Accidents Caused by Deer Increasing in Tennessee – How Can You Stay Safe?

October through January is deer mating season and is also the height of deer migration season in Tennessee. Unfortunately, car accident lawyers in Knoxville know that this confluence of events means the roads can be really dangerous at this time of year with so many deer moving around.

The risk of a deer-related accident is reportedly getting worse in the state of Tennessee, which means that now more than ever, it is important for drivers to do their best to take steps to minimize the risk of a collision with a deer.

Tennessee Drivers At Risk of Accidents with Deer

Bankrate cautions that deer take a toll on road safety throughout the United States, as collisions with deer cause around 200 deaths annually as well as injuring many thousands of other motorists.  In all, deer-related accidents cause more than $3.6 billion in damage to vehicles and each incident results in an average car insurance claim for damages exceeding $3,000.

Some states are worse than others for accidents involving deer, and Tennessee has been getting more dangerous. WRCBtv reports that one out of every 286 drivers in the state of Tennessee will likely hit a deer in 2013, and that the number of deer-related accidents rose so much last year that it almost passed 6,000 incidents. Three of the collisions with deer in the state of Tennessee resulted in someone dying last year.

The habits of deer also increase the chances of accidents happening, as deer tend to move around most at dawn and at dusk. This means motorists are more likely to encounter a deer during peak commute times from between 5:00 and 8:00 a.m. and between 5:00 p.m. and midnight. In some cases, the deer will jump right out into the vehicle or run into the car, making it difficult for even careful motorists to avoid this serious danger.

However, while avoiding a deer accident can be difficult, AAA has some tips for motorists both to help them avoid collisions and to help them be safer if they do crash into a deer. Advice includes:

• Carefully scanning the road and shoulder up ahead and being especially attentive around dusk and dawn.
• Watching out for additional deer if you see one, since deer usually travel in packs.
• Slowing down in areas where signs indicate deer-crossings exist or when driving through a wooded area where deer are most likely to be.
• Using high beams at night when possible to make it easier to see deer sooner.
• Allowing for more distance in between cars so if you see a deer or the vehicle in front of you does, you have time to react without slamming into another vehicle.
• Honking your horn in a loud sustained blast if a deer stands frozen in your headlights.
• Wearing your seat belt at all times.

If you do encounter a deer and cannot get out of the way in time, it is also important to try to react calmly, press firmly on the brakes and stay in your lane, as swerving could result in a more serious collision with other traffic on the road.

If you are injured, personal injury lawyers in Knoxville, TN can help. Contact G. Turner Howard III, Attorney at Law at (844) G3-Help-Me or 865-558-8030.