Flying Turtle Shatters Windshield in Florida
Ru Chen
· 3 min read
Before anything else, yes, the turtle is safe.
Turtles don’t fly every day, but when they do, apparently they like to fly straight through windshields.
Does
car insurance
cover such an accident in Florida
? And the more interesting question is, why is there so much precedent for what seems like an odd case? 
A wild wildlife accident
CNN
reported on this accident that occurred last week on the Florida turnpike.A semi-truck accidentally nicked a turtle, causing it to fly into a nearby car’s windshield.
The large turtle broke straight through the windshield, landing in the back seat of the car.
Luckily, no one was injured. Unfortunately, the car will probably need a windshield replacement.
MORE: Beloved Local Bear "Boo Boo" Killed in Massachusetts Car Crash
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Not the first turtle, nor the last
Surprisingly, this isn’t the first time a turtle has broken through a windshield.
Just three months ago (also in Florida!), a turtle shattered a windshield and injured a woman’s head.
It turns out that turtles going through windshields are much more common than one would expect. It’s somewhat of an annual occurrence that happens on highways where vehicles are going at fast speeds and cannot see or avoid crossing turtles.
The dangers of wildlife collisions
Turtles are far from the only animals to cause car accidents. Every year, wildlife collisions are responsible for many vehicular crashes and damages.
Many times, these collisions are fatal for the animals.
There are more than 1.5 million deer collisions every year! That causes a ton of injuries and damages.
It’s important to be careful when driving on highways or streets, especially at night. If you run into a literal deer in the headlights on the road, it can be very dangerous and cause serious injuries.
Deer collisions are most prevalent in the Midwest, so if you live in that region, you should definitely make sure your insurance covers wildlife.
MORE: New Funding Proposed to Help Make Roads Safer for Wildlife
How does car insurance cover wildlife collisions?
As usual, comprehensive insurance is pricier but remains the best option for those who want all their bases covered. Damage from animals, natural disasters, these all fall under comprehensive coverage.
If you have comprehensive coverage, you can likely receive compensation by filing a claim after hitting a wild animal. This encompasses big animals, such as deer and bears, but also includes smaller creatures, such as turtles.
Some companies will increase your premium if you’re involved in a wildlife collision.
It can be a good idea to opt for an additional roadside assistance service. That way if you lose a tire or hit a turtle, you can get some immediate help.
If you want to check if you have the optimal comprehensive coverage that’s both cheap and reliable,
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