If you have a new daily commute due to a change in residence or job location and have noticed more wildlife along your new route, you should take a close look at your car insurance policy coverage. Since you're noticing more wildlife along your new daily commute, there's a higher risk of vehicle damage from wildlife-related motor vehicle accidents. Here's what you need to know to ensure that you have the right coverage. 

Wildlife Accidents & Comprehensive Coverage

Accidents with wildlife can cause extensive damage, such as when you hit a deer head-on while traveling at high speeds on a highway or when a black bear runs into your vehicle as you're driving on a winding mountain road. These types of accidents with wildlife are covered under comprehensive coverage. Therefore, if you only have collision coverage, be sure to include comprehensive coverage in your policy.

Comprehensive coverage is generally not mandatory when you own your vehicle outright and don't have any lien holders with rights to your vehicle, such as a car loan bank. Without comprehensive coverage, if you hit a deer or other wildlife and there's damage to your car, you'll have to pay the repair costs out of your pocket in full or don't make any repairs at all. With comprehensive coverage, you'll be able to file an insurance claim. 

Repair Costs & Deductibles

The repair costs can be alarmingly high if you hit a large animal head-on due to the engine compartment being impacted. If you brake hard just before or at the moment of impact, the front of your vehicle will lower, which can cause the animal to be thrust upwards and onto the hood of your vehicle and, quite possibly, into your windshield. Damage to this extent will likely result in a complete loss and the insurance company will total your vehicle. 

If the vehicle is not totaled, you'll need to pay the full amount of your comprehensive deductible while the insurance company covers the rest of the repair costs. Therefore, if you are like nearly half of the people in the United States and wouldn't be able to cover an unexpected cost of $500, you'll want to take a close look at lowering the deductible so it's more affordable or start setting aside an emergency fund specifically to cover a deductible, just in case you need it now that it seems that you have a higher risk of hitting wildlife on your new daily commute.

Contact an insurance agent to learn more.