deer

If your son hit a deer and that is what caused him to go into the ditch then the accident is likely to be considered a comprehensive claim rather than a collision. Comprehensive claims generally don't impact rates as severely, if at all, the way a collision claim would if he had hit another driver.

Animals cause all sorts of damage to vehicles, and not always because someone hits them with their car. Luckily, insurance companies don't discriminate over you hitting an animal or an animal hitting your car.

Normally when you are driving and hit something in the road then the damage would be covered under collision. However, hitting a deer (or any other animal) is considered a comprehensive claim since it is an unexpected variable and falls under the category of an "act of god," much like hail damage or vandalism.