Deer Car Accidents in Georgia

Every year, deer cause thousands of automobile accidents in Georgia and throughout the United States. Some of these accidents cause serious injuries or even death, either because a driver collides with a deer or with another vehicle or in an attempt to avoid the deer. A driver may also run off the road and collide with trees, signs, guardrails, or other objects on the side of the road, as a result of trying to avoid hitting the deer.

Obviously, a deer does not have insurance coverage, but you can still recover compensation for your injuries if you are involved in a collision with a deer. For instance, you may have insurance coverage for a deer accident under either your comprehensive coverage or uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage on your automobile insurance policy. Likewise, you may have insurance coverage under another driver’s policy, if the driver struck you while swerving to avoid a deer. A personal injury claim can help ensure you collect the benefits you are entitled to after a deer-related car accident.

Being familiar with common habits of deer and knowing what to do if a deer runs in front of your vehicle can help avoid a serious accident. The Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) suggests following these guidelines to minimize the chances of a collision with a deer:

• In areas known to have a high deer population, you should constantly scan the road and the sides of the road for deer movements and sightings. Look for light reflecting off of eyes and also large dark round objects.


• Slow down if a deer crosses the road in front of you or another car. Because deer often travel in groups, it is likely that there is another one following close behind.


• If you see a deer on the road or roadside at night, slow down, blink your headlights, and switch to low beam so you don’t blind the deer.


• Short horn blasts may help scare deer from the road.


• Continue to check for vehicles in other lanes and behind you so you know your “outs” if a deer runs in front of your car.

If a deer runs out in front of your vehicle, slow down (but avoid slamming on your brakes), and do not swerve. Swerving could cause you to strike another vehicle or leave the roadway. If you do have an accident, alert the police, so that you have an accident report and so that the deer carcass can be disposed of appropriately if necessary.

If you have been injured in a deer-related car accident in Georgia, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and damages. For a free initial consultation contact the Georgia car accident lawyers at Katz Personal Injury Lawyers. We handle personal injury claims on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney’s fees unless we obtain compensation on your behalf. Our legal team can be reached at (404) 460-0101.