Far too often, an animal darts out of the woods alongside the road—a situation that could easily turn into an accident. These unfortunate collisions not only affect the poor animal but may also cause significant damage to you, your passengers and your vehicle. Fortunately, there are measures you can take to help avoid these circumstances.
▪️ Remember to use high beams when traveling through poorly lit areas at night. When you see yellow wildlife signs that display pictures of animals such as deer or caribou, be extra alert. Most accidents occur when traveling at peak times, such as dusk or dawn. These incidents often occur when driving through heavily forested areas or near water systems such as ponds, lakes and rivers.
▪️ If you are carrying passengers when driving through these areas, ask them to watch out for signs of wildlife, like red eyes—when your vehicle headlights come into contact with the eyes of an animal, they glow.
▪️ If you spot an animal up ahead, try and slow down or stop as quickly and smoothly as possible while being aware of other vehicles around you. Never slam on your brakes, as this can cause your vehicle to lose control.
▪️ Animals are unpredictable. Never assume an animal will cross the road before approaching it. If an animal does cross the road, it is likely there will be one following it close behind.
▪️ If you are slowing down or stopping for an animal, make sure you turn on your hazard lights to alert drivers behind you.
Sometimes collision becomes inevitable, and you only have a few moments to react. If you find yourself in this situation, remember the following:
▪️ Don’t Panic
▪️ Check for vehicles around you
▪️ Pump the brakes smoothly to avoid skidding
▪️ Ease up on the brakes right before the collision to help prevent the animal from coming into contact with your windshield
▪️ Be mindful of guardrails, ditches or other obstacles
▪️ Steer in the direction that the animal is coming from to help minimize the damage or help you avoid hitting the animal altogether
▪️ Pull over your vehicle when it is safe to do so
▪️ Check on passengers
▪️ Call 911 if necessary
▪️ Ensure your hazard signal is turned on
You may examine the animal for possible injury. If it is still alive, be careful and keep your distance. Contact conservation services and call 911 if the animal is blocking a lane of traffic. Take photos and live documentation of the accident. This will be what you share with your insurance. This can also help when you make a claim. Call your insurance broker as soon as possible to ensure the claim goes smoothly and is processed quickly.
What To Do When You Are Involved In An Accident
Being involved in an accident can be a very stressful event. To help you protect both yourself and your interests, we have provided some basic tips:
▪️ Call the police/ambulance immediately
▪️ Do not admit liability
▪️ Record details of the accident including date, time, location, a description of the accident, any injuries and any charges
▪️ Record details concerning the other party and vehicle, such as owner’s name, address, phone number, vehicle year, make and model
▪️ It is very important to obtain the insurance information of the other driver, including the name of the insurance company, the policy number and the name of the broker/agent
▪️ Obtain a copy of the police report from the attending officer, and document the accident report number for future reference
These tips are general rules of thumb only, and may not fit all situations.