State still ranks as ‘medium-risk’
Oct. 4, 2011 - The chances of you hitting a deer may be down across the United States, but Missouri drivers are still at a higher risk compared to most other states.
Using its claims data, State Farm®, the nation's leading auto insurer, estimates a little more than 1 million collisions between deer and vehicles occurred in the U.S. between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011. That's 9 percent less than three years ago and 7 percent below last year.
The chances of you striking a deer in Missouri in the next 12 months are 1 in 150, which puts the Show-Me State at No. 19 in the country. The national average is 1 in 193. Of the eight states that border Missouri, only three of them are at a higher-risk for a deer-vehicle collision (Nebraska, Iowa, and Arkansas).
The numbers represent a 10 percent drop for such accidents in Missouri, where an estimated 28,096 deer-vehicle collisions occurred between July 1, 2010, and June 30, 2011. While it's difficult to pinpoint the exact reason, some factors may contribute to the decline, including increased awareness from public campaigns and the media.
State Farm's data show that November, the heart of the deer migration and mating season, is the month during which deer-vehicle encounters are most likely. These mishaps are three times more likely to occur on a day in November than they are on any day between Feb. 1 and Aug. 31. October is the second most likely month for a crash involving a deer and a vehicle, and December is third.
The average property damage cost of these incidents during the final half of 2010 and the first half of 2011 was $3,171, up 2.2 percent from the year before.
Here are tips on how to reduce the odds of your vehicle becoming part of the story we tell next year:
Jim Camoriano, State Farm Corporate Public Affairs, (573) 499-2452.
State Farm is the largest provider of car insurance in the U.S. and is a leading insurer in Canada. In addition to providing auto insurance quotes, 17,800 agents and more than 65,000 employees serve 81 million policies and accounts - more than 79 million auto, home, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and nearly 2 million bank accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is also available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 37 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com or in Canada http://www.statefarm.ca.
