October 2003

 

Oh, Deer! Part Two
Jamie H Thompson, Thompsonja@missouri.edu

What do you do when you have just had an accident? No matter what type of accident, check for injuries. The safety of all involved is far more important than the vehicles. Call the police, sheriff, or state highway patrol to report the accident. If you believe the car to be unsafe to drive, call your emergency roadside service or a tow service. Lastly, call your insurance agent.

As soon as you can, ask for the names, addresses, and license numbers of persons involved in the accident. My first accident was with a young man who had decided to make a left turn from the right lane. In this instance, it was vital to get his insurance information. When I collided with the deer, there was a witness who stayed with me until state patrol arrived. No matter what the accident it is also important to write down details about the accident--location and specific circumstances such as weather conditions and visibility. The state patrol officer asked very specific questions about the deer (a buck); when did I first see him, from what direction did he come, and did I see any does. His concern was the possibility of other deer coming onto the highway causing additional accidents.

We are required by the state of Missouri to carry insurance on our vehicles. Why? Auto insurance protects against catastrophic financial loss if you have an accident. The insurance policy is a contract between you and the insurance company--you pay a premium and the insurance company agrees to cover any losses as specified in your policy.

There are two types of auto insurance coverages--collision and comprehensive. When the young man’s car hit mine, it was considered collision. Comprehensive coverage pays losses or damage caused by fire, wind, hail, flood, vandalism, theft, or impact with an animal. The two accidents were treated quite differently by the insurance company. A deductible is always required in collision. In the case of comprehensive, it may or may not apply depending on your policy. The deductible is that portion of the financial loss that you are responsible to pay. Depending on the state, it may range from $100 to $1000. Rental coverage pays for the expense of renting a car while yours is disabled after an accident. After five weeks in repair, I was glad I had that coverage.

It is important to understand your auto insurance policy and all its provisions. After an accident is not the time to learn what you do or do not have. If there is anything you do not understand, meet with your agent and ask them review it with you. Source: State Farm Insurance - www.statefarm.com
Insurance Information Institute - www.iii.org