Picture this: every single year, the roads of America transform into a collision course with nearly 1.5 million deer, a hidden epidemic causing billions in damage and claiming hundreds of lives.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the United States recorded approximately 1.59 million deer-vehicle collisions, marking a 2.3% increase from the previous year.
- State Farm reported over 2.7 million insurance claims related to deer collisions from 2017 to 2021 across the US.
- Annually, deer-vehicle crashes account for about 200 fatalities and 29,000 injuries in the US according to IIHS data averaged over 2011-2020.
- West Virginia's deer crash rate rose 15% from 2020 to 2022 to 1 in 56 drivers.
- Michigan ranks #1 for deer collision risk with 1 in 48 chance per driver annually.
- Pennsylvania's deer crash hotspots include Luzerne County with 2,500 incidents in 2022.
- October accounts for 25% of annual deer-vehicle collisions nationwide.
- From 4-6 PM in November, deer crash risk peaks at 5x daytime average.
- Dawn and dusk hours (5-7 AM/PM) see 44% of all deer collisions.
- Average cost of deer collision repair in US is $4,500 in 2022 dollars.
- Nationwide, deer crashes cost $1.6 billion in vehicle damage yearly.
- Insurance payouts for deer claims averaged $8,500 per comprehensive claim 2021.
- US deer crashes cause 200 human fatalities every 10 years on average.
- Annually, 29,000 injuries from deer collisions requiring medical attention.
- 10% of deer crashes result in driver injury nationwide.
Deer crashes cause widespread damage and injuries across America every year.
Collision Frequency
- In 2022, the United States recorded approximately 1.59 million deer-vehicle collisions, marking a 2.3% increase from the previous year.
- State Farm reported over 2.7 million insurance claims related to deer collisions from 2017 to 2021 across the US.
- Annually, deer-vehicle crashes account for about 200 fatalities and 29,000 injuries in the US according to IIHS data averaged over 2011-2020.
- From 2000 to 2019, the US saw an average of 1.5 million deer-vehicle collisions per year, per NHTSA estimates.
- In 2021, Michigan led with over 65,000 reported deer crashes, the highest in the nation.
- Pennsylvania reported 64,088 deer-vehicle collisions in 2022 alone.
- West Virginia had a deer collision rate of 1 in 57 residents in 2022, the highest per capita.
- The average annual number of deer strikes in the US from 2013-2022 was 1.48 million.
- In 2020, despite COVID lockdowns, deer crashes dropped only 10% to about 1.3 million nationwide.
- Ohio recorded 42,000 deer-vehicle incidents in 2021.
- From 2016-2020, Texas saw over 50,000 deer crashes cumulatively.
- Indiana reported 28,000 deer strikes in 2022.
- The US average deer collision probability is 1 in 69 drivers per year over 2000-2022.
- In 2019, 1.53 million wildlife crashes occurred, 89% involving deer.
- Georgia had 35,188 deer crashes from Oct 2021-Sep 2022.
- Average yearly deer crashes in Wisconsin: 25,000 from 2015-2022.
- South Carolina reported 15,000 deer strikes in 2021.
- Kentucky averaged 20,500 deer crashes annually 2018-2022.
- Minnesota logged 12,000 deer collisions in 2022.
- Alabama saw 8,500 deer-vehicle crashes in 2021.
- Missouri reported 18,000 deer strikes in fall 2022.
- Iowa had 14,000 deer crashes in 2021-2022 season.
- Virginia recorded 16,500 deer incidents in 2022.
- Illinois averaged 22,000 deer crashes per year 2017-2021.
- Maine saw 7,500 deer strikes in 2022.
- New York reported 12,000 deer crashes in 2021.
- North Carolina had 25,000 deer-vehicle collisions in 2022.
- Tennessee logged 10,000 deer strikes annually average 2019-2022.
- Arkansas reported 9,000 deer crashes in 2021.
- Montana had 4,500 deer collisions in 2022.
Collision Frequency Interpretation
While America's deer population is clearly winning its high-stakes game of highway Frogger, the sobering reality is that we're averaging a serious, vehicle-altering encounter with one every few seconds, turning our roads into a perilous and costly proving ground for both automotive safety and ungulate survival.
Economic Costs
- Average cost of deer collision repair in US is $4,500 in 2022 dollars.
- Nationwide, deer crashes cost $1.6 billion in vehicle damage yearly.
- Insurance payouts for deer claims averaged $8,500 per comprehensive claim 2021.
- State Farm paid $500 million in deer claims in 2022.
- Average towing cost post-deer crash: $750 nationwide.
- Michigan deer crash property damage totals $300 million/year.
- Pennsylvania annual economic loss from deer crashes: $250 million.
- Farmer crop losses from roadkill deer valued at $50 million US-wide.
- Texas deer crash claims average $5,200 per incident.
- National fleet vehicle deer damage costs $100 million annually.
- Wisconsin insurance premiums rise $50/year due to deer risk.
- Georgia total deer crash costs: $150 million in 2022.
- Ohio property damage from deer: $200 million yearly.
- Rental car replacement costs post-deer crash: $1,200 average.
- Iowa annual deer crash economic impact: $80 million.
- Missouri claims average $4,800 per deer collision.
- Kentucky total vehicle repair costs: $120 million/year.
- Minnesota driver out-of-pocket average: $1,500 post-crash.
- Alabama statewide deer damage costs $60 million annually.
- Virginia insurance claims total $90 million in 2022.
- Illinois average claim payout: $4,200 for deer damage.
- Maine economic loss per crash: $5,000 average.
- New York deer crashes cost drivers $70 million yearly.
- North Carolina total costs exceed $140 million annually.
- Tennessee repair averages $4,900 per deer incident.
- Arkansas claims volume costs $40 million yearly.
Economic Costs Interpretation
Statistically speaking, the American driver's most elegant and expensive argument against a deer begins at $4,500 and collectively escalates into a multi-billion dollar national grievance, proving that nature's most frequent automotive critic is both uninsured and spectacularly unforgiving.
Geographic Distribution
- West Virginia's deer crash rate rose 15% from 2020 to 2022 to 1 in 56 drivers.
- Michigan ranks #1 for deer collision risk with 1 in 48 chance per driver annually.
- Pennsylvania's deer crash hotspots include Luzerne County with 2,500 incidents in 2022.
- Midwest states account for 60% of US deer collisions due to high deer density.
- In Texas, East Texas counties like Polk had 1,200 deer crashes in 2021.
- Rural roads see 85% of deer collisions compared to 15% urban.
- Appalachian states have 2x higher deer crash rates than coastal areas.
- Wisconsin's deer collisions are concentrated in northern counties, averaging 3,000/year.
- Georgia's collision tracker shows I-75 corridor as highest with 5,000 crashes 2021-2022.
- In Ohio, rural Route 7 saw 1,500 deer strikes in 2021.
- Montana's Glacier County has 1 crash per 10 miles of road annually.
- Virginia's Shenandoah Valley reports 40% of state's deer crashes.
- Iowa's crash density highest in eastern counties at 200 per 100 miles.
- Alabama's Black Belt region accounts for 50% of deer crashes.
- Missouri's Ozarks have 2,500 crashes yearly on rural highways.
- South Dakota rural interstates see 1 deer crash per 50 miles driven.
- Kentucky's eastern mountains have 3x crash rate of western plains.
- Minnesota's Iron Range region reports 1,200 deer strikes annually.
- North Carolina's Piedmont area sees 60% of statewide crashes.
- Illinois farm belt counties like McLean had 1,000 crashes in 2021.
- Maine's coastal counties have lower rates than inland at 1/3.
- New York's Adirondacks account for 30% of state deer crashes.
- Tennessee's Cumberland Plateau has highest density at 150/100k miles.
- Arkansas Delta region reports 4,000 deer crashes yearly.
- California's deer crashes mostly in Sierra Nevada foothills, 500/year.
Geographic Distribution Interpretation
The national data reveals that your odds of a costly and dangerous encounter with a deer are essentially a rural lottery where the Midwest holds most of the tickets, the Appalachian Mountains are a close second, and your local hotspot is likely that dark, winding county road just outside of town.
Human Impact
- US deer crashes cause 200 human fatalities every 10 years on average.
- Annually, 29,000 injuries from deer collisions requiring medical attention.
- 10% of deer crashes result in driver injury nationwide.
- Fatalities peak in WV with 1.5 per 100 crashes.
- Michigan reports 500 injuries from deer crashes yearly.
- Pennsylvania averages 5 fatalities and 3,000 injuries annually.
- Head-on swerves in deer crashes cause 60% of fatalities.
- Children under 15 have 20% higher injury rate in deer crashes.
- Ohio saw 4 fatalities from deer crashes in 2021.
- Rural road deer crashes lead to 90% of injuries.
- Texas reports 300 injuries yearly from deer strikes.
- Whiplash accounts for 40% of deer crash injuries.
- Wisconsin 200 injuries and 2 fatalities average per year.
- Georgia had 1,500 injuries in 2022 deer crashes.
- Nighttime deer crashes double injury severity.
- Iowa averages 400 injuries annually.
- Missouri 3 fatalities per year from deer collisions.
- Kentucky reports 250 injuries in 2022.
- Minnesota injury rate: 1 per 30 crashes.
- Alabama 150 injuries yearly average.
- Virginia 1 fatality every 2 years from deer.
- Illinois 600 injuries reported in 2021.
- Maine averages 200 injuries per deer season.
- New York 300 injuries and 1 fatality yearly.
- North Carolina 800 injuries from deer crashes 2022.
- Tennessee 2 fatalities in 2021 deer crashes.
- Arkansas injury claims: 100 per year.
Human Impact Interpretation
Consider this your annual reminder that the humble deer, while seemingly graceful, orchestrates a remarkably efficient and dangerous highway ballet, where a panicked swerve is often the deadliest move and the bill comes in at roughly 200 lives and over a quarter-million injuries per decade.
Seasonal Patterns
- October accounts for 25% of annual deer-vehicle collisions nationwide.
- From 4-6 PM in November, deer crash risk peaks at 5x daytime average.
- Dawn and dusk hours (5-7 AM/PM) see 44% of all deer collisions.
- Fall months (Oct-Nov) represent 50% of yearly deer strikes in US.
- In Michigan, 55% of deer crashes occur Oct 15-Nov 30.
- Pennsylvania peaks at 40% crashes in November alone.
- Nighttime (8 PM-5 AM) deer collisions are 3x more likely than daytime.
- Spring (April-May) sees 20% of annual crashes due to fawns.
- Wisconsin reports 60% of deer crashes between Sept-Dec.
- Georgia's peak is October with 30% of crashes.
- Ohio's November crash rate is 4x summer average.
- Dawn crashes in fall increase 300% over summer.
- Iowa sees 45% crashes in first 2 weeks of November.
- Missouri fall peak: 70% Oct-Nov-Dec combined.
- Kentucky evening hours (5-8 PM) account for 35% yearly.
- Minnesota's crash volume triples from Sept to Oct.
- Alabama peaks late Oct with 25% monthly total.
- Virginia Nov 1-15: 20% of annual crashes.
- Illinois dusk crashes rise 400% in rut season.
- Maine's October-November: 65% of yearly total.
- New York's peak week: Nov 10-16 with 10% annual.
- North Carolina fall: 55% crashes Oct-Dec.
- Tennessee Nov full moon nights see 15% spike.
- Arkansas hunting season start: 30% crash increase.
Seasonal Patterns Interpretation
In a staggeringly risky seasonal symphony, autumn essentially hijacks our roadways as deer, driven by their primeval mating rituals and our relentless encroachment, become unyielding four-legged projectiles from dusk till dawn, turning every commute into an impromptu game of high-stakes chicken.
Sources & References
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