The Insurance Journal reported that the Ohio Insurance Institute has found that deer-vehicle crashes in Ohio decreased in 2014 by 2.5 percent over 2013. Nationally, however, claim costs from such collisions are up by more than six percent this year.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources found that 19,705 deer-vehicle crashes were reported in 2014, compared with 20,201 crashes in 2013 and 20,999 in 2012.

While such collisions are on the decline in Ohio, there were four related fatalities and 798 injuries last year. This compares to eight fatalities and 968 reported injuries in 2013, and six deaths and 1,014 injuries in 2012.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety estimates about 200 fatalities are caused by deer-vehicle collisions each year in the U.S.

Vehicle damage varies dramatically depending on the type of vehicle, its speed upon impact and area of the vehicle that sustains the hit. According to State Farm, 2015 vehicle damage from deer collisions averages $4,135 per claim nationally – up six percent from the 2014 average of $3,888.

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