Deer accidents cause roughly 50,000 car crashes every year around Georgia. While the whitetail deer is beautiful and a amazing viewing experience in the woods, seeing antlers pop up in your headlights is a pretty scary scenario and car end up causing you car repair.
A full-grown male deer can weigh up to 350 pounds and has antlers that can get through your car windshield. In other words, there will be damage to your vehicle if you hit one of these beautiful creatures.
Atlanta Auto Collision specializes in helping drivers throughout the Metro Atlanta and Smyrna areas with car repair from deer crashes. We offer a full range of vehicle repairs, from matching scratched paint to body repairs. When you search for a body shop near me, make sure they are like us and offer professional deer crash repairs.
Immediate Steps to Take After a Deer Collision
Hitting a deer might be scary and dangerous, but you need to stay calm when your vehicle finally comes to a stop. Make sure you pull over to get out of the way of other traffic safely. Immediately call the authorities (police, state trooper, animal control) and let them know there’s been an accident as well as if the deer is blocking traffic. You’ll want that police report to file an insurance claim.
Take your time to document the scene, including vehicle damage that will need car repair, the surrounding area, the deer (if still there), and any fur or blood on the vehicle. Collect potential witness statements and stay well clear of the animal. A deer knocked out may seem dead, but could suddenly jump up and become dangerous.
You may also want to wait to drive. Before contacting an auto body shop for repairs, check for leaking fluids, broken lights, or loose panels. You may need a tow or car repair to ensure you’re safe.
Common Vehicle Damage After Hitting a Deer
A deer is not a small animal. Any crash into such an animal will cause damage. What type of damage will depend on how fast you were going, the total size of the animal, the type of car you drive, and other conditions. In most cases, you can expect damage like:
- Headlights and fog lights getting cracked and not working
- Crushed or dented bumpers needing a paint and body shop for repairs
- Dented or buckled hood that took the main force of the impact
- Shattered windshield, side window, or mirror glass on the road
- Potential frame and underhood damage impacting engine mounts, belts, hoses, and more
Even if you see nothing at first, you may drive a couple of miles post-crash and suddenly get all the warning lights for car repair. Always take your vehicle to a certified auto body shop like Atlanta Auto Collision for a thorough inspection and car repair after an accident.
How Our Auto Body Shop Handles Deer Collision Repairs
Atlanta Auto Collision is well-equipped and trained to handle animal collision repairs. We work with everything from a animal falling out of a tree to hitting a deer at 45 MPH. Our trusted auto body shop in Smyrna works hard to restore your vehicle back to good working order.
We begin with a comprehensive diagnostic assessment, examining both visible and hidden damage in the frame, suspension, brakes, under the hood, glass, and addressing cosmetic concerns. You will likely need paintless dent repair (PDR) that treats minor dents without impacting your OEM paint.
We also manage panel repair and replacement for larger impacts. Everything from severely bent doors after getting T-boned by a buck to fenders off their chassis due to a doe and a couple of fawns.
Our paint and body shop can replace broken windshields, windows, and mirrors. We are happy to conduct a final safety check using our multi-point inspection checklist so you have complete confidence that it is safe to drive. That is the type of attention to detail only the best body shops in Metro Atlanta offer.
If you have only a few scratches, we also offer paint analysis that matches the original, custom, or faded paintwork on your vehicle. All of these car repair services are provided with a clear and easy-to-read quote, so you know what you’ll pay and how long it’ll take before agreeing to any work.
Does Insurance Cover Hitting a Deer?
Hitting a deer near Atlanta is considered an “act of nature.” That’s a good thing because it means your comprehensive claims should cover most of the repairs. You may have to pay a deductible, but otherwise, it should be covered.
The problem comes if you have to swerve to avoid the deer. In that case, any collisions you may have had with another driver’s car, property, or onlooker will have to fall under collision insurance.
Do your best to document everything, get a verifiable police report, and act quickly when speaking with your insurance provider. Always work with a trusted auto body shop that understands how to best communicate with your insurance company.
Hitting a deer shouldn’t necessarily raise your insurance premiums because it was something well outside your control. However, every policy is different, so you may want to call your provider now and get a better idea of what it covers. That way, when you do need to find a car repair shop in the area, you’ll know what infomation to provide.
How To Avoid Future Deer Collisions
Wildlife is not controllable, but there are some steps you can take to reduce the risk of a deer collision around Metro Atlanta or surrounding areas. You should:
- Slow your speed down during dusk and dawn when deer are most active
- Always use high beams in rural or wooded areas
- Keep a close watch for reflective eye shine or movement
- Don’t swerve if a deer is in your path – brake slowly in a straight line, and it should jump away
- You can purchase some deer whistles on your bumper if you come across them often
You want to be hyper-vigilant when you come across a deer. Odds are others are hanging out in the woods around the one you can see.
Call Us Today!
Atlanta Auto Collision is not another car body shop. We offer specialized experience in deer-related car repair as well as navigating the insurance claim process. Our professional team will assess any vehicle damage and handle all repairs, from minor paint scratches to replacing your bumper.
Deer-related accidents can result in significant vehicle damage. As a family-friendly, customer-first auto body shop in Smyrna, trust our team to be your go-to solution whenever wildlife decides to throw you a curve ball. Call us today at (678) 217-4200 to schedule an appointment.
