Tis' the Season - to Watch for Deer

What does the ubiquitous White-tailed Deer have to do with business insurance? Should this post be on the hunting guide's site? No. October through December, peaking in November, is "deer season" in many states. It is the time when deer mate and migrate. What does this have to do with business insurance?

When deer are on the move, they end up on our roads and highways. There they pose obstacles for cars - serious obstacles. A studyby State Farm states "there are approximately 1.5 million deer-vehicle collisions annually in the United States, causing more than 150 fatalities and $1.1 billion in property damage." The report lists the top ten states where deer-car collisions are most likely to occur with West Virginia topping the list. According to State Farm, the average claim for such a collision was $2,900. Perhaps not a large claim for large businesses, but somewhat catastrophic for the small one or two car operation (e.g., a local pizza shop or courier business).

Reducing risk starts with knowing the risk. The report lists the following excellent tips for you to share with your insured company drivers:

1. Be aware of posted deer crossing signs. These are placed in active deer crossing areas.
2. Remember that deer are most active between 6 and 9 p.m.
3. Use high beam headlamps as much as possible at night to illuminate the areas from which deer will enter roadways.
4. Keep in mind that deer generally travel in herds – if you see one, there is a strong possibility others are nearby.
5. Do not rely on car-mounted deer whistles. They don’t work.
6. If a deer collision seems inevitable, attempting to swerve out of the way could cause you to lose control of your vehicle or place you in the path of an oncoming vehicle.