Deer Accidents

[minnierocks]

Animal strikes are covered under the comprehensive portion of your insurance policy. Please make sure that you are clear that the deer hit you and it was unavoidable. Believe it or not, it can make a difference if you hit the deer or the deer hit you. . Having said that, we have had this happen twice...once to my husband and to my son. State Farm gave us no issues and since we carry a zero dollar deduction on our policies, we did not pay anything. It is time for you to escalate your issue to a supervisor.

 

[chuckabone]

I feel for what you are going thru. I have hit or should I say have been hit by 3 deer this year alone in my van. The first one my insurance took care of 100.00 ded. The 2nd my hubs just had to replace the headlight assembly and the third one was cover again by insurance 100.00 ded. I have Nationwide and I will tell anyone that I will NEVER EVER switch insurance co. They are amazing! They did what they were supposed to do and took care of everything right down to the rental car. When other companies call and try to give price comparisons I say take my name off your list I am never leaving Nationwide! I don't think insurance is a area where you want to skrimp on coverage for a better price. You get what you pay for.! Good luck to you.

 

[DawnM]

A deer came out of the woods very suddenly when I was driving about 50 up a 2 late road. It ran within a couple of feet of my front bumper and then suddenly turned.

I did not hit it, but it scared me. When I talked to DH about it, and told him I almost hit a deer, he said, "No, you didn't. The deer almost hit YOU!" He said an insurance guy told him that if you ever hit a deer to say the deer hit you.

I don't know if it really matters or not, but I thought I would mention it.

 

[PrincessHanasMom]

I got hit by a deer in my brand new car week before last $5000 in damage. Travelers is covering it under our comprehensive coverage - $250 deductible.

 

[sarmat1]

We have comprehensive and collision, but DH was trying to save money and he had both at $2,000.

As a couple of PP's have pointed out, you will ultimately be responsible for your deductible. If you're indicating that your deductible is $2,000, then that is what you will pay. Progressive will pay anything above that.

 

[angwill]

We hit a deer Friday morning, out of town at a funeral for family, 4 hours away. It came out of nowhere. we have Progressive and they have been really just awful. I mean awful, not helpful at all.
Everyone keeps telling me they don't pay since it was nature/act of God.
we have comprehensive and collision, but DH was trying to save money and he had both at $2,000. I could just cry. My mom hit a deer and had $500 and her company waived it, a friend has Geico, again they didn't pay. Everyone at the funeral said we wouldn't owe.
I know I should have switched it, but neither one of has had an accident in over 15 years and it was cheap and easy. But now we are being screwed over. They are so rude on the phone. Our car is at the shop now, and they didn't even go over there till after 3 p.m. dropped it off at 9 a.m. But no one told us we needed to do paperwork. So they still haven't looked at it. They won't give us a new agent, she is an idiot. The retention department yelled at me and called me a liar. I don't know what to do.

Please tell me who you have and if you had hit a deer what was your comprehensive and did you pay? I know for a fact that progressive has claims adjusters that come out and estimate the damage because my friends son is an adjuster for them.

We have the money. But it's going to really hurt. I was laid off and still looking for work. I need to drop them as soon as they get this fixed. If they even fix it. We did get a police report. I am just so upset.

I have State Farm and they would pay all but the deductible but ours is $500. They would either send someone out to estimate the damage or you can take it to a shop or even one of their prefered shops. If you take it to their shop you would simply pay the shop the deductible. If you have the estimate done they come out within a day or two and cut a check for the estimated amount. Then if you take it to your shop choice they would have to send in a bill for adjustment of costs if they charge more than the estimated amount. I have never had any issues with our company besides if you get a newbie on the phone at the office who has no clue what they are doing. Then you ask for your agent.

I do hope you get this worked out but you will have to at least pay the deductible. Your payments should not go up when using comprehensive only collision so dont let them get away with raising your rates either.

 

[chrissyt27]

The deer hit us, it ran into the road and there was nothing to do to avoid it. my inlaws were in the car, his brother and family were in the car behind us, a cousin behind him. people were on the other side of the road. the deer came out of nowhere, we were just the luck ones it hit.
luckily we were able to get a police report and cars besides family stayed to be witnesses. The deer was still there. It didn't live.
we called Progressive as soon as we got into town where we had a signal. we were on the way to a funeral. they told us an agent would call us. when she did we missed her call, we had very bad service and when she did call we were at the cementary. we called her back as soon as we got the message. she never called us back. I called the main number. This is now 12 hours after the accident and was worried that it was going to be too late on Friday to talk to anyone.
They said I could only talk to our agent, but she wouldn't be back till Monday. I said we needed someone else, they said no. At this point no one had talked to the agent, she'd only tried to call us once. I was not rude on the phone, just asked to speak to someone about our claim. I was not waiting till Monday as we were 4 hours from home and had no idea what to do.
I kept asking to talk to someone and she transferred me to the retention dept. All I wanted was a claim person. The Retention Person, whose name I do know, started off very rude, told me we had to wait till Monday. I asked how they could say there were 24/7 when no one would speak to us, and tell us what to do.

I do know we have to pay. we do have savings. My husband made a mistake and I made a mistake by assuming he kept our deductible at a reasonable rate. The car is only a year old and he said he was trying to save money. This was all done online and there was no one to tell him that this was a bad idea. I drive a 20 year old car and his car had to be replaced which was also over 15 years old. So I guess neither one of was used to paying higher rates.

I just called the body shop and they still haven't come to look at the car. which by the way is sitting outside and it just poured and thundered, washing stuff away. You can see the Progressive office from the shop.

we have never actually spoken to our person. we keep calling and leaving messages, and she just happens to call back and leave us messages. we both have been glued to our cell phones and I won't leave the house in case she graces us with a call. I again asked for someone and they said NO. I don't know what else to do.

And I don't know why other people keep telling me their deducible was waived.

I have not told them we plan to switch companies. I want to get this fixed first. I have had them since 2000. I just feel like they are not helping at all.

 

[chrissyt27]

A deer ran into my son when he was driving our smallest vehicle. At first he thought there was no damage, but when he got home, I could feel a big dent in the fender on that side. Then we tried to open the passenger door and realized that the impact had pushed the fender into the door. There was deer hair caught in the trim along the door, so the deer slid the length of the car before it ran off. We called our State Farm agent and took the car to the same shop DH has used when he has struck deer with his company vehicle. There was damage in the amount of several thousand dollars. It took about a week to fix it, but I don't remember paying even a deductible.

Maybe you've never had an accident before. These things do take time. It does no good to yell at the agents. You need to remain calm and be politie at all times. When you have an accident is not the time to threaten to cancel your insurance, which is maybe why you were speaking with the retention department. Also, it's not wise to have a deductible so high that you cannot comfortably pay it.

I do know things take time. BUT the deer hit us Friday at 6:30 a.m. we called at 8 a.m. once we got off the road. We have not talked to anyone, she just leaves us messages. I have asked and asked for someone and they keep sending me to the retention dept. It is now Tuesday and we have heard nothing.

 

[angwill]

Call and ask to speak with a manager. Tell them what is going on and ask them to help. I would also report the agent since it is now Tuesday and there is no reason that she should not have called yesterday.

 

[chrissyt27]

I vowed to NEVER use progressive after this happened:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/14/comedian-matt-fishers-tum_n_1775191.html

That is just awful.

 

[chrissyt27]

I don't know about the insurance but if you need a little comic relief I saw the best video about a lady talking about deer crossing signs.

http://youtu.be/CI8UPHMzZm8

Thanks

 

[MineMail]

I do know we have to pay. we do have savings. My husband made a mistake and I made a mistake by assuming he kept our deductible at a reasonable rate. The car is only a year old and he said he was trying to save money.

Look at it this way: you already saved money by having the high deductible and using a discount insurance company. Now, you have to use some of the money you saved. It's actually a valid way to save money on car insurance as long as you're prepared to handle the cost of the deductible if you do need it. It's a risk-taking business decision, but not insanity. It just seems like a bad idea now because of your job situation.

This was all done online and there was no one to tell him that this was a bad idea.

I like having an insurance agent to talk to, but that adds to the cost. While I have a lower deductible and pay a little extra for that service, when my DD was injured a car accident three hours away, it was good to talk to someone I knew and find out what to do. Worth the money to me, imo.

we have never actually spoken to our person. we keep calling and leaving messages, and she just happens to call back and leave us messages. we both have been glued to our cell phones and I won't leave the house in case she graces us with a call. I again asked for someone and they said NO. I don't know what else to do.

After the first "tag, you're it" message from any vendor, leave a message saying "I know we're both busy so we keep playing telephone tag. Please call me back at (number) (Day/date) and (time range)." Add a remark about busy schedules are hard to coordinate, so you'd appreciate the timely response. Keep up your friendly facade.

And I don't know why other people keep telling me their deducible was waived.

I guess it's a form of "I know better" or "I got a better deal." The lesson to learn is to read YOUR insurance contracts since they vary from state to state and person to person. A low deductible costs a little more, but it might come with these waivers and special clauses. It's a question to ask when considering a company. There's a difference between a company waiving a $300 deductible and a $2k deductible. The company you're with tries to save money at all costs, especially on the least-expensive policies.

Is the deductible the only out-of-pocket cost in the way of getting the car fixed? Pay it and get the new car back in nice shape. You could count your blessings, too. Things could have been a lot worse with the deer strike. *knock wood*

I have not told them we plan to switch companies. I want to get this fixed first. I have had them since 2000. I just feel like they are not helping at all.

You've been with them a long time and you're under financial pressure because of the job situation. Do wait until the car is fixed and then decide what your budget can afford. Going with an agent-based insurance company means paying more, so it might not be an option unless you juggle the budget somewhere else.

I'm sorry about the whole mess: the job, the funeral, the deer and the insurance.
Buy a lottery ticket so you can lose and get rid of the bad luck streak. Hope things turn around soon for you and your family. Hugs

 

[luvsJack]

I agree with calling and speaking to a manager or supervisor. I have had Progressive for years and have always been happy with them. And have never had any issue with them paying, staying in contact with me or anything.

I have, luckily, not hit a deer but they did waive the deductible on a claim made after Katrina.

 

[Denise W]

Comprehensive coverage covers damage caused by impacts with animals, but your deductible applies. You indicate you have a $2000 deductible on that coverage, so perhaps your damage does not exceed $2000? As long as that car is listed on your policy, the policy is active, and you have that coverage, Progressive can't refuse to pay. If they are, there must be other factors we haven't been told.

Denise

 

[chrissyt27]

Comprehensive coverage covers damage caused by impacts with animals, but your deductible applies. You indicate you have a $2000 deductible on that coverage, so perhaps your damage does not exceed $2000? As long as that car is listed on your policy, the policy is active, and you have that coverage, Progressive can't refuse to pay. If they are, there must be other factors we haven't been told.

Denise

They are not refusing to pay, they just won't talk to us. The damage does exceed $2000. My Husband just got off the phone and was actually able to talk to the claim person, she is sending someone over to the shop now.

 

[Denise W]

That's good to hear. Oh, and it does not matter if you hit the animal or the animal hits you, both are covered by comprehensive coverage (i have been in the claims business for 35 years).

I hope your car gets repaired quickly for you.

Denise

 

[pixiewings71]

If the Progressive office is next to the body shop why didn't you just go to the office directly instead of the phone tag?
I'm sorry you were hit by a deer, I'm sure they will take care of it for you.

 

[okeydokey]

They are not refusing to pay, they just won't talk to us. The damage does exceed $2000. My Husband just got off the phone and was actually able to talk to the claim person, she is sending someone over to the shop now.

Well, at least that is progress. You cannot expect them to waive the deductible, so you will be paying $2000 since that is what you chose. However, you should expect timely service.

When all is done, you should certainly write to corporate and let them know you were not satisfied with the service you received.

 

[angierae]

No experience with deer, but I will say that my one claim with Progressive was a BREEZE. A kid rear-ended me at a stoplight (the light turned green, but the car in front of me was making a right, and someone was in the crosswalk, so they waited. The kid behind me saw green and hit his gas, plowing right into the back of my not-moving car.

I was slow about calling Progressive but they ended up calling me when the kid made a claim for his car (he was from another state, and Michigan has weird insurance laws) to his insurance. Progressive called me up, told me where to drop off my car (at one of their concierge claim centers.) I dropped off the car, they handed me the keys to a loaner, I drove off with the loaner. They took the car to the repair shop, had everything done, and then called me and I picked up my car, handing them the keys to the rental. No fuss, no muss, no dealing with repair shops. It was a dream. (And didn't cost me anything, since the other driver was 100% at fault.)

Meanwhile, I totalled a car in a one-car accident where I wasn't ticketed, and State Farm, whom I had been with for over ten years without a claim wanted to triple my rates over it. Sure, they paid out my car quickly, but I wasn't going to pay almost $300 a month for insurance. When I called Progressive for a quote they asked about accidents, I was honest. THey said "Were you ticketed?" I said "Nope." and the agent said, "Then we don't care." and gave me a rate LOWER than what I had been paying State Farm.

 

[sharbear]

We were hit by two deer, two different cars, all in a month's time. Sigh! It is frustrating and I'm not sure why you were not getting called back but it sounds like that has been fixed.

This is the thing. There might be an office next to the body shop but that is probably the agent's office. Once you have a claim, it goes to a completely different department. The agent only sells the insurance, the insurance company is who you deal with once you have an accident.

Both times we were hit it was late at night on a weekend. Both times we called 911. The first accident our car was drivable and the state police was on another accident, so we were able to drive it home and take it over to the police and file an accident claim. The other accident the car was not drivable so the police called a tow truck who drove us to the nearest hotel. A accident claim was filed by the police and then I called the 24 hr claim line. It was just a answering service which forwarded the claim to the insurance company. We were at a family function and were not able to talk to the claims adjuster for a couple of days. But since the car was not drivable and we needed a car, we rented one and the insurance company reimbursed us later.

The first accident was to our new car and they waived the deductible because we used a body shop which was a preferred shop for the ins company. They did not have to send out a claims adjuster because they have a long standing relationship with the shop.

The second accident our car was totaled. We were far from home and not in a state that our insurance company did work in. They sent an adjuster but it took a couple of days and in fact it took a week or so to figure everything out.

These things take time. I'm glad it's finally getting settled.