A growing number of car accidents happen each year due to animals on the road. Whether it be deer darting out from a nearby forest or raccoons running from one side of the road to the next, they can be nearly impossible to avoid. However, animal car accidents are done the same way by each car insurance provider. But, understanding what kind of damage to be on the lookout for and how to properly handle animal damage with your car insurance provider can help save you time and money.
More importantly, here’s how you can avoid hitting an animal on the road, no matter how dark it is or distracted you may be.
Animals are generally active between the hours of 4 to 6 a.m. and 6 to 11 p.m. Make sure that you’re on high alert throughout these hours to prevent an animal auto accident.
Distracted driving is an unfortunate trend among drivers today. However, you can do your part by putting down your food, drink, or cell phone and keeping an eye out on the road ahead. This way, you can prevent any further animal road killings.
One way to prevent an animal-caused car accident is to get familiar with the animals in your area and how you can both be a hazard to each other on the road. Depending on what area you living in, for example, rural, suburban, or city, keep yourself up-to-date on what kind of animals you may come across on the road you are driving on. You should also be particularly careful on roads that have special animal crossing signs.
Keep an eye on the road ahead can help give you enough of a reaction time in case an animal is crossing the road. More importantly, most animals move in groups, so if you spot one, keep in mind that there may be more to follow.
Whether you know it or not, there’s usually always wildlife surrounding the roads you drive on. Don’t take the risk of killing an animal or others driving by speeding on a road that may have animals crossing. Make sure to read the speed limits in your area and abide by them, besides killing an animal, the last thing you want is to suffer from is a speeding fine.
Always use your high beams if there’s no oncoming traffic at night. Not only will you be able to spot wildlife sooner, but this will also help you see the road better at night. If you do spot an animal while driving, slow down and honk your horn to scare it away.
If you notice the animal on the road ahead of you soon enough, tap your brakes to warn drivers behind you. Then, honk and come to a full stop. If you are unable to avoid an accident, resist the urge to swerve. Swerving out of your lane can actually cause a larger accident. Instead, slow down as much as possible and stay in control of your car.
This should go without saying, but you should always wear your seatbelt when driving. If you do get in an accident, this simple action can make a huge difference.
The first thing you should do after any car accident is ensure that you and your passengers are alright. Then, pull over to the side of the road if you can and turn on your hazard lights. If you have flares in your car, use them to warn other drivers of your situation. Next, you should call the police and file an accident report. This is a crucial step as many states have laws against fleeing the scene of an animal-related accident. If you do leave the scene, you could end up facing serious consequences.
While on the scene, you should also note any damage to your car and take pictures of the accident. These photos will be important when you are filing an insurance claim. If the animal is still alive, be sure to keep a watchful eye on it to ensure it doesn’t cause any more damage.
After spending his secondary years of study at The McCallie School in Chattanooga, G Turner Howard III earned his BA at Tulane University. A member of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association, he received his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law. Before becoming an attorney, he earned a Master’s and Doctor of Divinity at Andrews Theological Seminary and Columbia Theological Seminary. He also served as a 1st Lieutenant in the US Army in Vietnam. With more than 20 years of experience, his firm has helped clients receive millions of dollars for personal injury, and in many cases, much faster than they ever expected.
