We have officially entered the deer strike danger zone in our region.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Pennsylvania again ranks as one of the worst in the country for deer-vehicle collisions, so how can you protect yourself and avoid having to make an insurance claim?\u00a0<\/p>\n
No doubt, it’s extremely expensive to hit a deer, and State Farm said protecting yourself involves ramping up your vigilance because the deer are oblivious.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Forget for a second that they are kind of cute and mostly docile; you hit one, and it gets expensive fast.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“It can be in the $10,000 to $20,000 range,” explained State Farm’s Jennifer Johnsen-Nazareth.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Johnsen-Nazareth has good reason to track how often fenders and bumpers find deer, saying that between July 2025 and June 2026, there were $1.9 billion in claim repairs. A lot of that $1.9 billion was right here in Pennsylvania.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“Pennsylvania ranks number 4,” she explained. “West Virginia ranks number 1 pretty consistently, not a surprise.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
Between Pennsylvania and West Virginia on that list are Montana and Wisconsin, but regardless of the rankings, from now until January is the worst time of year, and Johnsen-Nazareth said a little bit of attention behind the wheel can go a long way.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“Typically, deer cross similar locations and at similar times; they have a routine, just like we do,” she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
So, when you see that deer crossing sign, it’s not just a guess. Plus, if you’re driving in an area where you’ve seen them before, watch your speed, slow down, and take extra precautions to scan the road.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Johnsen-Nazareth said that deer are out at all hours of the day, but dusk and dawn are the two most common times.\u00a0<\/p>\n
While it might sound cruel, if you do find a deer in your path, don’t swerve.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“Swerving can cause a lot more damage and much more significant injury,” she explained. “So, hitting a guardrail, a tree, or, God forbid, an oncoming car, that can be much more significant in terms of injuries and damage.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
Between 150 and 200 people die each year in our country due to deer-vehicle collisions, mostly from swerving into something. Here in Pennsylvania, 1 out of 64 drivers will hit a deer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
While we’re not in “peak” season just yet, it is on the horizon. November is when hunting season begins, and that gets deer running.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n More from CBS News\n <\/p>\n