When the roads are quiet and you are traveling through remote areas, it can feel like you have the highway all to yourself. Unfortunately, just because other drivers are nowhere to be seen, there may be other dangers.

Animal-related accidents are a common occurrence and you never know when one could pop up in front of you. In fact, at least 253,000 animal-related accidents occur ever year and it is believed that a lot more go unreported. Here are a few of the top questions concerning how your insurance will come into play if you do hit an animal on the road.

What type of insurance covers damage to your vehicle if you do hit an animal?

If you hit an animal in the roadway, comprehensive auto insurance coverage will be required in order to be reimbursed for damages. Comprehensive is typically part of a full-coverage policy offered by an auto insurance company, but is also a coverage option that can be opted out of in some cases.

How can you prove it was an animal-related accident?

When you file a comprehensive claim that is animal-related, you will likely need some form of proof of the accident. Therefore, it is best to go ahead and call local authorities so you can have a recorded document outlining the occurrence. If you only hit a small animal and damage is minimal, it may seem like overkill to call in the accident and have an officer come out. However, this is technically a motor vehicle accident and should be reported anyway.

What can you expect during the accident inspection from the insurance adjuster?

When you file a claim, an insurance adjuster will come out to assess the damage. During this exam you can expect that the adjuster will ask several questions about how you hit the animal or how the accident took place. Do not be alarmed by these questions as the adjuster will only be trying to get an idea of how bad the damage may be and what parts of the car may be affected that are not immediately visible.

If you have hit an animal and your car is damaged, it is imperative that you file a claim with the insurance company as soon as possible. Even small animals can cause a lot of damage to your vehicle and there is no reason to pay for the costs out-of-pocket if you do not have to.

For more information, contact AZBY Brokerage Inc. or a similar company.