What To Do if You Hit a Deer
Updated October 2, 2021 . AmFam Team
It’s always important to be attentive when you’re out on the open road — but deer season calls for drivers to be extra vigilant when behind the wheel. According to the Insurance Information Institute (Opens in a new tab), deer-vehicle collisions are becoming more common, especially October through December. Deer accidents can be avoided if you know the right steps to prevent it from happening.
So, get your deer goggles on and read more to learn deer driving safety practices for the highway and what to do if you hit a deer while driving.
How to Avoid Deer Collisions
Being prepared and knowing what to do if a deer is in the road is essential to safe driving during deer season. Take a moment to get familiar with some tips to avoid a deer-related collision. Preparation is paramount before you hit the road during deer season.
Make seatbelts a requirement for yourself and every passenger
Seatbelts are designed to protect you from a collision or sudden stop — which is exactly what happens when you’re faced with a deer on the highway. One of the easiest ways to keep you and your family safe is by buckling up.
Be observant of all road signs
Deer crossing signs are there for a reason — to warn you that the area you’re driving in is heavily populated with deer or common areas where deer cross. Be on the lookout and take extra caution when you see these signs. And remember that deer often travel in groups, so where you may only see one, chances are there are more around.
Recruit your passengers to keep a lookout
The more people watching for deer, the better. Tell your passengers to be on the lookout and warn you if they see any deer on the highway or deer crossing road signs. Even if they see deer grazing in fields far from the road, this could potentially mean more deer are around and trying to cross over.
Be aware of the time of day
Dawn and dusk are times deer are most active because it’s when they are commonly on the hunt for food. This is also the time of day when visibility is much lower, and your vision isn’t at its best. So be extra alert during this time of the day.
Prep your horn in case you encounter a deer
Deer often fixate on headlights, so it may not be effective enough to just flash your lights. Since they’re easy to spook, brake firmly and honk your horn.
Don’t swerve to avoid hitting a deer
If it’s apparent that a crash is unavoidable, whether it be a deer or other animal crossing the road, do not swerve. Studies show that more serious crashes occur when drivers swerve to avoid an animal. Swerving could cause you to lose control of your vehicle and possibly roll over or hit another car or object.
Make sure you’re covered with insurance
Although it’s may not be top-of-mind when thinking about steps to avoid hitting a deer, it’s important to make sure that your auto insurance is up-to-date.
- Before going on a trip during deer season, consider reaching out to your agent (Opens in a new tab) to learn more about your coverage and if you’re covered when a deer accident occurs
- Consider asking your agent about your auto insurance deductible and how it will be impacted if you accidentally hit a deer
What to Do if You Hit a Deer
While the above precautions may help reduce your chances of a deer accident, unfortunate situations can still occur. So, what happens if you hit a deer? Take action by following these steps.
Get off the road
Be savvy about your safety — move your vehicle off the road after hitting a deer and turn your hazard lights on so other vehicles can see you and slow down.
Should you call the police if you hit a deer?
You may be legally required to report an accident with a deer or significant vehicle damage. Having this information documented can also be helpful when filing a claim with your insurance company.
Take photos
You’ll want to get photos of your car and the accident scene but be careful to stay away from the deer and off the road. A wounded animal can become frightened and act aggressively and lingering close to a road is never a safe idea.
File a claim
The comprehensive coverage on your auto policy covers collision with an animal, so be sure to get in touch with your insurance company to report a claim.
Since comprehensive is optional coverage, you may want to check out your policy or connect with an agent (Opens in a new tab) to make sure you have the best coverage to protect you in any event. Comprehensive not only covers you for collisions with animals, but other unexpected circumstances like theft, vandalism, hail or other natural disasters, fires or explosions, certain falling objects, and floods.
Protect Yourself with Comprehensive Insurance
Knowing the proper actions to take to avoid hitting a deer can help prevent personal injury and costly vehicle damage, so keep these tips in mind when hitting the road. Give yourself more peace of mind by connecting with your American Family Insurance agent (Opens in a new tab) to ensure you have the proper auto coverage to stay protected from the unexpected, such as a deer accident.
This article is for informational purposes only and includes information widely available through different sources.
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Sending a text, eating your burrito, applying makeup — what do all of these tasks have in common?
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Distracted driving is when the driver is doing something that takes their attention away from the task of driving. Any time your eyes and/or mind are taken away from the road, you’re technically distracted, which means an increase in the risk of an accident.
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The Deadliest Driving Distraction: Texting and Driving
It should come as no surprise to you that texting is the most common distraction while driving as well as the most dangerous. It’s so deadly in fact, that it gets its very own section.
It’s easy for us all to see the dangers of texting while driving, but even with that knowledge, so many of us fall into the temptation of sending off a fast text message while behind the wheel. But even a quick text can have horrible consequences.
Just think, when you look at your phone, your focus is on the screen, not the road; one hand is off the wheel to hold your device, and your mind drifts to the message instead of the task at hand: driving safely.
Why texting is distracting
To put it into perspective, if you’re traveling at 55 MPH and you take your eyes off the road and onto your phone, you’ve traveled about 100 yards – the length of a football field! That’s quite a distance to cover driving “blind.”
The National Safety Council reports that one out of every four car accidents in the United States is caused by a distracted driver who was texting. They also reported that texting and driving is six times more likely to cause an accident than driving while intoxicated.
Let these driving facts be a wake-up call to the extreme dangers of texting while driving.
Is it Illegal to Use Your Phone While Driving?
The truth is that it depends on which state you live in. As of 2020, the Governors Highway Safety Association reports that there is a hand-held cell phone use ban in 22 states, with 48 states banning text messaging for all drivers. Find out the distracted driving laws for your state to ensure you’re following the rules of the road in your state.
It’s always important to know our state laws, and in your state there may very well be no law preventing you from texting while driving. However, for your safety as well as those in your car, and for anyone else sharing the roads with you, it’s best to stick with a firm “no phone use while driving” mentality.
Types of Distracted Driving
The first step to preventing distracted driving is understanding what it is. In a nutshell, anything that occupies your attention while driving is a distraction. Here are a few notable distractors that should be eliminated while behind the wheel.
Checking your GPS
When it comes to directions, we’ve come a long way from the world of fold-up maps. Today, everyone has a built-in navigation system in the palm of their hands: the smartphone. The only problem is that just one quick glance at your phone’s screen is all it takes for a costly mistake behind the wheel.
Your best bet is to leave your phone in your pocket or purse when driving. But if you must use your phone for directions, enable the voice feature so that you don’t have to look at the screen for every turn.
Sifting through your music device
Trying to find the right song for your road trip is just as dangerous as texting and driving. Your best bet is to pick a playlist prior to getting into your vehicle. Or listen to the radio. The key here is to keep your eyes on the road and not on your music device.
Checking social media
Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter, you name it – all of them bide for our constant attention. Don’t fall prey to this when you’re driving. That post, tweet, or message can wait. Avoid checking social media when behind the wheel.
Eating behind the wheel
You may be a pro at eating your burrito on the go, but ingesting your lunch while driving is a big no-no. All it takes is one wayward waffle fry to take your attention from the road to your lap. And it’s not just the mess that distracts; it’s the smell, taste, you name it – that makes eating one of the most distracting things you can do while driving.
Other types of distracted driving
There are a few more forms of distracted driving that could cause an accident. If you’re in the driver’s seat, try to avoid these altogether:
- Taking selfies
- Talking on the phone
- Drinking coffee or another beverage
- Putting on makeup
- Using an app
- Loud music
Top 5 Ways to Prevent Distracted Driving
There are easy ways to prevent distracted driving. Try using making these five simple changes distracted driving safety tips to have a safer driving experience.
Use a text-blocking app
There are many apps available that block texts while driving. Several apps exist with different features, ranging from ones that completely block any incoming or outgoing texts while going a certain speed, to apps that will send a message saying you’re unavailable to respond to an incoming text. Here’s a list from DMV.org with great suggestions for apps to fight distracted driving.
Have a passenger navigate for you
If you’re driving with a passenger (of an appropriate age), hand the directions to them. Even a not-so-great navigator in the passenger seat is better than the person behind the wheel being responsible for both driving and navigating. If you’re driving by yourself, take the time to look at the directions before you set off. Then turn the volume up and let the AI lead the way.
Make music selection easy
Make multiple playlists that you can choose from before starting the car. If you really need to change it up, either pull over or wait for a red light. Set your presets to stations you already know you like. Hitting one button is better than cranking the dial until you find music you like.
Don’t text while driving
If you’re behind the wheel, just put the phone away. Social media can wait. It’s not going anywhere — that we can promise. Are the notifications too tempting? Turn them off! No comment or new tweet is worth the risk.
Eat at home or while stopped
If you’re in a rush and want to keep things moving, consider the hazards of driving while eating behind the wheel. Hopefully you can recognize that the risks outweigh the temptation, and you can wait until you get to your destination to eat.
How Does Distracted Driving Affect Insurance?
For starters, getting into an at-fault accident will almost always make your insurance premium go up, simply because your insurance company now deems you a higher-risk driver. Distracted driving is no exception. Even if you avoid an accident but you get a ticket for distracted driving, you’re susceptible to those increases in insurance.
Why does distracted driving increase insurance? For starters, you may be getting a discount for having a clean driving record. But if you get a ticket, such as for texting while driving, you may no longer be eligible for that discount, and you’ll notice an increase in your premium. Another reason your insurance might go up goes back to being a higher risk. If you’re guilty of distracted driving, an insurance company will consider you a high-risk driver (meaning you’re more likely to file a claim due to an accident) and they’ll set your premiums higher.
Many of the discounts that insurance companies give out revolve around rewarding drivers for having no claims and a good driving record in general. Don’t let distracted driving take away those perks!
Protect Yourself From Distracted Drivers on the Road
Avoiding distracting driving behaviors is a great way to be safe on the road, and car insurance is a great way to stay protected from the unexpected. With American Family you can customize your car coverage to meet your unique needs. Talk to your agent today to find the right coverage for you.
The Insurance Information Institute claims driving while interacting with a mobile device can increase the odds of a crash by as much as 3.5 times, compared to the risks that a sober, alert and attentive driver faces. Teens are more susceptible to collisions, even when speaking hands-free on a mobile phone. Let’s explore the many ways you can help prevent distracted driving accidents.
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