Beware: Deer Do Not Carry Insurance!

Recently, an amazing statistic came across my desk.  Based on insurance claims, drivers hit an average of 1.5 million deer per year in America according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Many of us that live in Alachua County and the rural surrounding areas have seen the results of car vs. deer by the road-side or have experienced hitting a deer personally.

As a local Gainesville personal injury lawyer (accident attorney) I just want to say, beware... deer do not carry insurance.  That being said, if you have only the minimal required insurance to drive a vehicle in the state of Florida, you will be out of luck if you hit a deer and your injuries and medical bills total more than $10,000 and/or if your car is in need of repair.

This is because, the required insurance in Florida is $10,000 of PIP and $10,000 of property damage to cover the other person's car or truck damage if you are at fault in an accident. This will not pay for the repairs to your vehicle after an "encounter" with a deer if you are driving down the road and one jumps out in front of you and you hit it and it causes damages to your vehicle.  The repair costs will come out of your pocket.

I recommend that you protect yourself with full coverage. Here are my insurance recommendations to be protected from deer, for peace of mind and for anything that comes across your path on the road.