Hitting a Deer in Washington: Comprehensive vs. Collision, Reporting Rules and Fall Crash Data
Hit the deer, and it's usually a comprehensive claim. Swerve and hit the guardrail instead, and it's usually a collision claim. That one split decides which deductible you pay, whether you're covered at all, and how the claim is coded on your record. Washington's Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) describes comprehensive as covering damage from "contact with an animal, such as a deer," and collision as covering a crash "with another car or object" (OIC).
And this isn't a rare event here. Police reported 1,843 crashes in which a vehicle hit deer, elk or other wildlife in Washington in 2025, according to WSDOT's Crash Data Portal, and that count only includes crashes an officer wrote up. October is the worst month. November is right behind it. So if you're reading this in the fall, you're reading it at the right time.
Source: WSDOT Crash Data Portal (Wildlife report, pulled Nov. 12, 2026); House Bill Report, ESSB 5203 (2026) summarizing WSDOT data; RCW 46.52.030; WAC 446-85-010.
Which coverage pays when you hit a deer
Most personal auto policies sold in Washington split physical damage to your own car into two coverages. Here is how OIC describes them on its consumer page:
- Collision pays for damage to your car "if you collide with another car or object or your car flips over."
- Comprehensive pays for theft or damage "caused by something other than a collision with another car or object," including fire, vandalism, or "contact with an animal, such as a deer."
Read those two together and you get the rule most adjusters work from. If your car actually strikes the animal, the claim goes under comprehensive. If you avoid the animal but hit a tree, a guardrail, a parked car, or roll into a ditch, there was no contact with the animal; you collided with an object, so the claim usually goes under collision.
I say "usually" on purpose. Your policy's own definitions and exclusions decide this, not an OIC web page and not me. Some policies spell out animal strikes in the definition of collision or comprehensive; most follow the split above. Pull up your policy booklet (not just the declarations page) and search for "animal" before you ever need it.
One more wrinkle. If you hit the deer and then the guardrail, expect the adjuster to sort out which damage came from which impact. Photos taken at the scene make that conversation much shorter.
| Coverage | Pays for | Hit the deer | Swerved into a guardrail or ditch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comprehensive | Your car, minus your comprehensive deductible | Usually yes | Usually no |
| Collision | Your car, minus your collision deductible | Usually no | Usually yes |
| Property damage liability | Other people's property you damage | Not your car | Not your car; may pay for the guardrail, fence or another car |
| Bodily injury liability | Injuries you cause to others | Only if someone else is hurt and you're at fault | Same |
| PIP (if you didn't reject it) | Medical bills, lost wages for you and your passengers | Yes, regardless of fault | Yes, regardless of fault |
| Rental / roadside (optional) | A rental car while yours is fixed; towing | If you bought it | If you bought it |
Source: OIC, Learn how auto insurance works; OIC, Personal injury protection; RCW 48.22.085. Typical policy structure; your policy wording controls.
Liability-only? Your car isn't covered
Washington's legal minimum is liability coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for injuries, plus $10,000 for property damage (RCW 46.29.090). That coverage protects other people from you. OIC is blunt about it: property damage liability "typically won't cover damage to your car."
So if you carry only the state minimum and a deer folds your hood, you're paying for the repair yourself. There's no other driver to send the bill to, and the deer has no insurance.
Who drops comprehensive? Usually people with older, paid-off cars, and sometimes that's a reasonable call. Say the car is worth $3,000 and your comprehensive deductible is $1,000: the most a claim could pay is about $2,000. Before you drop it, look at what comprehensive actually costs you (Washington insurers have to itemize premiums by coverage under WAC 284-30-500(2)) before you decide it isn't worth it. If you have a loan or lease, you probably don't get to decide: OIC notes most lenders require comprehensive and collision, and a lender can buy coverage on its own and charge you for it if you let it lapse.
A hard enough deer or elk strike can total a car. If that happens, the total loss rules in my Washington total loss guide apply the same way they would after any other crash.
The deductible math
Many drivers carry a lower deductible on comprehensive than on collision. When they're different, the deer-versus-guardrail question turns directly into money.
Example (hypothetical numbers): say the repair estimate is $4,200. You carry a $500 comprehensive deductible and a $1,000 collision deductible.
| What happened | Coverage used | Deductible | Insurer pays | You pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Car hit the deer | Comprehensive | $500 | $3,700 | $500 |
| Swerved, hit a guardrail | Collision | $1,000 | $3,200 | $1,000 |
| Hit the deer, liability-only policy | None | n/a | $0 | $4,200 |
Source: illustrative example only, based on the coverage descriptions from OIC. Your deductibles are on your declarations page.
This is not an argument for hitting the deer rather than swerving. The table is about money; what you do in the half-second you have is about not getting hurt, and I won't pretend an insurance blog can coach that. The practical point is simpler: know both deductibles now, because the claim will be coded by what actually happened, and you can't pick after the fact.
Injuries: PIP and health coverage
A deer crash usually has no at-fault driver to claim against. That puts the weight on your own coverage.
Personal injury protection (PIP) is the piece built for this. Washington insurers have to offer it with every new or renewed auto liability policy, and it stays on unless a named insured rejects it in writing (RCW 48.22.085). OIC's summary: "PIP applies no matter who is at fault." The minimum package pays up to $10,000 in medical and hospital expenses and up to $10,000 in lost income at $200 a week (RCW 48.22.095); on request, insurers must offer $35,000 medical and $35,000 income at $700 a week (RCW 48.22.100). Medical expenses are covered if they're incurred within three years of the accident (RCW 48.22.005).
PIP also covers passengers in your car, which matters on a family road trip over Blewett Pass or a commute on SR 20 through Whidbey Island. If you rejected PIP years ago and forgot, check: the rejection carries forward to renewals until someone asks for PIP back in writing. The details are in my Washington PIP explainer.
Elk are a different scale of crash than deer. A 2022 study WSDOT cites puts the average economic impact, counting vehicle repair, injuries and deaths, at $14,014 per deer collision and $45,445 per elk collision (WSDOT Gray Notebook). Those are society-wide averages, not repair quotes, but they show why the I-90 corridor east of Snoqualmie Pass gets so much attention. Police-reported wildlife crashes statewide produced 26 fatal crashes and 170 serious-injury crashes from 2016 through 2025, per the Crash Data Portal. Most are property-damage-only: in 2025, 89% had no apparent injury.
Will a deer claim raise your rate?
The honest answer is that it depends on your insurer's filed rating plan, and Washington doesn't have a rule I can point to that flatly bans or requires a surcharge for a comprehensive or animal claim. Here's what the law does say:
- Nonrenewal protection. An insurer can't refuse to renew your liability or collision coverage because you filed one or more comprehensive, road service or towing claims (RCW 48.18.292(5)). The same subsection lets it nonrenew the comprehensive coverage itself on that basis, so a string of comp claims can still cost you that coverage.
- Notice. If an insurer won't renew, it must give at least 20 days' written notice with the actual reason, and a renewal offer has to show how much your premium or deductibles changed (RCW 48.18.292(1)).
- Three-year look-back. For accepting, rejecting, canceling or nonrenewing a policy, insurers generally can't consider accidents more than three years old (WAC 284-30-500(3)).
- A right to an explanation. If your premium goes up at renewal, you can ask in writing and the insurer must give a reasonable explanation. Starting March 1, 2027, that explanation has to include up to the top three factors behind the increase, and starting January 1, 2029, insurers must send a notice automatically when a renewal goes up 10% or more (WAC 284-30A-040).
My read: when you report the claim, ask the adjuster or your agent directly how it will be coded (comprehensive, not-at-fault) and whether that coding affects your rating. Get the answer in writing if you can. If your renewal jumps after a deer claim, use the WAC 284-30A request. That's what it's for.
When and where Washington drivers hit wildlife
WSDOT's Crash Data Portal has a "Wildlife" report: crashes where a vehicle hit non-domestic wildlife (deer, elk, bear and so on), built from police collision reports. I pulled each year from 2016 through 2025. The yearly count has stayed in a fairly tight band, from a low of 1,651 in 2022 to a high of 2,017 in 2018, with 1,843 in 2025.
Source: WSDOT Crash Data Portal, Wildlife report, pulled Nov. 12, 2026. Police-reported crashes only.
Show the numbers
| Crashes | |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 1,964 |
| 2017 | 1,810 |
| 2018 | 2,017 |
| 2019 | 1,947 |
| 2020 | 1,768 |
| 2021 | 1,698 |
| 2022 | 1,651 |
| 2023 | 1,797 |
| 2024 | 1,774 |
| 2025 | 1,843 |
Now the part that matters for timing. Add up ten years by month and the fall spike is obvious: October had about 3.7 times as many wildlife crashes as March over those ten years, and October plus November account for 28% of the year. October was the single worst month in seven of the ten years; November was worst in the other three. In 2025 it was 305 in October and 248 in November.
Source: WSDOT Crash Data Portal, Wildlife report, 2016-2025, monthly totals calculated by Maru Insurance.
Show the numbers
| Crashes | |
|---|---|
| Jan | 871 |
| Feb | 756 |
| Mar | 741 |
| Apr | 918 |
| May | 1,543 |
| Jun | 2,003 |
| Jul | 2,029 |
| Aug | 1,629 |
| Sep | 1,603 |
| Oct | 2,718 |
| Nov | 2,463 |
| Dec | 995 |
Why fall? WDFW has pointed to the deer mating season: in a 2019 release (now archived) it said the risk of hitting a deer on rural and suburban roads "is much higher during November," because rutting deer are less wary of roads (WDFW). WDFW timed that warning to the end of daylight saving time, when more driving happens in the dark. Its advice in that release was simple: slow down, scan the road edges near forests and farms, use high beams when there's no oncoming traffic, and if one deer crosses, expect another.
By county, five years of police reports (2021-2025, 8,763 crashes statewide) look like this:
Source: WSDOT Crash Data Portal, Wildlife report, 2021-2025; county totals calculated by Maru Insurance.
Show the numbers
| County | Crashes |
|---|---|
| King | 513 |
| Chelan | 500 |
| Kittitas | 447 |
| Lewis | 388 |
| Spokane | 380 |
| Clallam | 372 |
| Pierce | 338 |
| Walla Walla | 328 |
| Snohomish | 327 |
| Grant | 320 |
| Kitsap | 314 |
| Thurston | 313 |
King County at the top surprises people. It shouldn't entirely: WSDOT lists I-90 near North Bend among its western Washington hot spots. Chelan and Kittitas, much less populous counties, sit right behind it. WSDOT's list of high-collision areas reads like a road-trip map: highways north of Spokane through white-tailed deer wintering ground, SR 124 and US 12 in the Touchet River Valley, the Methow and Okanogan valleys, the Wenatchee area, US 97 north of Goldendale, I-90 around Easton and Cle Elum and near Ryegrass west of Vantage (the most elk collisions on the east side), SR 20 and SR 525 on Whidbey Island, and the highways near Willapa Bay (WSDOT).
A caveat on all of these numbers: they undercount. About 81% of the 2025 police-reported crashes were on state routes, which probably says as much about who writes reports as about where deer are. WSDOT's carcass-removal records tell a bigger story. From 2019 to 2023, crews removed 39,258 wildlife carcasses from state highways, about 54% of them deer, and WSDOT says research suggests roughly three times more large-animal collisions happen than carcass data capture, because many animals die off the right of way (WSDOT Gray Notebook). Legislative staff, summarizing WSDOT data in 2026, put the floor at 5,000 deer and 200 elk collisions a year against about 1,500 law enforcement reports (House Bill Report, ESSB 5203).
Source: WSDOT Gray Notebook, carcass removal; WSDOT Gray Notebook, Snoqualmie Pass East; WSDOT, reducing the risk of wildlife collisions.
The fix that works is physical. On the 15-mile I-90 stretch between Hyak and Easton, WSDOT has built 11 large wildlife crossings so far, with more than 20 planned, and cameras logged 13,525 deer and 7,967 elk crossings through them from 2014 to the end of 2023 (WSDOT). WSDOT reports wildlife-vehicle collisions in the finished sections dropped to "a consistently low or non-existent level," and near Bellingham, a new I-5 underpass at Padden Creek cut deer-vehicle collisions within a mile by about half (WSDOT). None of that changes your policy, but it does explain why the same drive can feel very different from one year to the next.
What to do after you hit a deer or elk
A single-car deer strike still counts as a crash under Washington law. RCW 46.52.030 requires a written report within four days when a crash injures anyone or causes damage to "the property of any one person" at or above the State Patrol's threshold, which is $1,000 (RCW 46.52.030, WAC 446-85-010). Your own car counts. WSP's collision records page puts it as $1,000 of damage "to any one unit," and says you don't need to file your own report if an officer at the scene writes one (WSP).
| Step | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Get the car off the travel lanes if it's drivable, hazards on | So you are less likely to be hit by other traffic |
| Call 911 if anyone is hurt; call 911 or WSP if the animal is blocking the road | An officer's report also covers your RCW 46.52.030 duty |
| Don't approach or try to finish off an injured deer or elk | Only law enforcement or people authorized by WDFW may euthanize an animal hurt in a collision (WAC 220-400-040) |
| Photograph the car, the road, any hair or blood on the bumper, and the animal if safe | Shows contact with the animal: the line between comprehensive and collision |
| No officer report? File a WSP collision report within 4 days if damage is $1,000+ | RCW 46.52.030; the online report gives you a report number right away |
| Report the claim to your insurer and ask which coverage it falls under | Comprehensive vs. collision sets your deductible |
| Ask how towing and storage are covered | Insurers must explain this in writing within 5 business days of the claim (WAC 284-30-390) |
| Report a carcass on a state highway to WSP or local police | WSDOT removes it after WSP or law enforcement passes the report along |
Source: RCW 46.52.030; WSP Collision Records; WAC 220-400-040; WAC 284-30-390; WSDOT.
Once the claim is open, Washington's claim-handling rules apply the same as for any other auto claim, and they got tighter on October 18, 2026, when amended rules took effect; OIC says the rules hadn't changed since they were adopted in 1978 (OIC). The insurer has to acknowledge your claim within 10 business days (WAC 284-30-360), finish its investigation within 30 calendar days unless it can't reasonably do so and tells you why in writing (WAC 284-30-370), and within 30 days either tell you whether the claim is accepted or denied (any denial in writing, citing the policy language) or tell you in writing why it needs more time, with updates every 30 days after that (WAC 284-30-380). If your car sits at a tow yard, the insurer has to warn you and give you a reasonable time, five calendar days unless you agree to less, before it stops paying storage (WAC 284-30-394). The full set of deadlines is in my post on Washington auto claim time limits, and the reporting side is covered in how Washington crash reports work.
If an insurer misses these deadlines or won't explain a decision, OIC's consumer advocacy line is 800-562-6900, or you can file a complaint online.
FAQ
Is hitting a deer comprehensive or collision in Washington?
Usually comprehensive. Washington's insurance commissioner describes comprehensive as covering contact with an animal, such as a deer, while collision covers hitting another car or object. If you swerve and hit a tree or guardrail instead, that is usually a collision claim. Your policy's wording controls.
Does liability insurance cover hitting a deer?
Not for your own car. Liability pays for injuries and property damage you cause to others. To have your own car repaired after a deer strike you generally need comprehensive coverage.
Do I have to report hitting a deer in Washington?
If anyone is injured or the damage to any one person's property, including your own car, is $1,000 or more, RCW 46.52.030 requires a written report within four days unless a police officer files one.
Will my insurance go up after hitting a deer in Washington?
It depends on the insurer's rating plan. Washington law bars insurers from refusing to renew your liability or collision coverage because of comprehensive claims, and you can ask in writing for an explanation of any premium increase at renewal.
If you want to check how your own policy splits comprehensive and collision before the next dark drive over the pass, start with your declarations page and the definitions section of your policy booklet. Our Washington auto insurance page and Washington insurance FAQ cover the basics.
Your own policy wording and Washington law control how any claim is handled. Confirm your situation with a licensed agent or the Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner, and talk to an attorney for legal questions.
Sources
- WSDOT Crash Data Portal (Wildlife report, 2016-2026)
- WSDOT Crash Data Portal FAQs
- WSDOT Gray Notebook: Wildlife carcass removal
- WSDOT Gray Notebook: Snoqualmie Pass East Project
- WSDOT Gray Notebook: Fish and Wildlife Crossings
- WSDOT: Reducing the risk of wildlife collisions
- Washington House Bill Report, ESSB 5203 (2026)
- OIC: Learn how auto insurance works
- OIC: Personal injury protection (PIP)
- OIC news release, Oct. 19, 2026: claims process rules
- OIC: File a complaint
- RCW 46.29.090: Minimum liability limits
- RCW 46.52.030: Accident reports
- WAC 446-85-010: Accident-reporting threshold
- WSP: Collision records
- RCW 48.22.085: PIP must be offered
- RCW 48.22.095: Minimum PIP benefits
- RCW 48.22.100: Higher PIP benefits on request
- RCW 48.22.005: PIP definitions
- RCW 48.18.292: Refusal to renew private auto insurance
- WAC 284-30-500: Unfair practices, vehicle insurance
- WAC 284-30A-040: Premium change transparency thresholds
- WAC 284-30-360: Claim acknowledgment
- WAC 284-30-370: Investigation
- WAC 284-30-380: Settlement standards
- WAC 284-30-390: Auto physical damage claims
- WAC 284-30-394: Storage and towing
- WAC 220-400-040: Possession of dead wildlife (salvage)
- WAC 220-200-100: Protected wildlife
- WDFW: Roadkill salvage permit
- WDFW news release, Oct. 31, 2019 (archived): deer collisions in November
This article is for general educational purposes only and is not legal, tax or insurance advice. Coverage depends on the actual policy, its terms, conditions and exclusions, and state law. Maru Insurance · WA License (WAOIC) #1365574 · FL License #G363233 · NPN 22261820.