Imagine you are driving down the road at night and suddenly you see two green eyes and then a deer steps out in front of you! It’s very likely that most of us have had a close encounter with a deer at one point or another if we’ve been driving for any amount of time. In fact, according to State Farm, you have a 1 in 96 chance of hitting a deer in Nebraska. Here are a few tips on what to do if a deer steps out on the roadway.
Stay alert as you are driving. Deer tend to move the most at dusk and dawn and around heavily wooded areas. I always recommend using your high beams whenever possible, as they increase visibility and reflect the deer’s eyes, which makes it easier to spot them.
If a deer steps out in the road you should apply brakes firmly and, if necessary, come to a controlled stop. While slowing down you could blow your horn with one long blast as this could frighten the deer to move, but it isn’t guaranteed to work. Continue to stay alert! If there is one deer, you can almost bet on others being nearby.
If the deer does not move out of the road, it is better to hit the deer than to swerve to miss it. The deer is likely to do less damage to your vehicle than another vehicle, tree, or pole would if you were to swerve and hit one of those.
In the event that you hit a deer, turn on your hazard lights so you are visible to those around you. Do not try to move the deer yourself. An injured animal is a dangerous animal. Please call the proper authorities and they will have the animal removed. Once the police arrive, fill out an accident report for insurance purposes, and take pictures of the accident. The more documentation, the easier the process can be.
Finally, go ahead and contact your insurance agent or company representative to report the incident.
Offutt Collision Repair in Bellevue, Ne, works with all insurance companies, and we are happy to get your vehicle back in tip top shape after the unexpected happens.
