Which situation is considered a collision loss in insurance?

A collision loss in insurance refers to damage that occurs to a vehicle resulting from its involvement in a collision with another object or vehicle, regardless of whether it is moving or stationary. In the scenario where an insured car slides on ice and hits mailboxes on the side of the road, the car is directly colliding with the mailboxes, which constitutes a clear example of a collision event. Thus, the damage sustained by the vehicle due to this impact is classified as a collision loss.

In contrast, the other situations do not qualify as collision losses. A tree falling on a parked car is generally considered a comprehensive loss, as it is not the result of a collision with another object but rather an act of nature. Similarly, a car being vandalized is also categorized under comprehensive coverage because it involves intentional damage rather than a collision event. Lastly, while hitting an animal on the road could involve a significant impact, it might be classified differently based on specific insurance policies. However, the collision with mailboxes exemplifies the straightforward definition of a collision.