More Cars are Hitting Deer in U.S.: State-by-State Rankings

HOWELL, NJ — A growing number of drivers will find a deer in their headlights this fall. Wrecks involving large animals have increased across a majority of the country, according to new nationwide data released by State Farm.

After hitting a deer on a New Jersey roadway last month, a woman struggled with the animal as it tried to climb into her SUV — all caught on video by the patrol car driving behind her. Instead of extraordinary dashcam footage, these cases typically end with an animal carcass and heavy damage to a vehicle.

That damage costs a lot of money, and that's likely the reason insurance companies blitz the airwaves with warnings about deer strikes this time of year. The likelihood of colliding with a large animal more than doubles during the months of October, November and December, according to Chris Mullen, State Farm's director of technology research.

• WATCH: Deer Tries To Climb Into Howell Woman's Truck

"Drivers should be engaged, alert and on the lookout at all times, because you never know when you may need to react to a deer or any other obstacle that may suddenly be in your path," Mullen said in a statement.

These wrecks can sometime prove fatal for drivers and passengers in the vehicle as well. Deaths from animal strikes peaked at 223 in 2007 but have declined in recent years. There were 166 deaths in 2014, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

An estimated one in every 164 U.S. drivers filed a claim after striking a deer, elk or moose between July 1, 2015 and June 30, 2016 — an increase of 3 percent over the previous 12-month period. According to State Farm, the national average cost per claim for 2015-16 was $3,995, down just slightly from $4,135.

• More: How to Not Hit a Deer With Your Car

West Virginia led the nation in deer strikes, again, with an average of one claim for every 41 drivers. Hawaii doesn't see many big-animal strikes, with only one in every 18,955 drivers hitting a deer.

Only 11 states saw a decrease in deer strikes, according to State Farm's numbers. The biggest increase for the 2015-16 period: Washington, D.C., saw deer strikes jump 50 percent.

Here's the state rankings for where you're more likely to find a large animal in your headlights this season:

1. West Virginia, 1 in 41

2. Montana, 1 in 58

3. Pennsylvania, 1 in 67

4. Iowa, 1 in 68

5. South Dakota, 1 in 70

6. Wisconsin, 1 in 77

7. Minnesota, 1 in 80

8. Michigan, 1 in 85

8. Wyoming, 1 in 85

10. Mississippi, 1 in 87

11. North Dakota, 1 in 91

12. South Carolina, 1 in 93

13. Virginia, 1 in 94

14. Arkansas, 1 in 96

15. Kentucky, 1 in 103

16. North Carolina, 1 in 115

17. Missouri, 1 in 117

18. Kansas, 1 in 125

19. Georgia, 1 in 126

19. Ohio, 1 in 126

21. Nebraska, 1 in 132

22. Alabama, 1 in 135

23. Indiana, 1 in 136

24. Maine, 1 in 138

25. Maryland, 1 in 139

26. Idaho, 1 in 147

26. Tennessee, 1 in 147

28. Delaware, 1 in 148

29. Utah, 1 in 150

30. New York, 1 in 161

31. Vermont, 1 in 175

32. Illinois, 1 in 192

33. Oklahoma, 1 in 195

34. New Hampshire, 1 in 234

35. Oregon, 1 in 239

36. New Jersey, 1 in 250

37. Colorado, 1 in 263

38. Texas, 1 in 288

39. Louisiana, 1 in 300

40. Washington, 1 in 307

41. Connecticut, 1 in 313

42. Rhode Island, 1 in 345

43. Alaska, 1 in 468

44. New Mexico, 1 in 475

45. Massachusetts, 1 in 635

46. District of Columbia, 1 in 689

47. Florida, 1 in 903

48. Nevada, 1 in 1,018

49. California, 1 in 1,064

50. Arizona, 1 in 1, 175

51. Hawaii, 1 in 18,955

The study was based on State Farm claims from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016, with the company projecting out the total number of claims for each state across the industry.

So what can you do to avoid serious injury during this time of year? State Farm released the following tips to keep drivers safe:

• Slow down, particularly at dusk and dawn.
• If you see one deer, be prepared for more deer to cross the road.
• Pay attention to deer crossing signs.
• Always buckle up, every trip, every time.
• Use your high beams to see farther, except when there is oncoming traffic.
• Brake if you can, but avoid swerving, which could result in a more severe crash.
• Remain focused on the road, scanning for hazards, including animals.
• Avoid distractions, like devices or eating, which might cause you to miss seeing an animal.
• Do not rely on products such as deer whistles, which are not proven effective.
• If riding a motorcycle, always wear protective gear and keep focus on the road ahead.

Includes staff reporting | Image via U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, public domain