A lot of car accidents are caused by animals every year. Animals are unpredictable and when they dart out from tall weeds or a nearby forest they can be impossible to avoid. Nearly all animal car accidents are handled the same by car insurance carriers. Knowing what damage to look for and how to handle an animal damage car insurance claim can save you both time and money.

All animal car accidents can potentially be covered by your car insurance if you have purchased comprehensive coverage. A couple of things are required to file a claim.

• Damage needs to exceed your deductible
• A police report is a good idea

Tips after hitting certain types of animals:

I Hit a Deer: Deer are easily the most common animals hit on U.S. roadways. Deer are large enough to do serious damage to your car and sometimes can even cause injury to the driver and passengers. It all depends on the vehicle's speed and type of vehicle. Because deer are so prevalent, it is a good idea to get a police report. Police reports come in handy if you recently purchased your car insurance policy or if you recently filed another deer claim. A police report will verify information about the accident to your insurance claim adjuster. Some insurance carriers do not require a police report, but if you are unsure check with your agent to get verification.

I Hit a Dog: Hitting a dog is a little different when compared to hitting other animals because dogs usually have owners. Owner's are responsible for damages caused by their dog when they have not been restrained properly. Which means, if you hit someone's dog, the dog owner will be held liable for fixing your vehicle. The normal procedure is for the dog owner's homeowners policy to cover the damage. However, if there is no home insurance the dog owner would be held personally responsible. Sometimes the owner would prefer to cover the damage out of their own pocket verse filing a claim. And other times small claims court is required, it all depends on how the owner responds to the situation. If the dog's owner is unable to be located, comprehensive coverage would cover the damage under your car insurance.

I Hit a Bird: Often the only damage birds cause is to the windshield. Windshield coverage is also provided under comprehensive coverage. If you have a deductible, check around with local glass companies to see if they waive deductibles.

I Hit a Raccoon: A raccoon might seem small and harmless when it comes to a car accident, but it is still possible for them to do a lot of damage depending on what kind of car you drive. If you drive a compact car be sure to get it checked out after coming in contact with a raccoon. Under carriage damage is likely and can do serious damage to your vehicle if left unattended.

I Hit a Cow: Depending on your location, it is possible to come across a cow. As you can imagine the damage is likely to be substantial when hitting such a large animal. Similar to hitting a dog, the cow's owner would be responsible for damages because the cow should not be in the roadway. It is possible to file a comprehensive claim under your car insurance policy and then have your insurance company subrogate the claim. Which means the insurance carrier would go after the animal's owner. Potentially your vehicle can get repaired sooner by filing the claim under your own car insurance policy.