s why comprehensive auto insurance covers deer accidents.
If your car gets damaged by hitting a deer, the comprehensive auto insurance coverage will pay the repair and replacement costs by deducting the depreciation cost after your insurance deductibles are paid (if you have any).

Gap Insurance 

You need to get gap insurance especially if your car was purchased on loan, and you still have outstanding debt. Gap insurance is a special type of optional auto insurance coverage that pays the current market value (purchasing price of car minus depreciation) of your car.
In this case, the gap insurance will only apply for you if your car gets wrecked after hitting or colliding with a deer. If it gets damaged to the point that it’s beyond repair, the gap insurance will cover your car’s damage cost and the difference to repay your car loan.

Rental Reimbursement Insurance 

This is another optional car insurance that you can add to your auto insurance policy for increased financial protection against deer accidents. The rental reimbursement insurance will apply when your car is out of commission at the auto repair shop after a deer accident, and you need another car for transportation.
Your insurer will rent a car for you and cover the rental expense for up to 30 days. If your car gets repaired before that then your insurer will stop paying the rental car fee. On the other hand, some insurance companies pay the rental car fee until your car is repaired and is ready to drive.
Although the rental reimbursement insurance does not directly cover deer accidents, it’s still useful as you get insurance coverage for renting a car while your one is being repaired at the auto repair shop.

Deer to Car Accident Casualty in Michigan

Over half of Michigan is covered by forests of 19.3 acres of land which is about 53% of the state’s total area. These forests in Michigan are home to more than 2 million deer. Now the problem is, there are many roads that pass by the middle of various forests. Deers often tend to pass by these roads which leads to a sudden deer to car accident.
Based on recent studies, the statistics below illustrate the number of deer to car accident casualties in Michigan as follows.
There have been about 56,667 deer to car crashes on average in the last 3 years 

• Deer to car accidents have led to 1449 injuries in 2021, 1663 injuries in 2022, and 1,725 injuries in 2023 
• Deer to car accidents have led to 10 fatalities in 2021, 11 fatalities in 2022, and 19 fatalities in 2023 
• Peak times for deer to car accidents mainly occurs from 5am to 8am and 5pm to 10 pm 
• About 80% of deer to car crashes occurred in two lanes
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Exceptional Circumstance When Liability Auto Insurance Will Apply for a Deer Crash 
Liability auto insurance, also known as PLPD insurance in Michigan applies when you’re responsible for an accident leading to bodily injuries, vehicle and property damage of the other driver.
Now in the case of deer to car accidents, if you accidentally crash into another vehicle or someone’s property either for crashing into a deer, or to avoid crashing into one, there’s a high chance that you will be legally liable for the accident.  So, this is the exceptional circumstance when your liability auto insurance will apply for a deer crash.

Is Comprehensive Auto Insurance Necessary to Stay Protected Against Deer Accident? 

Yes, comprehensive auto insurance has been specifically designed to cover car accidents that are almost or totally beyond your control. Typically, deer accidents mainly occur when a deer suddenly comes across or runs towards your car.
As comprehensive auto insurance specifically covers animal related accidents, especially deer to car accidents, it is the most crucial auto insurance that you can get.

The Bottom Line 

Deer to car accidents are very common in Michigan, and that’s why it’s essential to ensure that you have the right type of auto insurance with adequate coverage limit. For effective financial protection against deer accidents, you should have comprehensive auto insurance.
If you’ve purchased your car on loan, you should also consider adding the gap insurance coverage. Apart from that, you can also consider including rental reimbursement insurance for enhanced financial protection.
Typically, PLPD insurance does not cover hitting a deer in Michigan but if your car somehow hits another car during a deer collision incident then PLPD insurance will apply especially if it’s proven that you’re at-fault for the accident.
Sometimes it gets confusing to determine and purchase auto insurance on your own, and as deer accidents require optional policies, it is best to consult with an insurance agent. So, for expert tips on getting the best auto insurance coverage within your budget please contact us to get a free quote and consultation.

FAQs

Does hitting a deer raise your insurance in Michigan?  

Yes, hitting a deer is considered a no-fault auto accident in Michigan, so if you crash into a deer and claim auto insurance it will increase your premiums but less than colliding with another car.

Can I file an insurance claim if I hit a deer? 

Yes, you can claim auto insurance after hitting a deer, but for that you need to have comprehensive auto insurance which covers animal related accidents.

Do I need to file a police report if I hit a deer in Michigan? 

Yes, it is essential to file a police report if you hit a deer in Michigan, mainly because deer collisions are accidents, and deer is protected by both local state laws in Michigan and federal laws as well.

Who is liable when you hit a deer? 

No one is liable for hitting a deer, and that’s why it’s considered a no-fault car accident which is also the reason why hitting a deer isn’t covered by PLPD insurance.