Oct. 23, 2019—Animal-strike-related insurance claims are more than twice as frequent as the yearly average during the month of November, when the search for a mate keeps the big bucks on the move, according to an analysis of claims from 2006-18 conducted by the Highway Loss Data Institute.
The severity of claims, measured in dollars insurers pay to cover losses, also soars during the peak month. The average cost of November animal-strike claims over the 13-year period was $3,560, compared with $2,801 for February, the month with the least severe crashes.
A separate study of point-of-impact distribution during calendar years 2004–17 showed that almost 9 out of 10 animal-strike collisions are front-impact crashes.
The five states with the highest November claim frequencies were West Virginia, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Michigan. The claim frequency in West Virginia — 47.8 claims per 1,000 insured vehicle years — was more than three times the national average for the peak month.
