If an insured hits a deer on the roadway, under which coverage part of the personal automobile policy is the damage covered?

The damage caused by hitting a deer is covered under the physical damage portion of a personal automobile policy. This coverage specifically caters to damages incurred from events that do not involve a collision with another vehicle, such as animal strikes. In this case, the incident of hitting a deer falls under the category of comprehensive coverage, which is a component of physical damage coverage.

Comprehensive coverage is designed to pay for damages to the insured vehicle resulting from non-collision-related incidents, including theft, vandalism, natural disasters, and animal strikes. Therefore, if an insured were to hit a deer, they would file a claim under Part D - Physical Damage, which encompasses the recovery for such damage.

Understanding this distinction is crucial, as each part of the personal automobile policy serves a specific purpose. Liability coverage, for example, pertains to damages or injuries to others caused by the insured, while medical payments coverage addresses medical expenses for the insured and passengers in the vehicle, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage provides protection when the other driver is at fault but lacks adequate insurance. In contrast, Part D specifically provides the necessary protection for this type of situation.