If you drive in Pennsylvania, November is the month to keep your eyes peeled. Deer are in mating season, more active and less predictable, and the days are getting shorter. State Farm ranks November as the single worst month for collisions with large animals, followed by October and December.
Pennsylvania drivers face some of the highest odds in the country. According to State Farm’s latest data (July 2025 through June 2026), Pennsylvania drivers have a 1 in 64 chance of hitting an animal, the fourth highest in the nation and more than double the national odds of 1 in 145. Pennsylvania also had the most estimated animal collision claims of any state, about 141,000.
Here’s how to keep a deer from turning into a repair bill this season.
How to lower your risk
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Be extra alert at dawn and dusk. Deer are most active in the early morning and evening, which lines up with many commutes once the clocks fall back.
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Where there’s one, there are more. Deer usually travel in groups. If one crosses, slow down and expect others to follow.
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Know the hot spots. Watch closely on roads that border woods, farm fields and streams, and anywhere you see deer crossing signs.
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Use your high beams. When there’s no oncoming traffic, high beams help you spot eyes reflecting at the roadside sooner.
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Slow down on back roads. A few extra seconds of reaction time can be the difference between a close call and a crash.
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Give one long horn blast. If a deer freezes in the road, a long blast can encourage it to move. Don’t count on flashing lights or deer whistles, which have little evidence behind them.
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Don’t swerve. It’s instinct, but swerving can send you into oncoming traffic, a tree or a ditch. Brake firmly, hold your lane and stay in control.
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Keep your car ready. Clean headlights, a clear windshield and good brakes all help you see sooner and stop faster.
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Buckle up and put the phone down. Seat belts reduce injuries if a collision happens, and distraction cuts the time you have to react.
Two coverage facts that surprise drivers
Damage from hitting a deer is typically covered under comprehensive coverage. But two details catch many drivers off guard.
Swerving can change your claim. If you swerve to miss the deer and hit a guardrail, tree or another car instead, that’s usually a collision claim, not comprehensive. Collision deductibles are often higher, which is one more reason to brake and hold your lane.
In Pennsylvania, a deer strike shouldn’t raise your rate. State law generally treats a collision with a deer as a not-at-fault accident, so insurers can’t add a surcharge to your premium because of it.
Already hit a deer?
If it happens, stay calm and focus on safety first. Our post What to Do If You Hit a Deer walks you through each step, from pulling over safely to filing your claim.
Make sure you’re covered before you hit the road
You can’t control when a deer darts into the road, but you can make sure you’re prepared when it does. The personal lines team at Gallen Insurance can review your auto policy and confirm you have the right coverage for deer season and beyond.
