Hit a Deer in East Tennessee? What Car Insurance Covers and What to Do Next
- Tennessee recorded 8,036 deer-related crashes in 2024, including 465 injury crashes and 5 fatal crashes (Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security).
- Half of 2023 deer crashes happened October through December, and 77% happened between 5 PM and 7 AM (Tennessee Highway Patrol).
- State Farm estimates Tennessee drivers have a 1 in 129 chance of an animal collision claim (July 2025 to June 2026), higher than the national 1 in 145.
- If you swerve and hit a tree, guardrail, or another car instead, that is generally a collision claim, not comprehensive.
- Crashes with injury or more than $1,500 in property damage need a written owner/driver report to the state within 20 days, even if police filed a report.
Every fall, drivers on Pellissippi Parkway toward Hardin Valley, the curves of Northshore Drive near Choto, and Tellico Parkway through Loudon County need to watch harder for deer at dusk. With clocks falling back on Sunday, November 1, 2026, the evening commute home to 37934 and 37922 shifts into darkness right as deer movement peaks. This guide explains what your auto policy actually pays for after a deer strike, what Tennessee law requires at the scene, and how to check your coverage before November.
Does car insurance cover hitting a deer in Tennessee?
Yes, if you carry comprehensive coverage. The Insurance Information Institute lists "striking an animal" among the hazards comprehensive coverage pays for, along with theft, vandalism, fire, flood, and hail. You pay your comprehensive deductible and the policy pays the rest of the covered repair, up to the car's actual cash value.
If you carry only the state minimum, you are not covered for your own car. Tennessee requires liability limits of 25/50/25 according to the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per crash for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage. Liability pays for harm you cause to other people. A deer is not another driver, so a liability-only policy leaves the repair bill with you.
Which coverage pays in each deer scenario?
| What happened | Coverage that generally applies | What you typically pay |
|---|---|---|
| Your car strikes a deer | Comprehensive | Comprehensive deductible |
| A deer runs into the side of your moving or parked car | Comprehensive | Comprehensive deductible |
| You swerve to miss a deer and hit a tree, ditch, or guardrail | Collision | Collision deductible; may be treated as at fault |
| You swerve and hit another vehicle | Collision for your car; liability for the other driver's car and injuries | Collision deductible; liability limits apply |
| You or your passengers are hurt | Medical payments coverage (if purchased) and your health insurance | Depends on policy terms |
| Car is damaged and you carry liability only | None for your own vehicle | The full repair cost |
General guidance based on standard personal auto policy structure. Your policy wording and declarations page control what is covered.
How common are deer crashes in Tennessee?
Common enough that the Tennessee Highway Patrol calls November its "busiest month" for them. The state's most recent figures:
| Measure | Figure | Source and data year |
|---|---|---|
| Deer-related crashes statewide | 8,036 | TN Dept. of Safety, 2024 |
| Injury crashes / fatal crashes | 465 / 5 | TN Dept. of Safety, 2024 |
| Property-damage-only crashes | 7,571 | TN Dept. of Safety, 2024 |
| Share in October through December | 50% | THP TITAN Crash Facts, 2023 |
| Share between 5 PM and 7 AM | 77% | THP TITAN Crash Facts, 2023 |
| Share in dark conditions | 61.57% | THP TITAN Crash Facts, 2023 |
| Vehicle left with disabling damage | 35.18% | THP TITAN Crash Facts, 2023 |
| Tennessee odds of an animal collision claim | 1 in 129 | State Farm estimate, July 2025 to June 2026 |
| National odds of an animal collision claim | 1 in 145 | State Farm estimate, July 2025 to June 2026 |
| Average comprehensive animal strike claim in November | $4,600 | IIHS Highway Loss Data Institute, 2013 to 2022 average |
That last line matters most for your wallet. A typical November deer claim costs several thousand dollars because modern front ends hold radar sensors, cameras, and LED headlamps that are expensive to replace and recalibrate. We cover why parts and technology push repair costs higher in Why Some Vehicles Cost More to Insure.
Where do Farragut and West Knoxville drivers run into deer?
The Tennessee Department of Safety says most deer crashes happen on rural roadways, where limited lighting and higher speeds make them harder to avoid. Around our office, that describes many of the routes people drive every day: wooded ridges, open fields, and long shorelines along Fort Loudoun Lake, Tellico Lake, and Watts Bar Lake.
- Knox County (37934, 37922, 37932): Pellissippi Parkway (TN-162) toward Hardin Valley and Oak Ridge, Northshore Drive and Choto Road near the lake, Concord Road, and Hardin Valley Road near the Pellissippi State campus.
- Loudon County (37771, 37772, 37774): Tellico Parkway (TN-444) through Tellico Village, US-321 toward Lenoir City, and the farm roads off Highway 11.
- Blount County (37801, 37803, 37804): Alcoa Highway (US-129), US-321 toward Maryville and Townsend, and roads near the foothills.
- Roane County (37763, 37748): I-40 between Farragut and Kingston, and lake roads around Watts Bar near Kingston and Harriman.
Statewide, THP data places East Tennessee's highest deer crash counts in Hamilton, Sullivan, and Washington counties, but any road that mixes woods, water, and dusk driving deserves extra caution from October through December.
Not sure if you have comprehensive coverage?
Send a photo of your declarations page and we will help you read it before deer season peaks. We respond to every quote request within one business day.
What should you do right after hitting a deer in Tennessee?
Get safe first, then document. These steps follow Tennessee Highway Patrol guidance and state law:
- Pull over safely and turn on hazard lights. If the car is not drivable or is in a travel lane, stay buckled in and call 911.
- Stay away from the deer. An injured deer can kick and injure you. Do not try to move it off the road.
- Call law enforcement. THP asks drivers to report deer-related crashes to local law enforcement or the Tennessee Highway Patrol. A police report also helps your claim.
- Photograph everything. Damage from several angles, the road, any hair or blood on the vehicle, skid marks, and the deer if it is safe to do so. This evidence helps show the loss was an animal strike.
- Check that the car is safe to drive. Look for leaking fluids, broken headlights, a damaged hood latch, or a loose bumper. When in doubt, call for a tow.
- File the state report if required. If the crash caused injury, death, or more than $1,500 in property damage, Tennessee requires a written owner/operator report to the Department of Safety and Homeland Security within 20 days. This is in addition to any police report, and failing to file can lead to license and registration suspension. A deer strike on a newer vehicle can easily exceed $1,500.
- Notify your insurance company promptly. Ask whether the claim is being handled under comprehensive or collision, since the deductible may differ.
For crashes involving other vehicles, see our full What to Do After a Car Accident in Tennessee guide.
Tennessee deer crash rules at a glance
| Rule | Requirement | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Owner/operator crash report | Required within 20 days if injury, death, or more than $1,500 property damage, in addition to any officer's report | TN Dept. of Safety and Homeland Security |
| Keeping a deer killed by your vehicle | Allowed for personal use if you notify TWRA or a law enforcement officer within 48 hours with your name and address | Tenn. Code Ann. Section 70-4-115(c) |
| Keeping a bear killed by your vehicle | Requires authorization from a wildlife officer and a kill tag | Tenn. Code Ann. Section 70-4-115(c) |
| Penalty for violating the roadkill rule | Class C misdemeanor | Tenn. Code Ann. Section 70-4-115(d) |
| Minimum auto liability limits | 25/50/25 | TN Dept. of Commerce and Insurance |
Should you swerve to avoid a deer?
No. The Tennessee Department of Safety advises drivers not to swerve, and to brake firmly and stay in their lane instead. That advice protects you physically, and it also matters for your insurance. Hitting the deer is generally a comprehensive loss. Leaving the road and hitting a tree, or crossing into oncoming traffic on a two-lane road like Northshore Drive, turns it into a collision claim, and any harm to another driver falls under your liability coverage.
How do you pick the right comprehensive deductible?
Pick a deductible you could pay tomorrow without strain. Using HLDI's $4,600 average November animal strike claim as an example, here is how the out-of-pocket split changes:
| Comprehensive deductible | You pay | Insurance pays (on a $4,600 claim) |
|---|---|---|
| $250 | $250 | $4,350 |
| $500 | $500 | $4,100 |
| $1,000 | $1,000 | $3,600 |
| $2,000 | $2,000 | $2,600 |
Illustration only. Actual repair costs, deductible options, and premium differences vary by vehicle and insurance company.
A higher deductible usually lowers your premium. Whether that tradeoff makes sense depends on your savings, your car's value, and how much you drive at dawn and dusk. Our guide to saving on car insurance in Farragut walks through other ways to trim the bill without dropping protection you need.
Do you still need comprehensive on an older car?
Often, yes. If you have a loan or lease, the lender almost always requires it. If the car is paid off, compare the yearly cost of comprehensive against the car's actual cash value minus your deductible. A paid-off vehicle worth $12,000 can still be totaled by a deer at highway speed on I-40, and THP data shows more than a third of deer crashes leave the vehicle with disabling damage. Dropping comprehensive usually makes sense only when the car's value is low enough that you could replace it from savings.
Ask about these related coverages too:
- Rental reimbursement: helps pay for a rental while your car is in the body shop, which matters when shops are busy in November.
- Roadside assistance or towing: helpful if a strike disables the car on a rural road at night.
- Medical payments coverage: helps with medical bills for you and your passengers regardless of fault.
Riding a motorcycle or UTV on back roads this fall? Deer strikes on two wheels are far more dangerous. See our Motorcycle, RV, ATV and UTV Insurance in East Tennessee guide.
Will a deer claim raise your insurance rates?
It depends on the insurance company and how the claim is classified. Animal strikes paid under comprehensive are generally treated differently from at-fault collisions, but each company files its own rating and surcharge rules with the state, and multiple claims in a short period can still affect renewal pricing. If you swerved and the claim is paid under collision, it may be treated as an at-fault accident. Ask your insurance company how the specific claim will be recorded before you decide whether to file a small claim close to your deductible.
How can a local Farragut agency help after a deer strike?
Colin Karich Agency has served Farragut and West Knoxville from 11416 Kingston Pike since 2021, and Colin has lived in Farragut for more than 40 years. As a hybrid agency, we work with a primary national carrier plus brokerage access to 19 specialty markets, and we hold a 5.0 Google rating from 47+ local reviews. We can help you:
- Read your declarations page to confirm you carry comprehensive and see your deductibles
- Compare deductible options before deer season peaks in November
- Answer questions about how a claim works when you need to file one
- Review auto coverage alongside your home policy, since homeowners who bundle home and auto typically save 10% to 25%
Want a broader look at your coverage? Try our free two-minute Coverage Gap Checkup, or read the coverage gaps most Tennessee families miss when buying online.
Frequently asked questions about deer crashes and car insurance
Does Tennessee minimum liability insurance cover hitting a deer?
No. Tennessee's minimum 25/50/25 liability coverage pays for injuries and damage you cause to other people. Damage to your own car from hitting a deer is generally paid by comprehensive coverage, which is optional unless a lender or lease requires it.
Is hitting a deer comprehensive or collision?
Striking an animal is generally a comprehensive claim. If you swerve to miss the deer and hit a tree, guardrail, or another vehicle instead, that damage is generally a collision claim, which often carries a different deductible.
Do I have to report a deer crash in Tennessee?
If the crash causes injury, death, or more than $1,500 in property damage, Tennessee requires a written crash report to the Department of Safety and Homeland Security within 20 days, in addition to any report filed by an investigating officer. Failing to file can lead to suspension of your license and registration.
Can I keep a deer I hit with my car in Tennessee?
Under Tennessee Code Section 70-4-115, a motorist may keep a deer accidentally killed by a vehicle for personal use if they notify the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency or a law enforcement officer within a reasonable time, not to exceed 48 hours, and provide their name and address. Bears require separate authorization.
When are deer crashes most common in East Tennessee?
Tennessee Highway Patrol data shows 50% of 2023 deer crashes happened October through December and 77% happened between 5 PM and 7 AM. November is historically the peak month.
Check your coverage before November
Colin Karich Agency, 11416 Kingston Pike, Suite C, Farragut, TN 37934. Open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM, with appointments available.
Related reading
Sources
- Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, "It's 'Deer Season' on Tennessee Roads, Too," November 13, 2025 (2024 crash data). tn.gov
- Tennessee Highway Patrol TITAN Division Statistics Office, 2023 Crash Facts: Deer. tn.gov (PDF)
- Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Owner/Operator Report requirements. tn.gov
- Tennessee Code Annotated Section 70-4-115 (roadkill and wildlife possession). FindLaw
- Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, Auto Insurance 101 (minimum liability limits). tn.gov
- State Farm, "20 Years of Animal Collision Data: What Drivers Should Know," September 15, 2026 (July 2025 to June 2026 claims). newsroom.statefarm.com
- FOX Chattanooga, "Watch for deer! Fall deer activity should put Tennessee drivers on high alert," October 5, 2026 (State Farm Tennessee estimate). foxchattanooga.com
- IIHS Highway Loss Data Institute, "Dip in deer strikes poses a mystery for insurers ahead of peak season," October 18, 2023 (2013 to 2022 claims). iihs.org
- Insurance Information Institute, "What is covered by a basic auto insurance policy?" iii.org
This article is general information, not a coverage determination. Coverage depends on your policy terms, conditions, and exclusions. Figures were verified October 2026.