Odds Of A Deer Collision Are 1 In 94

Oct. 21--Oh, deer.

Virginia has moved up in the yearly deer-collision rankings -- to No. 11 from No. 13.

The chances you'll hit a deer while driving the next year are 1 in 94, according to new numbers from State Farm Insurance.

Turns out that this is deer-mating season -- the months of October, November and December.

So what?

Mating season more than doubles the likelihood of a collision with a large animal, the Illinois-based insurer says.

Hitting a deer can be expensive and dangerous and cause significant injuries.

The national cost-per-claim average is up a little bit -- to $4,179, from $3,995 in 2015-2016. The months you're most likely to collide with a deer are, in order: November, October and December.

State Farm encourages motorists to slow down after dusk -- deer are up-all-night types, most active between sundown and sunrise.

Drivers are advised to remember that deer generally travel in herds. If you see one, chances are others are close by.

On the road at night, it's smart to keep high-beams on as much as possible and to be aware of posted deer-crossing signs.

West Virginia, for the 11th year in a row, wins top honors for states with the best odds of colliding with a deer: 1 in 43. Hawaii, also for the 11th straight year, is last on the list. The odds there are 1 in 6,823.

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