Fall in Middle Tennessee means football, cooler mornings, and deer on the move. According to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, November is historically the peak month for deer-related crashes in the state. Most happen on rural roads, especially at dawn and dusk. If you hit a deer, knowing what to do in the first few minutes can keep you safe and make your insurance claim go more smoothly. Here’s a plain-English guide.
Quick takeaway
- Don’t swerve. Brake firmly and stay in your lane. Tennessee troopers and TDCI both give that advice.
- After a strike, get to a safe spot, turn on your hazards, check for injuries, and call law enforcement when needed. Never approach an injured deer.
- Damage from hitting an animal is usually covered under comprehensive, not collision. Your deductible applies.
- If you swerve and hit a tree, guardrail, or another car, collision coverage is usually what applies instead.
How common are deer crashes in Tennessee?
The Department of Safety reported 8,036 deer-related crashes statewide in 2024, including 465 injury crashes and five fatal crashes. Most, 7,571, involved property damage only. The top Middle Tennessee counties that year were Montgomery, Sumner, and Robertson. The department offers a deer-involved crashes dashboard where you can look up your county.
The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) notes that peak mating and migration season for many animals, especially deer, runs from October through December.
What to do right after you hit a deer
- Get to a safe place. If your car can be driven safely, pull well off the road. Turn on your hazard lights.
- Check for injuries. Check yourself and your passengers first.
- Call for help when you need it. Call 911 if anyone is hurt, if your car is disabled or blocking traffic, or if you’re on a busy highway or interstate. Otherwise, contact the local police, sheriff, or Tennessee Highway Patrol to report the crash. The Department of Safety encourages drivers to report deer-related crashes to law enforcement.
- Stay away from the deer. An injured deer can kick and thrash. Don’t touch it or try to drag it off the road. Tell the officer if it’s in the roadway.
- Take photos. Photograph the damage to your car, the scene, the road, any skid marks, and the deer if it’s safe to do so. Photos of hair or blood on the car can help show what happened.
- Get the report details. Write down the officer’s name, agency, and report number.
- Call your insurer or agent quickly. Report the claim as soon as you can. Ask whether you should have the car towed rather than driven.
What not to do
- Don’t swerve. It’s the most important rule. The Department of Safety and TDCI both advise drivers to brake firmly and stay in their lane if a deer runs in front of them. Swerving can send you into oncoming traffic, a ditch, or a tree, which can turn a deer strike into a much worse crash.
- Don’t try to move or help a wounded animal. Leave that to law enforcement or wildlife officers.
- Don’t drive a damaged car that isn’t safe. Leaking fluids, a damaged radiator, broken headlights, or a hood that won’t latch are signs to call a tow truck.
- Don’t skip the police report if one is needed. It can protect you and help your claim.
- Don’t wait to call your insurer. Delays can make a claim harder to document.
Tennessee rules to know
Reporting a crash
Tennessee Code § 55-10-106 requires the driver in a crash that causes injury, death, or apparent property damage of $50 or more to give immediate notice to the local police department if it happens in a city, or otherwise to the county sheriff or the nearest Highway Patrol office. Most deer strikes cause more than $50 in damage.
Tennessee Code § 55-10-107 also requires a written report to the Department of Safety within 20 days for crashes involving injury, death, or more than $1,500 in damage to any one person’s property, including the driver’s. Ask the responding officer or the Department of Safety how to file.
Keeping the deer
Under Tennessee Code § 70-4-115, you can keep a deer that was accidentally killed by a vehicle for personal use, but only if you notify the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) or any law enforcement officer within a reasonable time, no more than 48 hours, and give your name and address. Bears are different: possession requires authorization from a TWRA officer and a kill tag. TWRA’s big game page says big game found dead should otherwise be left where it is.
The state won’t pay for your damage
TWRA’s FAQ explains that you’ll need to report the incident to your insurance company, because the state isn’t liable for damage caused by wild animals.
Which coverage usually pays
Comprehensive
Hitting an animal is usually covered under comprehensive coverage, not collision. TDCI says animal collision damage falls under an auto policy’s optional comprehensive coverage, and your deductible applies. After that, your insurer covers the claim up to your limits.
Collision
If you swerve to miss a deer and hit a tree, a guardrail, or another car, the claim usually falls under collision coverage instead, with your collision deductible. That’s one more reason not to swerve.
Liability only
TDCI notes that if you have only liability or collision coverage, your insurer won’t cover damage to your vehicle from hitting an animal. Liability pays for damage you cause to others, not your own car.
Other coverages that can help
- Rental reimbursement: helps pay for a rental car while yours is in the shop, if you carry it.
- Roadside assistance or towing: helps with a tow if your car can’t be driven.
- Glass coverage: some policies handle windshield damage with special terms.
- Medical payments (MedPay): if your policy includes it, it can help with medical bills for you and your passengers, regardless of fault.
Check your policy for your exact coverages, limits, and deductibles.
Will hitting a deer raise my rates?
A comprehensive claim for hitting an animal is generally not treated the same as an at-fault collision. But every insurer has its own rating and claims-history rules, so it depends on your policy and claims history. Ask your agent before you assume either way. Our guide to what affects car insurance rates in Tennessee covers claims history and other factors.
Why your comprehensive deductible matters in rural Middle Tennessee
If you drive country roads in Sumner, Wilson, Robertson, or Williamson County, or commute at dawn and dusk, a deer strike is a real possibility. A higher comprehensive deductible lowers your premium, but it means paying more out of pocket when you hit a deer. Some drivers choose a lower comprehensive deductible for that reason. Compare the premium difference with what you could comfortably pay after a claim.
A hypothetical example
Imagine you’re driving home to Gallatin on a two-lane road just after sunset in November. A deer jumps out, you brake firmly and stay in your lane, and you hit it. Your headlight is broken and the hood is bent. You pull onto the shoulder, turn on your hazards, and call the sheriff’s office. You take photos and stay away from the deer. Because a headlight is out, you have the car towed.
If you carry comprehensive coverage with a $500 deductible, the repair would usually be handled under comprehensive, and you’d pay the first $500. If you had swerved into a mailbox and a ditch instead, the claim would likely fall under collision. These numbers are for illustration only; your policy terms decide the actual result.
Prevention tips for dawn and dusk
- Slow down in areas with deer-crossing signs.
- Scan the shoulders, especially at dawn and dusk.
- Use high beams when it’s safe and there’s no oncoming traffic.
- If you see one deer, expect more to follow.
- Brake firmly and stay in your lane if a deer runs out.
- Always wear your seat belt.
- Stay off your phone so you can react quickly.
Frequently asked questions
Does hitting a deer raise my car insurance rates in Tennessee?
It depends on your insurer. Animal strikes are usually comprehensive claims and are generally not treated like at-fault accidents, but claims history can still affect pricing. Ask your agent.
Does hitting a deer count as an accident?
It’s a crash you may need to report to law enforcement under Tennessee law, but for insurance purposes it’s usually a comprehensive claim rather than an at-fault collision. Check your policy.
What if the deer ran off and there’s no obvious evidence?
Report it anyway. Take photos of any hair, blood, or damage, and file a police report. Your insurer will review the evidence when handling the claim.
Are motorcycles more at risk from deer?
A deer strike can be especially dangerous on a motorcycle. Riders should slow down at dawn and dusk and review their coverage. Learn more about motorcycle insurance.
Next step
Deer season is a great time to check your comprehensive coverage and deductible. Learn more about car insurance with Eric Henry, Insurance Agent, and ask Eric to review your coverage before your next dawn or dusk drive.
Coverage descriptions are general information only; your policy documents determine actual coverage. Availability varies by carrier.
