"Hit by cars" means multiple cars. "Hit by a car" suggests one car. We're often sloppy, and often there's an implicit understanding that contradicts what's said directly. Clearly this is silly, one car can't do that so we interpret.
Neither figure seems particularly compelling here, of its "eaten by bears" it seems way too small if it's "eaten by a [single] bear" it seems too big.
Sorry for being cheeky but the parent literally just addressed your question.