Contact: Yeraldin Deavila, Public Information
Officer
Phone: (775) 600-5013
E-mail: ydeavila@doi.nv.gov
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE– March 19, 2021
Consumer Alert: Be Aware of Wildlife on the
Road
Spring migrating season can increase
wildlife-vehicle collision frequency.
Carson City, NV – The Nevada Division of Insurance (Division) is
reminding consumers to be alert when driving to avoid wildlife collisions
during the springtime when certain animals migrate in search of food after the
winter months.
“The increase in active animal population
potentially increases the risk of hitting an animal with a vehicle while
driving in wildlife-prone areas,” said Insurance Commissioner Barbara
Richardson. “Wildlife-vehicle collisions are not only dangerous and potentially
fatal, but they can also have serious financial consequences without adequate
auto insurance coverage.”
Are you covered?
Damage to a
vehicle from a collision with an animal is covered under an auto policy's
optional comprehensive coverage. If you only have collision or liability
coverage, your insurance carrier will not cover damage to your vehicle
resulting from a collision with an animal.
Call your
insurance agent or company if you are not sure if you have comprehensive
coverage or if you would like to purchase this optional coverage.
Driving safely in wildlife-prone areas:
Obey all speed limits, traffic signs and
regulations.
Wear seatbelts and limit distractions while
driving.
Heed animal warning signs. Be alert for the
potential of wildlife, particularly where wildlife warning signs are posted.
Actively scan all sides of the
road as you drive and look for any signs of wildlife.
Slow down or otherwise adjust driving speeds
if necessary to help reduce the chance of impact of an animal collision.
Remember that many accidents are
not due to colliding with wildlife but are the result of driving into another
car or truck in the opposite lane while trying to avoid colliding with the
animal.
Herd animals such as deer and elk travel in
groups. If you see one deer, there is a strong likelihood that others may be
nearby or in other locations along the road.
Use your vehicle’s high beams at night to view
the roadway ahead when there is no oncoming traffic.
What to do you if you hit an animal:
Don’t try to swerve to avoid hitting an animal
because you could lose control and hit a tree or veer into oncoming traffic. If
you swerve and hit another object, your insurance carrier may not cover the
damages to your vehicle. If you do hit an animal:
Stay calm.
If possible, move
your vehicle to a safe place and turn on your hazard lights.
If you can't move
your car, or the animal carcass is blocking traffic, alert the authorities so
they can clear the roadway.
Document the
incident by taking photos of your vehicle damage, the roadway and any injuries
sustained. These accidents often occur at night and in remote areas with
limited cellphone service, so it is important to gather as much information
before leaving the scene. This will also help adjusters review the extent of
the damage.
Check to see if
your vehicle is safe to operate. Check for leaking fluid, damaged lights, loose
parts, or other safety hazards. When in doubt, call a tow truck.
Call your
insurance carrier to file a claim.
The Division encourages everyone to visit its
website at https://doi.nv.gov/Consumers/Automobile-Insurance/ for more information about auto insurance
including a Consumer’s Guide to Auto Insurance Rates that can help when
shopping for auto insurance.
State
agencies, including the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) and Nevada
Department of Transportation (NDOT), have worked together on projects across
the state to help reduce vehicle-animal collisions, improving safety for
drivers on state roadways and migrating wildlife. NDOT has installed
wildlife/livestock fencing on numerous interstates and highways. Agencies have
partnered to strategically install wildlife crossing across the state,
including nine crossings on I-80 and U.S. 93 north of Wells in northeastern
Nevada to reduce potentially dangerous vehicle-animal collisions. Such crossing
structures with fencing can reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions by as much as 95
percent, saving both human injury and property damage that cost American
taxpayers over $8 billion annually.
About the Nevada
Division of Insurance
The State of Nevada Division of Insurance, a
Division of the Nevada Department of Business and Industry, protects the rights
of Nevada consumers and regulates Nevada’s $18 billion insurance industry. The
Division of Insurance has offices in Carson City and Las Vegas. In 2020, the
Division investigated more than 2,300 consumer complaints, answered over 10,000
inquiries, and recovered over $4.5 million on behalf of consumers. For more
information about the Division of Insurance, visit DOI.NV.GOV.
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