If the crash is imminent take your foot off the brake. During hard braking, the front end of your vehicle is pulled downward which can cause the animal to travel up over the hood towards your windshield.It can also put you in the path of oncoming vehicles or cause you to crash into something. Resist the urge to swerve. Instead, stay in your lane with both hands firmly on the wheel. Swerving away from animals can confuse them so they don’t know which way to run.Slow down and watch for other deer to appear. Deer rarely travel alone, so if you see one, there are likely to be more nearby.Sometimes the light reflecting off their eyes will reveal their location. Use high beams when there’s no oncoming traffic. You can spot animals sooner.Be especially attentive in early morning and evening hours. Many animals, especially deer, are most active from 5-8 AM and 5-8 PM, prime commuting times for many.Ditching distractions is one of the easiest ways to make sure you’re ready for when a deer comes out of nowhere. Pay attention to road signs. Yellow, diamond-shaped signs with an image of a deer indicate areas with high levels of deer activity.To help prevent a crash or to reduce damage from an animal collision, AAA suggests motorists: “While adding comprehensive coverage may add a small amount to your premium, it could save you money down the road,” Rodriguez said. AAA Texas recommends motorists opt-in for comprehensive coverage , which is for damage to your car covered by incidents “other than collisions” (in this case, contact with animals). Moreover, according to the IIHS, more than 1.5 million deer-vehicle collisions occur each year across the U.S., resulting in 150 fatalities and tens of thousands of injuries.ĪAA’s Recommendation: Check Your Coverage.ĪAA Insurance reports that its average deer-related claim in Texas is greater than $5,000, though costs can be much higher depending on the damage to a vehicle.Ĭollision coverage pays for damage to your car resulting from a collision with an object (e.g., a telephone pole, a guard rail, a mailbox), another vehicle, or as a result of flipping over. Last year, there were more than more than 10,600 crashes involving animals (domestic and wild) on Texas roadways, according to data from the Texas Department of Transportation. “Many of the crashes are unavoidable but understanding the dangers and being prepared for them, especially in November and December when most automobile/deer crashes typically occur, could save lives.” “Drivers who are not buckled up and motorcyclists who are not wearing safety helmets are most vulnerable in these crashes,” said Claudia Rodriguez, AAA Texas Vice President of Insurance Claims. To reduce inconvenience, costs and potential danger, AAA Texas cautions drivers to be especially vigilant on the road in animal-prone areas in the months ahead. Photo #3 of Car Damaged by Deer Collision (Click link to view and download)Īccording to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), Texas had the highest number of deaths from collisions with animals over a ten-year period (2009-2018). Photo #2 of Car Damaged by Deer Collision (Click link to view and download) Photo #1 of Car Damaged by Deer Collision (Click link to view and download) Interview with Driver Involved in Recent Collision with Deer (Click link to download)ī-Roll Video (Click link to view and download) A collision with deer or other animals can put a serious dent in your vehicle, if not destroy it completely, and could result in serious injuries or fatalities. Deer collisions become more common this time of year since peak breeding season takes place in November. Fewer daylight hours and a spike in deer activity during the fall months increase the chances of roadway crashes with the animals.
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