That buck could cost you lots of dough

Jan. 1, 2020
A recent survey of CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts shop owners finds that the frequency and severity of deer-related accidents are growing as quickly as the deer population in some markets.  
Both parties lose when car and deer collide, and high-speed contact with a doe will cost the car owner a lot of dough.
A recent survey of CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts shop owners finds that the frequency and severity of deer-related accidents are growing as quickly as the deer population in some markets. And, with the cold-weather months providing peak season for deer-vehicle crashes, this risk is on the rise.
The “CARSTAR Bucks and Dough Deer Damage Survey” found that:
  • More than 40 percent of CARSTAR store owners report a 25 percent increase in deer-related accidents, while some nearly 12 percent report a 50 percent increase and five percent have seen a whopping 75 percent increase in their areas.
  • The cost of hitting a deer is on the rise. Nearly 70 percent of CARSTAR store owners estimate that the average cost of a deer-related collision repair is between $2,500 and $4,999, while some five percent of repairs are between $5,000 and $10,000.

The most common damage to be repaired was:

  • Replace or repair front bumper – nearly 30 percent
  • Replace or repair hood – more than 22 percent
  • Replace or repair fender – some 12 percent
  • Replace headlight – nearly 10 percent
In one-quarter of deer-related accidents (24 percent), CARSTAR store owners reported the vehicle repairs included a combination of the above repairs, along with replacing the windshield, roof and side panels, and cleaning and repairing the interior after the deer landed in the vehicle.
Store owners also reported new damage trends, like deer hitting the sides of vehicles or running into the back of the car.
These collision repair experts say that deer-related accidents do, at times, provide some unique repair situations in the body shop.  Here are a few interesting examples – the drivers and passengers were okay, but many times the deer didn’t fare as well:
  • One driver hit and killed a deer, then put it in the trunk to take home.  While driving home, a moose smelled the deer and charged the car while it was on the road, causing multiple dents to the rear of the vehicle, compounding the original damage on the front.
  • A deer went through the windshield on a Jeep Grand Cherokee, and totaled the vehicle from the interior damage and deer remains left behind.
  • A customer picked up a repaired vehicle after a deer-related accident, started driving home, and hit another deer 15 minutes later — within 50 yards of where they hit the first one. The customer brought back the vehicle with a complaint that the repair only lasted 15 minutes.
  • An eight-point buck tried to jump over a GMC Envoy traveling at highway speeds, and crashed through the passenger side window.  The antlers pinned the driver to his seat, with the buck riding shotgun until help arrived to free them.  Fortunately everyone was okay, including the deer.
The danger isn’t limited to deer. In one case, a wild turkey came through the windshield and landed on the driver’s lap.
Drive Defensively to Avoid Deer Dangers
This year, some 1.5 million drivers will hit deer, and November is the peak month for deer-related accidents.  But drivers can avoid an accident with a buck – and spending lots of bucks on the damage – by following some smart driving tips this fall and winter.
Early morning and dusk are the worst times for deer accidents, as visibility is limited and deer are frequently on the move. It is important to drive defensively and anticipate the potential for deer in the road.
CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts offer the following tips for you to pass along to customers to reduce the deer danger:
  • Use extra caution at dawn and dusk and around golf courses, fields and wooded areas.
  • Remember that deer travel in packs – if you spot one, there are likely more behind it.
  • Don't swerve to avoid striking a deer, as that increases the risk of hitting another vehicle or losing control of the car.
  • If there is no opposing traffic, use high beams at night to better illuminate deer.
  • Don't rely on devices such as deer whistles, which are attached to the outside of a car, to try to scare off deer with an ultrasonic or high-frequency sound. They have not been proven to reduce deer-vehicle collisions.
  • If a deer remains on the highway after you strike it, report the incident to the game commission or a local law enforcement agency, as the deer poses a danger to other motorists. If the deer is still alive, don't go near it because a wild animal with sharp hooves can inflict injuries.
  • If an accident with a deer does occur, it pays to be protected. Many drivers don’t realize that carrying only collision coverage does not cover damage from a deer accident, leaving them with a damaged vehicle and a large repair bill.  To fully cover any potential damage, drivers should carry comprehensive insurance that covers such crashes. For those driving an older vehicle who feel their cars aren’t worth the cost of the insurance, it’s smart to keep an “accident fund” if something does occur.

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