A recent St. Louis Public Radio report revealed that more auto accidents involving a vehicle hitting a deer happen in Madison County, Illinois than any other county in the state. The statistics backing up this claim are based on traffic crash data from 2015 and were provided courtesy of the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). Reportedly, almost 45 percent of the collisions where a car or truck hit a deer in Madison County happened during the months of October, November and December. Overall, there were over 15,000 deer-vehicle collisions in 2015, resulting in 600 motorist injuries and eight car occupant deaths.
7 Tips for What to Do After Hitting a Deer with Your Car
If you ever hit a deer while driving, here are a few tips about what you should do:
1. Check for injuries – If you or anyone else involved in the crash is injured, call 911 and seek immediate medical attention.
2. Move your car or truck off the road – You should move your vehicle to the side of the road if possible. Also, turn on your hazard lights, and do not get out of your car or truck if you don’t have to.
3. Call law enforcement – Call the police and report the accident. If possible, stay at the accident scene until the police arrive and say that you can leave.
4. Take photos and notes – Take pictures of the accident scene, damage to your vehicle and any injuries to yourself or any passengers in your vehicle.
5. Do not approach the deer – Even if they’re wounded, deer can be powerful, so stay away from the deer you hit. If it kicks you, you could be severely injured.
6. Make sure your vehicle is safe to drive – There may be problems with your vehicle that you don’t notice right after the wreck, such as tire damage, leaking fluid or damaged exterior lights. Double check your car to ensure it’s safe to drive before leaving the accident scene.
7. Contact your insurance company – Call your insurance company and report the accident. Tell them what happened but do not admit fault.
The information provided by Walton Telken, LLC in this Blog is not intended to be legal advice, but merely provides general information related to common legal issues. This Blog, and the information contained within it, is Attorney Advertisement. The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements. Past results afford no guarantee of future results. Every case is different and must be judged on its own merits.
