FYI - I experienced an accident in 1997 where I was driving along Highway 101 in CA during a heavy rainstorm. A large rock rolled down the hill directly in my path and I wasn't able to avoid colliding with it. The damage to my vehicle was extensive (took out the transmission and steering). A CA Highway Patrolman drove by within minutes of the accident. I explained what happened. He wrote up an accident report and submitted it to DMV. They took a point from my license, apparently claiming that I was "distracted" and didn't see the rock - I have no idea what the "LEO" wrote in that report, but I wasn't distracted. As there was no impact upon my license or insurance, I didn't contest this. But, I think you get my point.
Good Lord.
It’s standard procedure to write a ticket to drivers that hit deer and other large wildlife. I would imagine the rock is viewed the same way. If you hit a deer, it’s your fault no matter what and you get a ticket. Technically according to the law, that is. But many cops just ignore it.
Oh, I forgot to add...
there’s a dollar amount of vehicle damage that determines the ticket. I forget the amount. But it’s something like a thousand dollars or more of damage to your car and you are supposed to automatically get a ticket for hitting the deer.