Animals often act erratically, especially if they are frightened or startled. With raccoon species populating both urban and rural landscapes, there is the possibility that you will encounter a raccoon while driving in your car. Should a raccoon dart out of the tall grass or from between garbage cans and into the road in front of your car, it's important that you know what steps to take in the event you hit the animal. Taking immediate action will help to reduce your stress and ensure you handle your insurance claim quickly and correctly.
1. Evaluate your coverage.
The first thing you need to do when deciding if you will file a claim for damages your vehicle suffers while running over a raccoon is evaluate your policy. In order to be eligible for coverage, you will need to have a comprehensive coverage policy on your vehicle.
Comprehensive policies essentially cover damages caused by moving objects, like animals. A comprehensive policy can be a bit costlier than limited liability coverage, so drivers with low-value vehicles might forego comprehensive coverage. Evaluate your policy carefully to determine if you can file an insurance claim for hitting a raccoon.
2. Get your car checked by a mechanic.
A raccoon might seem like a small and harmless critter, but these wild animals can cause real damage to your vehicle during a collision. A lot of the damage caused by raccoon collisions affects the undercarriage of a vehicle, which might make the damage difficult to spot.
Your vehicle's power steering system, chassis, and even wheel alignment could all be negatively affected by a raccoon run-in. This damage could result in serious performance issues or the need for more costly repairs in the future. Even if you don't see any signs of visible physical damage after hitting a raccoon, have your vehicle evaluated by a reputable mechanic to determine if any repairs that might be covered by your insurance policy are needed.
3. Report the incident right away.
You shouldn't wait to report your accident after you have hit a raccoon. Notifying your insurance agent immediately will help you get the ball rolling when it comes to filing a claim.
You will also be able to establish a clear incident date, eliminating the likelihood that your auto insurance company will try to attribute the damage sustained during a raccoon hit to another non-covered driving incident. Your insurance agent will be able to help you prepare your claim and submit the required paperwork to your insurance company for processing.
Share5 February 2018
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