I borrowed my wife's new truck last evening and a deer jumped out of the snow bank in a very dark non-lighted are and hit the truck driver side door, driver back door and running board. Needless to say she was not happy. She began to open her insurance claim this morning and the insurance company asked her "where did the accident occur?" She proceeded to ask me "where did you hit that deer last night?" My response was not well received as I told her, " I did not hit the deer, the deer hit me! If I had hit the deer the damage would have been front end damage and the damage is all on the side of the vehicle, hence it was a deer "hit and run" because it bounced off and proceeded on its merry way. I was traveling less than 25mph on the village outer limits so the side impact must have only dazed the deer because it did not fall into the road. I suppose it could have died later during the night but no blood and the small dent in the door makes me feel.

After she got off the phone, she proceed to blame me for not paying attention and hitting a deer with her truck. Again I stated it was the deer that hit me, not me that hit the deer. In the end I did agree with her to end the discussion because like I always say "Happy Wife, Happy Life!"

What's your opinion, am I the victim in this incident? I promise to keep it to myself and not tell her how many people agree with me.

Thanks.

The answer to that depends entirely on your wife. If she is the rolling pin and frying pan wielding type, I would tend to agree with her version and its your fault. If she is the timid type I would blame her to give you the truck in the first place.

Comprehensive insurance pays this, less the deductible.

Rule number 1... Don't use the wifes vehicle for anything... It will always be your fault.

Girl drives a truck, that say's it all! LOL

I was lucky in that my wife was in the passenger seat , when the deer ran into the side of her expedition so she didn't blame me and it bounced all down the side and off the tire

I got 2 decent 1/4s off that one the rest were really banged up

we were on our way home from the grocery store it happened in a 55mph area on a state HWY where people typically are going more like 62

I pulled over and another guy pulled over he was sort of hoping to get the deer but I also wanted it so he helped me load it in the back with all the groceries

if you want a deer and you have bad luck deer hunting , take the comprehensive off your wife's truck to liability only then go for a drive almost a sure way to bag a deer.

first one I ever hit/had hit me had a few close calls but I saw them coming , this one was dark and cam out of a low ditch and into the side of us

you should know it happens to ambulances running full lights and sirens I knew a driver they were on their way to the ER 3 piled into the side of the ambulance they would have had to see it coming they came down a 30 foot embankment into the side of the ambulance.

All three of my vechile encounters with deer
have been as you have described.

Never had any damage forward of the passenger or driver's side doors,
and always aft of the front 1/4 panels.

No way to avoid these but always resulted in a raise in
insurance premiums after the fact.

Insurance companies are crooks without a gun.

walleyed

It's your fault even if you don't use the wife's vehicle.

I would tell the Insurance company that the Deer are tired of always being the Victim especially just after DFeer Season and they are fighting back and he should expect more claims!! He should sue the Deer!!!

Get the truck repaired and work with the body shop and insurance to get done what is needed and not waste a lot of time and energy trying to access blame. One of the reasons in WI that deer accidents don't cause insurance rate increases as accessing blame is futile even though it many not be.

Bryce

You’re in the clear. In a long career of fixing a lot of deer damaged vehicles, I can recall three vehicles that involved human fatalities where drivers attempted to avoid a deer. I’ve always drilled it into my kids heads that if a deer jumps out in front of them, go right through the deer. Insurers don’t hike your premiums because they consider it an unavoidable accident. Now let me clarify…this is purely male logic and not spousal logic. But in your heart of hearts, you can know you’re right. Lol

If you woke up in the morning it's your fault....

When it happens to her guess what,... that'll be your fault too.

my son swerved to avoid hitting a big bore coon with my 2004 f150 because he didn't want to mess up the truck

truck ended up on it's roof in a field totaled with liability insurance only

he was 50 coon into the year already with a trap and gun so killing one with a truck , he just didn't want to mess up the truck

just hit it and stay on the road no coon or deer is worth leaving the road for.

upside down in a ditch is way worse

I’ve hit six in my life you need to explain to her that your life is more important than a deer or a stupid truck man would I be ticked. I throw dead animals on the floor board of new truck the wife just shakes her head lol

Deer hits fall under Comprehensive...less deductible.
And yes ..I've seen them total 3-4 year old cars.
Always get a some deer..turkey ..and had a Moose hit years ago.

Been doing Autobody for 47 years..
You see a few things

A deer jumped out in front of this Camaro ..2 years ago. Hood ..fender ..door..14,500.00 worth of damage

Wow! That baby is in nice shape.

I honestly haven’t heard of too many folks hitting deer, it’s always deer hitting them.

"What's your opinion, am I the victim in this incident? I promise to keep it to myself and not tell her how many people agree with me."

I would have a hard time listening to her. She is ragging on you because you allow it. Is there a reason for it? Ask for your man card back.

Get the truck fixed.

Then throw all her belongings in the bed...along with a full tank of gas..

And call it good