The Ohio Insurance Institute is warning residents to beware of colliding with deer, as the state gears up for deer-breeding season and saw a 2.3 precent increasee in deer-vehicle crashes in 2009.
According to the Ohio Department of Public Safety, there were 25,146 deer-vehicle crashes in 2009, up from the 24,590 crashes reported in 2008, and 26,304 in 2007). There were four fatalities and 1,004 injuries caused by these crashes in Ohio last year. This compares to six fatalities and 979 injuries reported in 2008 (10 fatalities and 1,022 injuries in 2007).
The five counties with the highest number of reported deer-vehicle crashes in 2009 were Richland (721), Stark (655), Hamilton (614), Summit (575) and Lorain (547). Compared to 2008 figures, Summit county showed a slight decrease while the others reported increases in such collisions in 2009
Counties reporting the fewest crashes in 2009 included Monroe (14), Carroll (47), Harrison (51), Meigs (54) and Morgan (67) counties. Of these, Meigs county showed an increase while the others experienced double-digit decreases in 2009.
OII said most deer-vehicle crashes occur October through January during deer-breeding season. Last November there were 6,043 crashes – the highest number for any month. According to data from the ODPS and Ohio Department of Natural Resource, peak hours for these crashes were 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. followed by 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. In 2009, more than 55 percent of these crashes occurred between 5 p.m. and 1 a.m., while 22 percent occurred early morning between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m.
State wildlife officials estimate Ohio’s current deer population at 750,000, up from its 2009 estimate of 650,000. Ohio deer densities tend to be heavier in the east-central and southeast parts of the state, ODNR said.
Vehicle damage varies dramatically depending on the type of vehicle, its speed upon impact and area of the vehicle that sustains the hit. According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), vehicle damage from deer collisions averages about $3,000 per claim nationally. Crashes that include bodily injury could increase costs significantly.
Using its claims data, State Farm predicts the likelihood of an Ohio deer-vehicle collision at 1 in 121 – ranked 15th in the U.S. (up from 1 in 161 in 2009). This compares to the U.S. likelihood of 1 in 182.5.
Source: OII
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