Last year in the US, about 1.59 million deer vehicle collisions were recorded, and even a 2.3% year over year rise still translates to real risk you feel on rural roads and commutes. Beyond the crashes, IIHS data averages roughly 29,000 deer collision injuries and 200 fatalities each year, with the biggest swings often tied to fall timing and nighttime driving. Let’s look at where the hotspots are, how often deer strikes turn into damage and medical bills, and what patterns keep repeating.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
In 2022, about 1.59 million US deer vehicle collisions rose slightly, causing hundreds of deaths and tens of thousands of injuries.
Related reading
01 · Category
Collision Frequency30 stats
01
In 2022, the United States recorded approximately 1.59 million deer-vehicle collisions, marking a 2.3% increase from the previous year.
02
State Farm reported over 2.7 million insurance claims related to deer collisions from 2017 to 2021 across the US.
03
Annually, deer-vehicle crashes account for about 200 fatalities and 29,000 injuries in the US according to IIHS data averaged over 2011-2020.
04
From 2000 to 2019, the US saw an average of 1.5 million deer-vehicle collisions per year, per NHTSA estimates.
05
In 2021, Michigan led with over 65,000 reported deer crashes, the highest in the nation.
06
Pennsylvania reported 64,088 deer-vehicle collisions in 2022 alone.
07
West Virginia had a deer collision rate of 1 in 57 residents in 2022, the highest per capita.
08
The average annual number of deer strikes in the US from 2013-2022 was 1.48 million.
09
In 2020, despite COVID lockdowns, deer crashes dropped only 10% to about 1.3 million nationwide.
10
Ohio recorded 42,000 deer-vehicle incidents in 2021.
11
From 2016-2020, Texas saw over 50,000 deer crashes cumulatively.
12
Indiana reported 28,000 deer strikes in 2022.
13
The US average deer collision probability is 1 in 69 drivers per year over 2000-2022.
14
In 2019, 1.53 million wildlife crashes occurred, 89% involving deer.
15
Georgia had 35,188 deer crashes from Oct 2021-Sep 2022.
16
Average yearly deer crashes in Wisconsin: 25,000 from 2015-2022.
17
South Carolina reported 15,000 deer strikes in 2021.
18
Kentucky averaged 20,500 deer crashes annually 2018-2022.
19
Minnesota logged 12,000 deer collisions in 2022.
20
Alabama saw 8,500 deer-vehicle crashes in 2021.
21
Missouri reported 18,000 deer strikes in fall 2022.
22
Iowa had 14,000 deer crashes in 2021-2022 season.
23
Virginia recorded 16,500 deer incidents in 2022.
24
Illinois averaged 22,000 deer crashes per year 2017-2021.
25
Maine saw 7,500 deer strikes in 2022.
26
New York reported 12,000 deer crashes in 2021.
27
North Carolina had 25,000 deer-vehicle collisions in 2022.
28
Tennessee logged 10,000 deer strikes annually average 2019-2022.
29
Arkansas reported 9,000 deer crashes in 2021.
30
Montana had 4,500 deer collisions in 2022.
Interpretation
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.
02 · Category
Economic Costs26 stats
01
Average cost of deer collision repair in US is $4,500in 2022 dollars.
02
Nationwide, deer crashes cost $1.6 billion in vehicle damage yearly.
03
Insurance payouts for deer claims averaged $8,500per comprehensive claim 2021.
04
State Farm paid $500 million in deer claims in 2022.
05
Average towing cost post-deer crash: $750nationwide.
06
Michigan deer crash property damage totals $300 million/year.
07
Pennsylvania annual economic loss from deer crashes: $250 million.
08
Farmer crop losses from roadkill deer valued at $50 million US-wide.
09
Texas deer crash claims average $5,200per incident.
10
National fleet vehicle deer damage costs $100 million annually.
11
Wisconsin insurance premiums rise $50/year due to deer risk.
12
Georgia total deer crash costs: $150 million in 2022.
13
Ohio property damage from deer: $200 million yearly.
14
Rental car replacement costs post-deer crash: $1,200average.
15
Iowa annual deer crash economic impact: $80 million.
16
Missouri claims average $4,800per deer collision.
17
Kentucky total vehicle repair costs: $120 million/year.
18
Minnesota driver out-of-pocket average: $1,500post-crash.
19
Alabama statewide deer damage costs $60 million annually.
20
Virginia insurance claims total $90 million in 2022.
21
Illinois average claim payout: $4,200for deer damage.
22
Maine economic loss per crash: $5,000average.
23
New York deer crashes cost drivers $70 million yearly.
24
North Carolina total costs exceed $140 million annually.
25
Tennessee repair averages $4,900per deer incident.
26
Arkansas claims volume costs $40 million yearly.
Interpretation
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.
03 · Category
Geographic Distribution25 stats
01
West Virginia's deer crash rate rose 15% from 2020 to 2022 to 1 in 56 drivers.
02
Michigan ranks #1 for deer collision risk with 1 in 48 chance per driver annually.
03
Pennsylvania's deer crash hotspots include Luzerne County with 2,500 incidents in 2022.
04
Midwest states account for 60% of US deer collisions due to high deer density.
05
In Texas, East Texas counties like Polk had 1,200 deer crashes in 2021.
06
Rural roads see 85% of deer collisions compared to 15% urban.
07
Appalachian states have 2x higher deer crash rates than coastal areas.
08
Wisconsin's deer collisions are concentrated in northern counties, averaging 3,000/year.
09
Georgia's collision tracker shows I-75 corridor as highest with 5,000 crashes 2021-2022.
10
In Ohio, rural Route 7 saw 1,500 deer strikes in 2021.
11
Montana's Glacier County has 1 crash per 10 miles of road annually.
12
Virginia's Shenandoah Valley reports 40% of state's deer crashes.
13
Iowa's crash density highest in eastern counties at 200 per 100 miles.
14
Alabama's Black Belt region accounts for 50% of deer crashes.
15
Missouri's Ozarks have 2,500 crashes yearly on rural highways.
16
South Dakota rural interstates see 1 deer crash per 50 miles driven.
17
Kentucky's eastern mountains have 3x crash rate of western plains.
18
Minnesota's Iron Range region reports 1,200 deer strikes annually.
19
North Carolina's Piedmont area sees 60% of statewide crashes.
20
Illinois farm belt counties like McLean had 1,000 crashes in 2021.
21
Maine's coastal counties have lower rates than inland at 1/3.
22
New York's Adirondacks account for 30% of state deer crashes.
23
Tennessee's Cumberland Plateau has highest density at 150/100k miles.
24
Arkansas Delta region reports 4,000 deer crashes yearly.
25
California's deer crashes mostly in Sierra Nevada foothills, 500/year.
Interpretation
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.
More related reading
04 · Category
Human Impact27 stats
01
US deer crashes cause 200 human fatalities every 10 years on average.
02
Annually, 29,000 injuries from deer collisions requiring medical attention.
03
10% of deer crashes result in driver injury nationwide.
04
Fatalities peak in WV with 1.5 per 100 crashes.
05
Michigan reports 500 injuries from deer crashes yearly.
06
Pennsylvania averages 5 fatalities and 3,000 injuries annually.
07
Head-on swerves in deer crashes cause 60% of fatalities.
08
Children under 15 have 20% higher injury rate in deer crashes.
09
Ohio saw 4 fatalities from deer crashes in 2021.
10
Rural road deer crashes lead to 90% of injuries.
11
Texas reports 300 injuries yearly from deer strikes.
12
Whiplash accounts for 40% of deer crash injuries.
13
Wisconsin 200 injuries and 2 fatalities average per year.
14
Georgia had 1,500 injuries in 2022 deer crashes.
15
Nighttime deer crashes double injury severity.
16
Iowa averages 400 injuries annually.
17
Missouri 3 fatalities per year from deer collisions.
18
Kentucky reports 250 injuries in 2022.
19
Minnesota injury rate: 1 per 30 crashes.
20
Alabama 150 injuries yearly average.
21
Virginia 1 fatality every 2 years from deer.
22
Illinois 600 injuries reported in 2021.
23
Maine averages 200 injuries per deer season.
24
New York 300 injuries and 1 fatality yearly.
25
North Carolina 800 injuries from deer crashes 2022.
26
Tennessee 2 fatalities in 2021 deer crashes.
27
Arkansas injury claims: 100 per year.
Interpretation
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.
05 · Category
Seasonal Patterns24 stats
01
October accounts for 25% of annual deer-vehicle collisions nationwide.
02
From 4-6 PM in November, deer crash risk peaks at 5x daytime average.
03
Dawn and dusk hours (5-7 AM/PM) see 44% of all deer collisions.
04
Fall months (Oct-Nov) represent 50% of yearly deer strikes in US.
05
In Michigan, 55% of deer crashes occur Oct 15-Nov 30.
06
Pennsylvania peaks at 40% crashes in November alone.
07
Nighttime (8 PM-5 AM) deer collisions are 3x more likely than daytime.
08
Spring (April-May) sees 20% of annual crashes due to fawns.
09
Wisconsin reports 60% of deer crashes between Sept-Dec.
10
Georgia's peak is October with 30% of crashes.
11
Ohio's November crash rate is 4x summer average.
12
Dawn crashes in fall increase 300% over summer.
13
Iowa sees 45% crashes in first 2 weeks of November.
14
Missouri fall peak: 70% Oct-Nov-Dec combined.
15
Kentucky evening hours (5-8 PM) account for 35% yearly.
16
Minnesota's crash volume triples from Sept to Oct.
17
Alabama peaks late Oct with 25% monthly total.
18
Virginia Nov 1-15: 20% of annual crashes.
19
Illinois dusk crashes rise 400% in rut season.
20
Maine's October-November: 65% of yearly total.
21
New York's peak week: Nov 10-16 with 10% annual.
22
North Carolina fall: 55% crashes Oct-Dec.
23
Tennessee Nov full moon nights see 15% spike.
24
Arkansas hunting season start: 30% crash increase.
Interpretation
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.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Priya Chandrasekaran. (2026, February 13). Deer Car Accidents Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/deer-car-accidents-statistics
MLA
Priya Chandrasekaran. "Deer Car Accidents Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/deer-car-accidents-statistics.
Chicago
Priya Chandrasekaran. 2026. "Deer Car Accidents Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/deer-car-accidents-statistics.
Sources & references
34 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level