Nobody hurt....except the deer that is. It's been a long time since I had a claim so hopefully someone can offer me some tips. It's a F*rd Expedition Eddie Bauer...2003. It's paid off. Kelly's says it's worth $14k. :sad: I'd really like to keep it but I'm afraid it's totalled. The pass side fender is shot,,,,as is the core support, grille, radiator, bumper and the hood has some damage. :(

I plan to call my insurance agent in the morning. I have a police report and I already paid a towing bill of $120. What are my options if totalled? .... can I keep it? ...do I still get paid anything?

Thanks in advance! :thumbsup:

you can keep it if totaled..the insurance will deduct salvage value from your claim check though..the salvage price is dependent on what the adjuster feels the vehicle is worth to the junk yards in comparison to what good parts are left.

I doubt it's totalled... deer take out a lot of parts, but probably only somewhere in the neighborhood of $3500 or so in damage, and nothing structural. They will pay you what it costs to repair, minus the deductable of course. You can do the repairs yourself too and make some money off it too if you want. :cool:

Mark, each state is different, but in most states if the insurance company declares it a t/loss you can still keep the vehicle. The acv(actual cash value) will be based on the retail price of the vehicle, not wholesale. They will deduct salvage, probably 15 - 20% of the acv if you choose to keep it and may notify the state to issue a "salvage title". Hope this helps.

:(:(

Best thing to do is start now recording what similar vehicles are selling for locally in case you need to "prove" what the fair market value of the truck is. Around here, the first offer on a write off is always below the market value. Most folks take it not knowing this. I have always been able to argue the price higher when I had my homework in order. My bodyshop tells me that salvage value is 10% plus/minus depending on if it totally wrecked or what.

I hit deer years back, scared the crap outa me!! I never saw it coming as it was dusk and the little bugger was on an intercept course so I never saw it until the last second.
Good luck!

I hit deer years back, scared the crap outa me!!They get less scary every time you hit one. ;) (I've hit 3)

There sure is a lot of this going around. One of the members in our club hit a deer last month with the 70 LS5 he had spent years restoring. Tore up the side pretty good but im told its able to be fixed.

Deer. The most dangerous animal to humans. They kill more people every year than all others combined.(From motor vehicle accidents.) As seen on TV

Remember: The DEER hit YOU, not YOU hit the DEER. This makes quite a difference around our area if you say it the wrong way. One is your fault, the other is the deer. I know, it's stupid, but it can't hurt to word it the way that works the best for you.

They get less scary every time you hit one. ;) (I've hit 3)

I'll agree - I'm on number 6 so far - I had one that ran dead center into my wifes brand new trailblazer (2,600 miles) and I was STOPPED on the road. :mad:

LK

I'll agree - I'm on number 6 so far - I had one that ran dead center into my wifes brand new trailblazer (2,600 miles) and I was STOPPED on the road. :mad:

LK

yep those standing still targets are the Easiest !! got ya right between the headlights l:)

Bummer! - On the good side, most insurance companies don't consider deer hits as going against you, so your premiums should not be affected.

Did you get the deer dressed out quickly?

The ultimate 'buck stops here'?

So when is the Deer BBQ? I had three deer in my backyard yesterday.. I was wondering if there were going to come barreling into the house.

Remember: The DEER hit YOU, not YOU hit the DEER. This makes quite a difference around our area if you say it the wrong way. One is your fault, the other is the deer. I know, it's stupid, but it can't hurt to word it the way that works the best for you.

Especially if the deer is heavily insured! :p

Remember: The DEER hit YOU, not YOU hit the DEER. This makes quite a difference around our area if you say it the wrong way. One is your fault, the other is the deer. I know, it's stupid, but it can't hurt to word it the way that works the best for you.

Actually that makes a big difference. If the deer hits you, it is comprehensive, not collision. With my insurer, comp is $0 dollars deductible. When the deer hit me, I had NO out of pocket expenses.

I got a free paint job on the Sunbird when I hit; ahemm; when the deer hit me.

I am a lightweight, only 2 deer for me so far.

3 for me too!

Right, you did take it home w/ you, didn't you?

GOOOOOD eatin' by me!

Dam things are as thick as "ticks on a hound dog" in central MO..

pdq67

Thanks for all the input. :)

Based on the damage to the vehicle, I wasn't able to make the claim that the deer hit me. They said it didn't matter anyway, it's not an at fault accident...premiums won't increase. I just picked up a rental car, which will be billed directly to the ins. company. Also, took a good look at the car in the daylight and it seems that the hood is OK....phew! So, I'm confident it won't be a "total". But, $500 deductible applies. :( Hopefully, the collision place can help soak up some of that.

Thanks again.

i've never hit a deer- and if i did, none of my vehicles have anything but liability on them, so i'd be fixing it out of pocket.
but, since i generally hate and distrust insurance companies, if i was in a situation where i actually had a car nice enough to have more than liability insurance on it, my first step would be to get a few quotes from body shops and prices for just parts to fix it myself on my own before even calling the insurance company. my second step would be to call the insurance company only if it actually costs more to fix it than my deductible, and make damn sure that they don't low ball me.

yep those standing still targets are the Easiest !! got ya right between the headlights l:)

That's exactly what happened, I saw it bounce off a car in the oncomming lane so I stopped, It got up and ran wide open right between the headlights. Stupid deer.

LK

Thanks for all the input. :)

Based on the damage to the vehicle, I wasn't able to make the claim that the deer hit me. They said it didn't matter anyway, it's not an at fault accident...premiums won't increase. I just picked up a rental car, which will be billed directly to the ins. company. Also, took a good look at the car in the daylight and it seems that the hood is OK....phew! So, I'm confident it won't be a "total". But, $500 deductible applies. :( Hopefully, the collision place can help soak up some of that.

Thanks again.

Do you have a shop that you've used in the past? Might be a good thing to talk to them to ask what it's really gonna cost.

If the airbags didn't deploy, you have a better chance of it not being totalled.

Doubtful a deer would total out a newer vehicle.

In that case, the biggest thing to keep in mind ... is that Insurance can NOT dictate who fixes your vehicle (they used to). Take it to a reputable shop (typically not the dealer, who will contract it out). Make sure OEM parts are ordered new (not salvage, or repro).

The $500 deductible you will have to eat ... you do have to assume some responsibility. Other than that, the insurance has always been very good to deal with.

Thanks, Neal

Hope it wasn't as bad as this deer hit

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Glad I'm here in Indiana. Doesn't matter if YOU hit the deer, or the Deer hits you. It's Comp either way. However, it is better to whack the deer, then to swerve and go off road to miss it, because, if you miss the deer and hit a pole/tree/fence/whatever, it falls under collision. I've fixed hundreds of deer hits and seen it both ways, most time, you hit the deer when it commits suicide and runs out in front of you. Seen quite a few where they run into the side of a vehicle. Seen one run into the side of a Chevy Venture van, and it shoved the left slider into the seat, and blew the glass into the whole vehicle. Had antler rips on the headrest, glad no one was sitting in the seat.

I have only hit 3 deer
2 Pheasants
5 Racoons
1 Owl
1 dog
2 cats
1 Turtle
But the woman who was in the oncoming lane and hit 2 at the same time right in front of me did damage. I stayed and talked to her as she cried and noticed the headlight and turn signal from my truck on the ground from the deer I had hit 2 months earlier. I got her 2 deer and dropped off sauage and jerky after processing.

Bummer.... my wife hit one a few years back, were loaded with them around here.
I'm always going nice & easy when I'm coming home after dark in the Chevelle's :yes:.... but I guess you won't have to worry about that ....will ya.;) :D