GITNUXREPORT 2026

Deer Collision Statistics

Deer collisions are a frequent and costly national safety issue that is steadily increasing.

Min-ji Park

Research Analyst focused on sustainability and consumer trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

Average property damage per deer collision in US is $4,500-$5,000, totaling $1.6B yearly

Statistic 2

2022 national cost of deer crashes exceeded $2 billion in vehicle repairs alone

Statistic 3

Insurance payouts for deer claims averaged $4,773 per incident in 2022

Statistic 4

Annual economic loss from deer-vehicle collisions estimated at $2.4B including indirect costs

Statistic 5

Comprehensive claims for deer strikes cost insurers $1.8B in 2021

Statistic 6

Per capita cost highest in WV at $175 annually due to high incidence

Statistic 7

Repair costs rose 15% from 2019-2022, averaging $5,200 per crash

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10-year total economic impact over $20B in property damage claims

Statistic 9

Fleets incur $500M yearly in deer-related downtime and repairs

Statistic 10

Average claim severity $4,600, with SUVs costing 20% more to fix

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Hidden costs like towing and rental add $1,000 avg per incident

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2023 projected costs $2.1B, up due to inflation in parts/labor

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Rural areas bear 70% of national $1.9B annual tab

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Insurance premium hikes average $200 post-deer claim

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Commercial vehicles lose $300M in productivity from deer strikes yearly

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Total 2022 claims value $8.2B when including deductibles/out-of-pocket

Statistic 17

Cost per mile highest in Appalachia at $0.15/mile driven

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Medical costs from injuries add $500M annually to total

Statistic 19

Preventive measures could save $1B yearly per AAA estimates

Statistic 20

Deductible average $500 eats into 10% of small claims under $5k

Statistic 21

From 1990-2020, deer collision rates doubled from 500k to 1.5M per year

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West Virginia leads with 1 deer collision per 32 residents annually

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Pennsylvania reported 118,000 deer strikes in a recent peak year, highest in nation

Statistic 24

Michigan averages 65,000 deer-vehicle crashes yearly, second highest state

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In Montana, deer collisions occur at rate of 1 per 143 residents, top 5 nationally

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Georgia saw 45,642 deer claims in 2022, ranking high in Southeast

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Wisconsin records over 50,000 deer crashes annually, concentrated in northern counties

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Virginia's deer collision rate is 1 per 284 residents, among top 10 states

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Iowa farmers report 1 deer strike per 100 miles driven in rural areas yearly

Statistic 30

In Minnesota, 25,000+ deer crashes occur yearly, peaking in metro-adjacent counties

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North Carolina had 38,000 deer claims in 2022, up 5% from 2021

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Alabama's rate is 1 collision per 500 residents, high for South

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Ohio reports 40,000+ deer strikes yearly, third highest total

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South Dakota has 1 deer crash per 200 residents, rural leader

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Kentucky saw 32,000 deer incidents in peak year

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Maine's collision density is highest in New England at 1 per 100 miles of road

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Illinois averages 35,000 deer crashes annually

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Arkansas reports 1 per 400 residents

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New York state's deer collisions total 25,000 yearly, urban-rural mix

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Tennessee had 28,000 claims in 2022

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Indiana's rate 1 per 300 residents

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Nebraska sees high per capita at 1 per 250

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Missouri reports 45,000 annually

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Deer collisions cause about 200 human deaths and 29,000 injuries annually in US

Statistic 45

Each year, 10,000-15,000 deer-vehicle crashes result in human hospitalization

Statistic 46

Deer strikes lead to 120-150 fatalities yearly, often from secondary crashes

Statistic 47

Over 1.5 million deer die annually from vehicle collisions in US

Statistic 48

Human injury rate in deer crashes is 2%, but severity high with 5% fatal

Statistic 49

Swerving to avoid deer causes 55% of fatal outcomes in these crashes

Statistic 50

Wildlife losses exceed 2 million animals yearly, 90% deer/mule deer

Statistic 51

Pedestrian risk low but 1% of deer crashes involve them, often severe

Statistic 52

Fawn mortality from vehicles peaks at 30% of roadkill in summer

Statistic 53

Head-on deer impacts injure 4x more than glancing blows

Statistic 54

26,000 human injuries reported yearly from deer collisions per NHTSA

Statistic 55

Doe survival post-collision 70%, bucks 50% due to antler weight

Statistic 56

Secondary collisions (swerve into traffic) cause 60% of deer-related deaths

Statistic 57

Urban deer crashes injure more humans per incident due to traffic density

Statistic 58

Over 20-year span, 4,000+ human fatalities linked to deer avoidance

Statistic 59

Deer population decline in some areas 5-10% attributable to roads

Statistic 60

Helmet use in motorcycles reduces deer crash injury by 40%

Statistic 61

Night vision impairment contributes to 80% of injury crashes

Statistic 62

Vehicle occupants comprise 95% of injuries, drivers 70%

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Wildlife rehab centers treat 50,000+ deer orphans from crashes yearly

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In 2022, the United States recorded approximately 1.73 million deer-vehicle collisions, marking a 3.2% increase from 2021

Statistic 65

From 2017 to 2022, deer-related crashes averaged 1.5 million annually across the US, with a peak of 1.73 million in 2022

Statistic 66

Nationwide, deer collisions account for about 1.5% of all motor vehicle crashes reported to police each year

Statistic 67

In 2023 preliminary data, over 2 million wildlife-vehicle collisions occurred in the US, with deer comprising 89% of them

Statistic 68

Between 2000 and 2020, deer-vehicle collisions caused an average of 200 human fatalities per decade in the US

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US drivers experience a deer collision every 26 seconds on average during peak season, based on 1.5 million annual incidents

Statistic 70

From 2018-2022, total deer strikes reported to insurance totaled 7.3 million nationwide

Statistic 71

Deer collisions represent 14% of all property damage liability claims in the US annually

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In peak years like 2018, deer crashes exceeded 2 million incidents across the continental US

Statistic 73

Nationwide police-reported deer collisions averaged 120,000 per year from 2010-2020

Statistic 74

Insurance claims for deer strikes reached 1.98 million in 2019, the highest in recent history

Statistic 75

From 2001-2021, over 30 million deer-vehicle collisions estimated in the US

Statistic 76

Deer account for 75% of animal-related vehicle crashes in the US, totaling ~1.6 million yearly

Statistic 77

2021 saw 1.59 million deer claims, up 1.5% from prior year average

Statistic 78

US deer collision frequency equates to one every 17 seconds during November

Statistic 79

Over 10-year period 2012-2022, cumulative deer crashes exceeded 15 million

Statistic 80

Police-reported crashes involving deer averaged 150,000 annually 2005-2015

Statistic 81

In 2020, despite pandemic, deer collisions held steady at 1.5 million US-wide

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Deer strikes make up 1 in 69 crashes in rural US areas annually

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November accounts for 29% of all annual deer-vehicle collisions in the US

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Dusk to dawn hours (5pm-7:30am) see 95% of deer collisions, peaking at 6:30pm

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October through December represent 53% of yearly deer strikes

Statistic 86

Saturdays have 14% higher deer collision risk than weekdays

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In breeding season (Oct-Nov), collisions spike 300% over summer lows

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6-9pm window captures 40% of daily deer crashes nationwide

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Fall months (Sep-Dec) account for 60% of claims, per insurance data

Statistic 90

Midnight to 1am sees second highest hourly peak after 6-7pm

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During rut (mid-Nov), daily incidents rise 20% above monthly average

Statistic 92

Spring (Apr-May) secondary peak at 15% of annual total

Statistic 93

Friday evenings have 12% more crashes than midweek

Statistic 94

70% of collisions occur between 6pm and 10pm in peak season

Statistic 95

December 1-15 period sees 10% of yearly total despite shorter month

Statistic 96

Nighttime (after sunset) collisions are 5x daytime rates

Statistic 97

Halloween week spikes 15% above October average

Statistic 98

Weekly peak on weekends: 25% higher than Monday-Thursday

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Hourly data shows 7-8pm as top slot with 18% of daily crashes

Statistic 100

Post-harvest fawning season (Jun-Jul) low at 5% annual

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Dawn peak (5:30-7am) holds 20% of early morning crashes

Statistic 102

Thanksgiving week: 8% of November collisions in one week

1/102

Sources

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With a staggering one deer collision happening every 26 seconds during peak season, the statistics reveal a hidden epidemic on our roads that poses serious risks to drivers, finances, and even human lives.

Key Takeaways

In 2022, the United States recorded approximately 1.73 million deer-vehicle collisions, marking a 3.2% increase from 2021
From 2017 to 2022, deer-related crashes averaged 1.5 million annually across the US, with a peak of 1.73 million in 2022
Nationwide, deer collisions account for about 1.5% of all motor vehicle crashes reported to police each year
From 1990-2020, deer collision rates doubled from 500k to 1.5M per year
West Virginia leads with 1 deer collision per 32 residents annually
Pennsylvania reported 118,000 deer strikes in a recent peak year, highest in nation
November accounts for 29% of all annual deer-vehicle collisions in the US
Dusk to dawn hours (5pm-7:30am) see 95% of deer collisions, peaking at 6:30pm
October through December represent 53% of yearly deer strikes
Average property damage per deer collision in US is $4,500-$5,000, totaling $1.6B yearly
2022 national cost of deer crashes exceeded $2 billion in vehicle repairs alone
Insurance payouts for deer claims averaged $4,773 per incident in 2022
Deer collisions cause about 200 human deaths and 29,000 injuries annually in US
Each year, 10,000-15,000 deer-vehicle crashes result in human hospitalization
Deer strikes lead to 120-150 fatalities yearly, often from secondary crashes

Deer collisions are a frequent and costly national safety issue that is steadily increasing.

Financial Consequences

Average property damage per deer collision in US is $4,500-$5,000, totaling $1.6B yearly
2022 national cost of deer crashes exceeded $2 billion in vehicle repairs alone
Insurance payouts for deer claims averaged $4,773 per incident in 2022
Annual economic loss from deer-vehicle collisions estimated at $2.4B including indirect costs
Comprehensive claims for deer strikes cost insurers $1.8B in 2021
Per capita cost highest in WV at $175 annually due to high incidence
Repair costs rose 15% from 2019-2022, averaging $5,200 per crash
10-year total economic impact over $20B in property damage claims
Fleets incur $500M yearly in deer-related downtime and repairs
Average claim severity $4,600, with SUVs costing 20% more to fix
Hidden costs like towing and rental add $1,000 avg per incident
2023 projected costs $2.1B, up due to inflation in parts/labor
Rural areas bear 70% of national $1.9B annual tab
Insurance premium hikes average $200 post-deer claim
Commercial vehicles lose $300M in productivity from deer strikes yearly
Total 2022 claims value $8.2B when including deductibles/out-of-pocket
Cost per mile highest in Appalachia at $0.15/mile driven
Medical costs from injuries add $500M annually to total
Preventive measures could save $1B yearly per AAA estimates
Deductible average $500 eats into 10% of small claims under $5k

Financial Consequences Interpretation

America is subsidizing a hooved mafia to the tune of billions each year, and your fender is just one of their collection plates.

Geographic Variations

From 1990-2020, deer collision rates doubled from 500k to 1.5M per year
West Virginia leads with 1 deer collision per 32 residents annually
Pennsylvania reported 118,000 deer strikes in a recent peak year, highest in nation
Michigan averages 65,000 deer-vehicle crashes yearly, second highest state
In Montana, deer collisions occur at rate of 1 per 143 residents, top 5 nationally
Georgia saw 45,642 deer claims in 2022, ranking high in Southeast
Wisconsin records over 50,000 deer crashes annually, concentrated in northern counties
Virginia's deer collision rate is 1 per 284 residents, among top 10 states
Iowa farmers report 1 deer strike per 100 miles driven in rural areas yearly
In Minnesota, 25,000+ deer crashes occur yearly, peaking in metro-adjacent counties
North Carolina had 38,000 deer claims in 2022, up 5% from 2021
Alabama's rate is 1 collision per 500 residents, high for South
Ohio reports 40,000+ deer strikes yearly, third highest total
South Dakota has 1 deer crash per 200 residents, rural leader
Kentucky saw 32,000 deer incidents in peak year
Maine's collision density is highest in New England at 1 per 100 miles of road
Illinois averages 35,000 deer crashes annually
Arkansas reports 1 per 400 residents
New York state's deer collisions total 25,000 yearly, urban-rural mix
Tennessee had 28,000 claims in 2022
Indiana's rate 1 per 300 residents
Nebraska sees high per capita at 1 per 250
Missouri reports 45,000 annually

Geographic Variations Interpretation

It appears the deer have overwhelmingly voted to revolt, not by taking office but by taking to the highways, with their grassroots campaign transforming a half-million collisions a year into a 1.5 million-strong national movement that has turned states like West Virginia into their primary battlegrounds.

Human and Wildlife Impacts

Deer collisions cause about 200 human deaths and 29,000 injuries annually in US
Each year, 10,000-15,000 deer-vehicle crashes result in human hospitalization
Deer strikes lead to 120-150 fatalities yearly, often from secondary crashes
Over 1.5 million deer die annually from vehicle collisions in US
Human injury rate in deer crashes is 2%, but severity high with 5% fatal
Swerving to avoid deer causes 55% of fatal outcomes in these crashes
Wildlife losses exceed 2 million animals yearly, 90% deer/mule deer
Pedestrian risk low but 1% of deer crashes involve them, often severe
Fawn mortality from vehicles peaks at 30% of roadkill in summer
Head-on deer impacts injure 4x more than glancing blows
26,000 human injuries reported yearly from deer collisions per NHTSA
Doe survival post-collision 70%, bucks 50% due to antler weight
Secondary collisions (swerve into traffic) cause 60% of deer-related deaths
Urban deer crashes injure more humans per incident due to traffic density
Over 20-year span, 4,000+ human fatalities linked to deer avoidance
Deer population decline in some areas 5-10% attributable to roads
Helmet use in motorcycles reduces deer crash injury by 40%
Night vision impairment contributes to 80% of injury crashes
Vehicle occupants comprise 95% of injuries, drivers 70%
Wildlife rehab centers treat 50,000+ deer orphans from crashes yearly

Human and Wildlife Impacts Interpretation

Despite the grim math of two million deer becoming roadkill each year, our own panicked swerves prove to be the deadliest animal in the collision, turning a two percent chance of injury into a tragically high-stakes gamble for thousands of humans.

Incidence Rates

In 2022, the United States recorded approximately 1.73 million deer-vehicle collisions, marking a 3.2% increase from 2021
From 2017 to 2022, deer-related crashes averaged 1.5 million annually across the US, with a peak of 1.73 million in 2022
Nationwide, deer collisions account for about 1.5% of all motor vehicle crashes reported to police each year
In 2023 preliminary data, over 2 million wildlife-vehicle collisions occurred in the US, with deer comprising 89% of them
Between 2000 and 2020, deer-vehicle collisions caused an average of 200 human fatalities per decade in the US
US drivers experience a deer collision every 26 seconds on average during peak season, based on 1.5 million annual incidents
From 2018-2022, total deer strikes reported to insurance totaled 7.3 million nationwide
Deer collisions represent 14% of all property damage liability claims in the US annually
In peak years like 2018, deer crashes exceeded 2 million incidents across the continental US
Nationwide police-reported deer collisions averaged 120,000 per year from 2010-2020
Insurance claims for deer strikes reached 1.98 million in 2019, the highest in recent history
From 2001-2021, over 30 million deer-vehicle collisions estimated in the US
Deer account for 75% of animal-related vehicle crashes in the US, totaling ~1.6 million yearly
2021 saw 1.59 million deer claims, up 1.5% from prior year average
US deer collision frequency equates to one every 17 seconds during November
Over 10-year period 2012-2022, cumulative deer crashes exceeded 15 million
Police-reported crashes involving deer averaged 150,000 annually 2005-2015
In 2020, despite pandemic, deer collisions held steady at 1.5 million US-wide
Deer strikes make up 1 in 69 crashes in rural US areas annually

Incidence Rates Interpretation

While the deer population remains wildly overconfident about their right of way, American drivers are paying a steep and tragic price for this ongoing interspecies standoff, with millions of collisions and hundreds of lives lost each decade.

Temporal Distributions

November accounts for 29% of all annual deer-vehicle collisions in the US
Dusk to dawn hours (5pm-7:30am) see 95% of deer collisions, peaking at 6:30pm
October through December represent 53% of yearly deer strikes
Saturdays have 14% higher deer collision risk than weekdays
In breeding season (Oct-Nov), collisions spike 300% over summer lows
6-9pm window captures 40% of daily deer crashes nationwide
Fall months (Sep-Dec) account for 60% of claims, per insurance data
Midnight to 1am sees second highest hourly peak after 6-7pm
During rut (mid-Nov), daily incidents rise 20% above monthly average
Spring (Apr-May) secondary peak at 15% of annual total
Friday evenings have 12% more crashes than midweek
70% of collisions occur between 6pm and 10pm in peak season
December 1-15 period sees 10% of yearly total despite shorter month
Nighttime (after sunset) collisions are 5x daytime rates
Halloween week spikes 15% above October average
Weekly peak on weekends: 25% higher than Monday-Thursday
Hourly data shows 7-8pm as top slot with 18% of daily crashes
Post-harvest fawning season (Jun-Jul) low at 5% annual
Dawn peak (5:30-7am) holds 20% of early morning crashes
Thanksgiving week: 8% of November collisions in one week

Temporal Distributions Interpretation

While romance may be dead for most of us in November, the deer population finds it absolutely riveting, leading to a national rush hour of amorous and very solid wildlife from dusk till dawn, especially around dinner time on weekends.

Sources & References

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