Bucks Cost Bucks, Does Cost Dough

North America’s Collision Repair Experts Weigh in on the Hefty Costs of Hitting a Deer

It’s the yearly battle of the bumpers against the bucks, the does up against the doors.  Both sides lose whenever car and deer collide, but a measure of defensive driving can lessen the risks.

CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts in the St. Louis area say the regularity and severity of deer-related accidents are growing as fast as the deer population in certain markets. And, with the cold-weather months supplying peak season for deer-vehicle crashes, this risk is rising.

In point of fact, over forty percent of CARSTAR shop owners describe a twenty five percent boost in deer-related injuries, while some nearly twelve percent report a 50 percent increase and five percent have noticed a massive seventy-five percent increase in their areas. That deer-related accident can be pricey -- just about seventy percent of CARSTAR store owners gauge that the normal price of a deer-related collision repair is around $2,500 and $4,999, while some 5% of repairs are around $5,000 and $10,000.

A recently available survey by State Farm concurs with the pattern.  U.S. drivers are 3 percent more inclined to hit a deer in the following 12 months as opposed to this past year, specifically in October, November and December. The cost is rising, also, and is anticipated to be about fourteen percent greater than this past year.

A new trend is emerging, and one that does not bode well for motorist or deer – the serial deer crash motorist.  Once a driver has been around a deer-related incident, his or her probability of suffering from another one are going up.  Most of these car owners have a home in deer-filled areas, drive in early morning or early evening when deer are out, or simply just happen to be unlucky with bucks.

Greg Walter, a suburban Atlanta resident, is simply one example.  He’s experienced 17 deer-related accidents over the past decade!

“I’m not sure why they aim for my pickup, but they certainly do,” mentioned Walter.  “I’ve destroyed several company cars, and it’s gotten so bad that some of my co-workers put deer heads on my truck door just like a World War Two fighter pilot.  I’ve experimented with a variety of headlights, deer whistles, anything.  I think I just have to have a retainer at my local CARSTAR shop.”

Drive Defensively to Avoid Deer Dangers

This year, some 1.5 million drivers will hit deer, and November is the top month for deer-related incidents in Arnold, Oakville, and Imperial, Missouri.  However drivers can easily bypass an accident with a buck by simply following some smart driving tips this fall and winter.

Morning hours and sundown are the worst hours for deer problems, as visibleness is restricted and deer are frequently on the move. You will need to drive defensively and anticipate the prospect of deer in the roadway.

The car professionals at Steve's CARSTAR Auto Body Repair, who fix thousands of automobiles every year from deer-related mishaps, offer the following tips to lessen the deer danger:
1.    Use extra caution at sunrise and dusk and around golf courses, fields and wooded areas.
2.    Don't forget that deer travel in packs – if you notice one, there is probably more behind it.
3.    Don't swerve to get around hitting a deer, because that enhances the risk of impacting another motor vehicle or losing control of the car or truck.
4.    When there's no opposing traffic, utilize high beams at nighttime to better illuminate deer.
5.    Don't rely on gear including deer whistles, which are connected to the outside of a car, to scare off deer with an ultrasonic or high frequency noise. They haven't been shown to lessen deer-vehicle collisions.
6.    If a deer keeps on the highway after you hit it, report the accident to the game commission or a nearby law enforcement department, for the reason that deer presents a danger to other road users. If the deer still is alive, you shouldn't get around it since a wild animal with sharp hooves may inflict injuries.
7.    If a car accident with a deer really does happen, it pays to be covered. Many motorists do not recognize that holding exclusively collision coverage isn't going to cover harm from a deer incident, leaving them with a wrecked vehicle and a sizeable repair expense.  To completely deal with any prospective problems, car owners must carry detailed insurance that covers such accidents. For the people driving an older automobile who think their motor vehicles are not worth the expense of the insurance coverage, it’s smart to maintain an “accident fund” for if anything does happen.

If a motorist ends up marooned with a wrecked automobile following a deer collision, they may always call 1-800-CARSTAR. Steve's CARSTAR Auto Body Repair will dispatch the tow truck, contact their insurance company and help the automobile owner get back on the highway.

Steve's CARSTAR Auto Body Repair in Arnold, MO offers top-quality, sound repair service at over 430 locations in 30 states and 10 Canadian provinces. Just call 1-800-CARSTAR if you need a vehicle repair, and they're going to send out the tow truck, speak to your insurance company, plan for a car rental and fix your motor vehicle. For more information and store locations, go to www.auto-body-arnold-mo.com.