Deer-Vehicle Collisions: When They Happen, Where They Spike and What They Cost

After years of steady increases, deer-vehicle collisions in the United States showed a promising decline in 2024-2025, even as repair costs reached record highs. Insurance companies processed 1.7 million animal collision claims between July 2024 and June 2025, down 5.6% from 1.8 million the previous year, according to State Farm and IIHS data. The first substantial decline in recent years.

Insurance claims represent only about half of actual collisions. Many drivers don't file claims for minor damage or lack comprehensive coverage. Researchers estimate actual deer-vehicle collisions total approximately 2.1 million annually, causing over $10 billion in damage.

Scientists at the University of Washington discovered making daylight saving time permanent would prevent 36,550 deer deaths, 33 human deaths, 2,054 human injuries and $1.19 billion in collision costs each year. The research showed collisions spike 16% in the week following the fall time change, when evening rush hour suddenly shifts into darkness.

Deer-vehicle collision risk varies dramatically by state, influenced by deer population density, habitat, road networks and geographic location within time zones.

Pennsylvania reports the highest estimated number of claims nationwide at 148,000 annually, followed by Michigan (126,000), North Carolina (88,000), Texas (86,000) and Ohio (80,500).

Wisconsin ranks among the top five highest-risk states for deer collisions, with drivers facing 1 in 58 odds of hitting an animal.

Animal collision risk rises from late October through early December, coinciding with deer mating season (the rut). During this period, deer are more active, less cautious and more likely to cross roads at any time.

November consistently shows the highest collision claims, reaching 14 per 1,000 insured vehicle years in 2021. These figures are roughly triple the lowest months. The three autumn months account for 650,000 incidents, representing 38% of all annual animal collisions according to State Farm data.

Peak Collision Times

Deer are most active during twilight hours. Collision data confirms this pattern with 76% of all deer-vehicle collisions occurring at night, making nighttime driving particularly dangerous during fall and winter months.

Highest-risk periods:

• Dusk to evening (sunset to two hours after): Collisions occur 14 times more frequently than before sunset
• Dawn (before and shortly after sunrise): Second-highest risk period
• Full moon nights: Wildlife collisions increase as brighter light prompts deer to travel greater distances

The danger increases during fall and winter when sunset occurs earlier, overlapping with evening rush hour traffic. Learn more about staying safe on the road during winter.

Scientists at the University of Washington analyzed over 1 million deer-vehicle collisions from 1994 to 2021 to reveal how clock changes influence collision rates. The research shows collisions occur 14 times more frequently two hours after sunset compared to before sunset. When evening rush hour shifts from daylight into darkness during the November time change, collision rates spike 16%.

The November time change creates dangerous conditions. Deer breeding season (the rut) increases deer movement by up to 50% during late October and November. When the time change shifts evening commutes into darkness, drivers encounter peak deer activity during high-traffic hours. Nearly 10% of annual deer collisions occur in the two-week period around the fall time change, according to the University of Washington study published in Current Biology.

Permanent Daylight Saving Time Would Save Lives

By reducing traffic during dark hours, year-round daylight saving time would provide substantial benefits. The University of Washington research predicts permanent daylight saving time would prevent 36,550 deer deaths, 33 human deaths, 2,054 human injuries and $1.19 billion in collision costs annually.

Impact varies by region. States in the northern U.S. and locations on the eastern edge of time zones would see the greatest reductions. Research from the University of Washington found counties at northern latitudes experience 1.86 times more collisions than southern counties after controlling for population density. Counties on the eastern edge of time zones see 1.35 times more collisions than western counties in the same time zone. Maine could experience an 8.3% drop in deer collisions.

Permanent Standard Time Would Make It Worse

Adopting permanent standard time would worsen the problem. The research predicts permanent standard time would add 73,660 deer-vehicle collisions, 66 human deaths, 4,140 human injuries and $2.39 billion in costs annually.

The U.S. Senate passed the Sunshine Protection Act in March 2022 to make daylight saving time permanent, but the legislation has stalled in the House of Representatives. Medical professionals debate the health implications of permanent daylight saving time versus standard time, while wildlife collision data provides evidence for road safety benefits

Average claim costs in high-risk regions reached $5,620 in 2024, up from $5,000 in 2023, according to AAA East Central data covering Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Individual repairs commonly range from $4,000 to over $11,000 depending on damage severity.

Common damage from deer collisions includes broken headlights, windshield cracks, hood damage, radiator damage, grille damage, bumper replacement and coolant system damage. The impact often damages the front end, hood, windshield, radiator and other critical components. Even collisions at 40 mph can result in thousands of dollars in damage.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), animal-involved crashes resulted in 164 fatalities in 2021, the most recent year with complete federal data. FARS data shows the majority of these fatal crashes occur during October through December (deer breeding season), on rural roads with speed limits of 55+ mph, between 6 p.m. and midnight, and in clear weather conditions when deer are most active. Driver behavior also plays a role. See states with the worst drivers for additional context on road safety.

The Federal Highway Administration has prioritized wildlife-vehicle collision reduction through its Wildlife Crossings Program, which provides funding for wildlife crossing structures and collision mitigation strategies. Research shows wildlife crossings, fencing and other mitigation measures can reduce collisions by 85% to 95% in treated areas, though implementation remains limited nationwide.

Approximately 36 million deer populate the United States as of 2023, roughly equal to precolonial numbers. However, modern habitat fragmentation from roadways and development has increased human-wildlife conflict. Roads, cities and development divide and fragment animal habitats. Seeking food or mates, deer often have no choice but to risk crossing busy roads.

The combination of declining collision numbers and rising costs creates a complex picture for drivers, insurers and policymakers. While the 5.6% decrease in claims from 2023-2024 to 2024-2025 is encouraging, it remains unclear whether this represents a lasting trend or a temporary fluctuation.

Several factors may contribute to the decline: increased driver awareness and education campaigns, improved vehicle safety features, changes in deer population management, weather patterns affecting deer behavior and shifts in driving patterns post-pandemic.

The University of Washington research on daylight saving time indicates a policy change could save thousands of lives, both human and animal, and billions of dollars without requiring expensive infrastructure projects or wildlife management programs. As the debate over time change policies continues in Congress and state legislatures, the collision data provides evidence for road safety benefits.

For individual drivers, especially those in high-risk states like West Virginia, Montana and Pennsylvania, comprehensive insurance coverage is important. Defensive driving during autumn twilight hours can prevent tragedy. Continued research, public education and evidence-based policy decisions will be crucial to reducing the future toll of deer-vehicle collisions on American roads.

MoneyGeek created the Monthly Animal-Collision Risk Index by combining State Farm's 2024-2025 seasonal collision trends with historical monthly claim patterns from the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) and wildlife-movement research from the University of Washington, then normalizing these inputs on a 0-100 scale with November as the peak risk month.