NINTH YEAR: WV LEADS USA WITH DEER COLLISIONS

(09/23/2015)
For the ninth year in a row, West Virginia tops the list of states where an auto insurance claim is most likely to occur for hitting a deer.

The odds, according to State Farm, of a driver in the Mountain State having a claim did improve to 1 in 44, down from 1 in 29 in 2014.

According to State Farm Insurance injuries, vehicle damage and fatalities can all be the result of a collision with a deer.

While a driver's first instinct may be to swerve when approaching a deer on the road, experts say that is not the right decision.

"Be aware that if a deer jumps out in front, yes hold on to that steering wheel, but don't swerve. Unless you can slow down enough, but the main thing is don't swerve," said State Farm.

It is also suggested to always be aware of your surroundings, especially these next few months when it will be the biggest time of the year for deer collisions, the rutting season.