Do You Know What To Do When You Hit A Deer With Your Vehicle?

Deer cause a lot of damage to vehicles across the country. Do you know what to do if you do hit a deer? Below, you will learn just that.

Get Off the Road

Unless your car has been completely disabled from the collision, move it off to the right side of the road as far as you can. You don't want the incident to worsen by leaving your vehicle in the line of traffic. Sometimes, moving the vehicle may not seem like the best idea because of the damage, but it is surely a better idea than leaving it where it could be hit by another driver, potentially causing injuries to him or her.

Put up Hazard Triangles and Flares

If the damage to your vehicle is rather extensive and it seems that you will be along the road for a bit, set out your hazard triangles and flares to alert other drivers of your disabled vehicle. If your vehicle is in a bad location, just over a knoll or around a curve, the flares or triangles should be placed before the curve or bend so that oncoming drivers can slow to a safe speed before coming up on your vehicle.

Look Around for the Deer

Try to see if the deer is still in the general area. You don't want to put yourself at risk while you search for it, but it is best to know where it is. This is because the local game warden may need to come to the scene and put the poor animal out of its misery if the collision didn't kill it. There is also a slight chance that the deer may only be slightly wounded, and when it comes to, could cause injuries or another accident nearby.

Inspect the Damage

Take a look at the damage. Will the hood stay closed if you were to drive home? Do the headlights and turn signals work? Is there any body damage that is rubbing the tires or could make the vehicle unsafe to drive? If you are unsure if it is safe for you to drive your vehicle home or to a collision center for repairs, contact a towing company and have the driver assess the damage. It is always better to be safe and know that the vehicle will not cause you to crash further down the road.

Reach out to a local collision repair shop, like Widrick Auto Sales, as well as your auto insurance provider. Depending on your auto insurance policy, the damage may be covered, so be sure that the collision center and your insurance company can work together to get your car looking as good as new once again.