Hitting a deer is something all drivers hope they won’t have to deal with. October to January, from dusk to dawn is the prime season for deer-related accidents. If you should be involved in an accident involving a deer, you need to to know what to do. First and foremost, there is concern for the safety of yourself and your passengers. Once it has been established that everyone is alright, you’ll need to examine your vehicle and determine whether you will require emergency roadside assistance. There are also are some things you need to take care of before can leave the scene of the accident.
Make Sure Your Hazard Lights Are On
Get you hazard light turned on as quickly as possible to make passing vehicles aware of your presence. This will help to alert them to slow down and proceed with caution. If possible, move your vehicle as far off the road as you can. Using reverse to move your car will prevent you from hitting the deer again.
Contact the Police
After you’ve made sure that you, your passengers and your vehicle is as safe as possible, call the police. When they arrive they will be able to help you with everything else that needs to be addressed.
If the damage to your car has made it unsafe to drive or if it is dark and you can’t properly access the damage, it’s best to call the towing company for roadside assistance. The police will take your statement about the accident. This will be important when you put in a claim with your insurance company. The police will also contact the proper agency to handle the deer.
Document the Damage
In addition to the police report, it’s a good idea to take pictures of the accident scene and the damage to your vehicle. There’s no such thing as too much documentation when it comes to filing an insurance claim.
While you might think it would be beneficial to take a picture of the deer as well, it best to keep your distance. Deer are very powerful animals. It is easy to assume the animal is dead when it is only stunned or wounded. If it is still alive, it is possible it could harm you if you get too close.
Call Your Insurance Company
The sooner you contact your insurance company, the better. Even before they receive the police report, you can contact them with the details and send them your pictures. Today most insurance companies have mobile apps that can help you to attain coverage quickly. You may even be able to take care of this while you’re waiting for the tow truck to arrive. Depending on your policy, your insurance company may actually facilitate emergency roadside assistance.
What Not to Do
Even if the damage to your vehicle is minor, don’t drive away from the accident without calling the proper authorities. Leaving a wounded animal lying in the middle of the road will put other drivers at risk and it is inhumane to the animal.
Also, when you get to your destination and assess the damage, you may decide you need to file an insurance claim and there will be no documentation.
Emergency Roadside Assistance
If your rendezvous with the deer has left your vehicle disabled, you will have to contact a towing service to get emergency roadside assistance. No matter the size or condition of your vehicle, Accurate Towing Service has the experience and the equipment to handle it.
With decades of experience and dedicated to superior service, you can trust Accurate Towing get your vehicle off the side of the road safely. They also offer expert repair service to get you back on the road. It’s always good to have a towing service’s handy before you need it. Save Accurate Towing Service’s number in your phone today.
