You’re driving down the highway at the end of the day, when all of a sudden you say “Oh Dear?” as a giant head of antlers runs into your front fender.
You can avoid a car accident with a buck – and spending lots of bucks on the damage – by following some smart driving tips this fall and winter. Every year, some 1.5 million drivers hit a deer, and the cold weather months are peak season for deer-vehicle crashes.
Deer crashes result in at least $1.1 billion a year in vehicle damage, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. On average, the accidents cost $2,800 per insurance claim, and up to $10,000 if there is injury to the driver or a passenger, according to the Insurance Information Institute.
The Risks Are not Just in Rural Areas
The top states for deer-related accidents range throughout the country, and no longer are these accidents relegated to rural areas. The top 10 deer danger states are:
- Texas
- Minnesota
- Illinois
- Ohio
- Georgia
- Michigan
- Virginia
- Indiana
- Pennsylvania
- Wisconsin
Drive Defensively to Avoid Deer Dangers
Early morning and dusk are the worst times for deer accidents, as visibility is limited and deer are frequently on the move. It is important to drive defensively and anticipate the potential for deer in the road so you can safely stop and avoid the accident.
The auto experts at Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center, who repair thousands of vehicles each year from deer-related accidents, offer the following tips to reduce the deer danger:
- Use extra caution at sunrise and sunset, and around golf
courses, fields and wooded areas.
- Remember that deer travel in packs – if you spot one, there
are likely more behind it.
- Don't swerve to avoid striking a deer, as that increases the
risk of striking another vehicle or losing control of your car.
- If there is no opposing traffic, use high beams at night to
better illuminate deer.
- Don't rely on devices such as deer whistles, which are
attached to the outside of a car, to try to scare off deer with an
ultrasonic or high-frequency sound. They have not been proved to
reduce deer-vehicle collisions.
- If a deer remains on the highway after you strike it, report
the incident to the game commission or a local law enforcement
agency, as the deer poses a danger to other individuals. If the deer
might still be alive, don't go near it because a wild animal with
sharp hooves can inflict injuries.
If an accident with a deer does occur, it pays to be protected. Many drivers do not realize that carrying only collision coverage does not cover damage from a deer accident, leaving them with a damaged car and a large repair bill.
To fully cover any potential damage, drivers should carry comprehensive insurance that covers such crashes. For those driving an older vehicle who feel their cars aren’t worth the cost of the insurance, it is smart to keep an “accident fund” if something does occur.
For more tips on dealing with an accident or having your car repaired after a collision, visit www.auto-body-maryville-il.com. Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center in Maryville, Illinois is a part of the CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts offering high-quality, reliable repair service in 30 states and 10 Canadian provinces. For more information and store locations, visit www.stlcarstar.com.
About CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts is the largest group of branded collision repair facilities in North America with over 400 locally owned and operated locations in 30 states and 10 Canadian provinces. CARSTAR is committed to providing consistent quality services to our customers and insurance partners and has repaired more than 2.5 million vehicles since it was founded in 1989. Our technicians and front office staff receive ongoing training to ensure they are qualified to work on any vehicle. Customer satisfaction is our number one priority as we consistently lead the industry in customer satisfaction ratings.
