PriceProtect™
DriveShield™
GarageGuard™
Services
Insurance
Car Insurance
Compare Car Insurance with Jerry
Jerry’s Expert Advice
Car Insurance Estimates
Home & Renters Insurance
Renters Insurance
Repairs
Car Repair Estimates
Repair Estimates for Popular Services
Advice
Read Car Content
Browse Jerry Car Advice
Check Out Expert Car QnA
Learn About How We Create Content
Jerry Data & Research
What should you do when you hit a raccoon?
Help! I hit a raccoon with my car! It came out of nowhere, and I couldn’t veer in time. What should I do?!
Pat Roache · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Don’t be too hard on yourself—it’s hard to avoid if the raccoon ran out in front of you. Although you may feel bad, you should avoid trying to help the raccoon—there’s not a lot you can do, and you don’t want to risk disease. If the animal is still on the road, you should call the police and possibly contact animal control, then check your car for damages caused by the accident.
When you call the police, let them know where the animal is, explain the situation, and ask if animal control should be contacted. These agencies will probably be better equipped to deal with the raccoon.
Next, you’ll need to evaluate your vehicle. Even hitting a smaller animal like a raccoon can cause car damage. Take the following steps after the accident:
- Pull over when you can and check your car for obvious damage
- Take pictures of any car damage and the scene of the accident
- Even if there’s no visible damage, take your car to get inspected for any undercarriage damage
If your car did get damaged by the raccoon, check to see if you have
comprehensive coverage
that could help cover the cost of repairs.If you avoided additional coverages because of the costs, try using
car insurance
super app Jerry
to find the most affordable rates on the policy you want. Sign-up takes less than a minute, and you’ll immediately be able to browse competitive quotes tailored to your needs. The average user who switches with Jerry saves $887 a year on car insurance!View full answer
- Gregory R.
WHY YOU CAN TRUST JERRY
Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
Join 4M+ members in lowering their car insurance
You Might Also Be Interested
Read Advice From Car Experts At Jerry
What Others Are Asking
Browse More Content
Insurance in Your State
Easiest way to compare and buy car insurance
No long forms
No spam or unwanted phone calls
Quotes from top insurance companies