Deer-vehicle collisions in Virginia now cost drivers an average of $6,851 per insurance claim, according to AAA, as the fall mating season pushes deer onto roads across the region. For McLean and Great Falls residents surrounded by wooded corridors, parks and golf courses, the risk is part of the daily commute.
The cost figure, first reported by WTOP, reflects the rising price of repairing modern vehicles. AAA said cameras, radar sensors and driver-assistance systems built into windshields, bumpers, mirrors and grilles are frequently damaged when a car strikes a deer.
Fairfax County has seen a steady climb in deer-vehicle crashes, rising from 75 reported incidents in 2021 to 105 in 2025, according to an August county presentation on the deer management program reported by FFXnow. Four crashes in the county have been fatal since 1993. Virginia ranked ninth nationally for animal-related collisions in 2025-2026.
Nearly 200 people are killed in animal-related crashes across the country each year, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Most deer strikes result in property damage rather than injuries.
Ragina Ali, a spokeswoman for AAA in Maryland and D.C., said the average claim in Maryland was $6,074. In D.C., it topped $7,200.
What drivers should do
Deer are most active at dawn, dusk and after dark, especially from October through December. AAA advises drivers to scan both sides of the road near wooded areas, parks, golf courses and locations marked with deer-crossing signs.
High beams can help. When no oncoming traffic is present, AAA said high beam headlights illuminate the road farther ahead and reflect off animals' eyes, giving drivers more reaction time.
If a deer steps into your lane, AAA's advice is counterintuitive: stay in your lane. Swerving can send a vehicle into oncoming traffic or off the road.
After a collision, AAA recommends pulling to a safe spot, calling law enforcement, photographing the damage and contacting your insurance company. Do not approach the animal.
County archery program targets deer population
Fairfax County's Deer Management Archery Program, which launched more than 15 years ago, opened its current season Sept. 12 and runs through Feb. 13, 2027. The program operates on more than 100 properties countywide, including in the McLean area, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.
Last season, hunters in the program harvested 686 deer by archery, accounting for 91% of total deer harvests under the county's deer management effort. The FCPD said the program has recorded zero safety incidents since it began.
