Oh deer!  Michigan was named one of the most likely places to have a collision with an animal while driving.

Every year, State Farm asks the question "How likely are you to have an animal collision?" and then they determine how each state ranks in terms of animal collisions.  On this most recent list, Michigan ranked 4th in terms of probability of having an animal collision.

Michiganders have a 1 in 54 chance of hitting an animal according to the data from State Farm.  That makes sense, because in 2019, data showed that 17.7% of every accident in Michigan involved a deer.

States With Highest Odds Of Collision with Animals

  1. West Virginia (1 in 37)
  2. Montana (1 in 47)
  3. Pennsylvania (1 in 51)
  4. South Dakota (1 in 54)
  5. Michigan (1 in 54)
  6. Wisconsin (1 in 57)
  7. Iowa (1 in 58)
  8. Mississippi (1 in 59)
  9. Wyoming (1 in 64)
  10. Minnesota (1 in 64)

In addition to Michigan ranked high on the list, several West Michigan counties are in the top 10 for car deer accidents.  Kent County ranks second, Ottawa County is fifth, and Allegan and Calhoun Counties are eighth and ninth respectively.

Car deer accidents are most common in the spring and the fall and the Michigan State Police always advises caution while driving during those times.  Here is what they had to say on their website: "While the state's two million deer are most active in spring and fall, vehicle-deer crashes are a year-round problem. Each year, there are nearly 50,000 reported vehicle-deer crashes in Michigan. About 80 percent of these crashes occur on two-lane roads between dusk and dawn. The most serious crashes occur when motorists swerve to avoid a deer and hit another vehicle or a fixed object, or when their vehicle rolls over."

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