What To Do If You Hit A Deer

No matter how vigilant you are on roads or how carefully you drive, auto-deer collisions can still happen. Unfortunately, deer are most active around dawn and dusk, when lighting conditions reduce visibility. As such, if a deer suddenly bounds out of a wooded area and darts in front of your vehicle while you’re traveling at high speeds, a collision is practically guaranteed. So, what do you do if you hit a deer? Does insurance (collision vs. comprehensive) cover hitting a deer? Learn about the next steps you need to take here with Russ Darrow Collision Center. 

What To Do If You Hit A Deer: The Immediate Aftermath

In the immediate aftermath of an auto-deer collision, you need to take the following steps to ensure your safety and that of your passengers and other drivers:

• Immediately move your vehicle to a safe spot, such as the side of the road, and turn on your hazard lights. Do not assume that your vehicle is safe to drive yet. If you can’t move your vehicle, turn on your hazard lights and get yourself and any passengers out of the way of any oncoming traffic.
• Alert the authorities to let them know that a deer is blocking traffic. You can contact 911 or local law enforcement in the Waukesha area, but either way, it’s important that the authorities know that there’s a threat to driver safety on the road. You may also need to fill out an official report if there was any injury or property damage. If someone was injured, contact EMT services in addition to the police.

• Document the incident by taking photographs of the road, your current surroundings, your vehicle, the animal, and any injuries sustained by you or your passengers. You should also get witness statements and contact information from those who may have been around during the collision or stopped to assist you afterward.

• Stay away from the deer! First of all, if the deer didn’t perish from the collision, you have a frightened and wounded wild animal on your hands. Since you don’t know how it will respond, the safest bet is to stay away from it. And even if it was killed on impact, you don’t know if the deer was carrying diseases that can still be transmitted via touch after death. Let the authorities secure the scene and determine the next steps.

• Check whether your car is drivable. After you’ve completed the first four steps, get a status on your vehicle. Check for leaking fluids, tire damage, loose parts, broken lights, and other issues to determine whether your vehicle can safely be driven to the nearest auto repair shop. If it isn’t in a drivable condition, call for a tow.

• Contact your insurance agent to report the damage/injuries and to start a claim.

Does Hitting A Deer Raise Your Insurance?

Hitting a deer usually won’t substantially increase your insurance premiums. This is because hitting a deer falls under comprehensive “no-fault” coverage, and any damage to private property or to other vehicles is covered by legally-mandated liability insurance. That said, any claims filed will end up on your insurance record, and claim frequency may affect your auto insurance rates.

On the other hand, if you swerved to avoid the deer and got into an accident as a result of that maneuver, this will be treated as a collision claim, and you will likely be considered at-fault. While your collision coverage plan should cover the damage (after you’ve met your collision deductible), your insurance rates may go up since this is considered an “at-fault” accident. Instead of swerving sharply to avoid the deer, it is advised that you brake firmly instead.

Drive Safely With Guidance From Russ Darrow Collision Center

While every driver’s preference is to maintain a clean, accident-free driving record, animal-involved accidents can unfortunately still happen. So, in addition to maintaining vigilance on the road, make sure that you have both comprehensive and collision coverage in addition to the lawfully mandated liability coverage that all drivers must carry. And if you do hit a deer, don’t panic! Maintain composure, follow the steps above, and allow yourself some grace and time to recover.