A collision with a deer can be a dangerous occurrence that can leave the driver, passengers, and other people on the road with serious injuries. In order to avoid an encounter with a deer this breeding season, follow these tips:
-Be careful around sunrise and sunset. Slow down, especially if you’re in areas that deer populate.
-Exercise extreme caution on two-lane roads. These are more dangerous as the deer that appear will likely be in your path and will come out of nowhere. You also have less room to avoid collision.
-If one deer has already crossed the road, there may be others behind it. Be on the lookout for followers. Just because you saw one deer clear your path doesn’t mean there aren’t more. Often, deer travel together and walk single file. They use one deer crossing as a signal that it’s okay to cross as well.
-Slow down if you see a deer on the side of the road. Fall marks the mating season, when bucks begin chasing does. They travel with their heads to the ground in order to follow a scent. October through December is when drivers need to be on the lookout.
You can’t always avoid a deer. The following are some tips from law enforcement to minimize your risk to injury.
-Always wear your seat belt!
-Try not to swerve. Most injuries that are deer-related are not caused by actually colliding with a deer, but rather when drivers swerve in order to avoid them. Swerving can cause a wreck with another vehicle, or may cause your vehicle to roll over or run off the road.
-Brake and hold on to the steering wheel with both hands. As stated above, swerving can actually prove to be more dangerous than braking.
As a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, I hope this tips will help keep you and your family safe. In my experience as a Los Angeles car accident lawyer, I’ve seen how road blockages and deer can distract a driver.
