We live in the country. It is common to see deer along the roadways. We have at least seven deer coming into our yard each day and night. Three are bucks and four are does. We frequently count well over 200 deer along the roadway while traveling on our normal routes. Many deer get hit by vehicles each night at this time of year.
Last week we were driving home from South Carolina. We were about 15 minutes from home when a deer ran into the road in front of us. My husband put on the breaks leaving black marks on the road, as he swerved into the other lane. Even with these drastic measures, the deer still hit our minivan. I could feel the deer as it hit my side of the van. The impact was loud and forceful. The local 911 office was called and the deputy arrived to put the deer down.
My heart just broke for several reasons. I felt so sorry for the deer who was obviously in much pain and was stunned beyond movement. Our minivan was only about three months old. It was a 2007 model. We had just purchased it new.
We went to the insurance agency and filed a claim. Thankfully we do not have any deduction and the minivan will be repaired to like new condition again without any cost to us. 
However, they will not be able to even begin with the repairs until Oct 26th.
They said that it would take at least four days to do the repairs. The estimate was well over $1600.00. That was with some new parts and some just repaired parts.
Have you ever hit an animal while traveling before?
How much damage was done to your vehicle?
Are wild animals a problem in your area when it comes to driving?
recommend this
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 40
I've heard a few stories here as well of people having to stop due to Black Bears crossing the road..I think that would frighten many motorists!
That must have broke your heart too. I have never seen a swan in the wild.
When I lived in Virginia we came across wildlife on the road fairly often.
There is more country area, its not often we see wildlife here.
(Unless I drive into the mountain areas)
And I had over 5K of damage.
*sigh* price of living in Michigan I guess.
We too were glad that neither of us were hurt. That is the main thing but it still was upsetting to see a vehicle that was just 3 months old hit and damaged. :)
My husband would not let me go back and look at it. He knows how I get. Wow I can imagaine how you felt! I think women are more sensitive when it comes to baby animals.
I have never been to Germany. I would love to see videos and photos of it. Hint Hint :)
I hit a kitten while driving to work one morning. I could feel its little bones crushing under the weight of the car. I was a mess all day long. :)
How much damage was done to your vehicle?
Are wild animals a problem in your area when it comes to driving?
Mom, you know I've hit a deer before! The damage to our car was $2400 so you got off pretty lucky! When I hit that deer, it tried to jump the car. Smashed in everything on the front passenger side and put some dents on farther back too because after it hit it then rolled back along the side of the car. I hit it on the interstate so I was going a lot faster than you and dad were going.
I hit a dog one time too but didn't do any damage to the car or to the dog. I wasn't going very fast when that happened. The dog just jumped off the bank and into the road in front of me. That happened one morning on our way to school when we lived up Price Run. The dog was a big Rottweiler. He just rolled down the other side of the road, got up and shook his head, and came after the car again (I had stopped to make sure he was alright).
Deer are a problem here too. And dogs. You see dogs hit all the time down here. All the time!
Our minivan is higher off the ground than your car was. That prevented alot of damage. Thankfully
Wow! Were they all in about the same area??? I have been to Kansas City before.
Are there many moose killed each year by vehicles??
Both young kids screamed their heads off. I think I might of even screamed myself. cause I had no idea what I hit when it happened. The deer had ran out of a patch of woods. It was pitch black out. There was pine trees on the other side of the road.
Yeah, one of those times when you can't see them til you hit them. After that I always drove real slow through that area.
My Grandmother got hit by a deer once. LOL It hit her in the passenger side door while she was stopped to let other deer cross the road. The deer seemed to be ok and ran off but the next day, a neighbor found it dead in their field.
The poor deer, they get so startled when they see cars, and when they hit your car -wow.
It was anew van. We only had it about three months. :)
That would be terrible. I hope someone else took it off for you.
We have tons of wildlife - every day a new batch of 'road kill' on the way to work.
Raccoons, Opossum, Skunks, Squirrels, Porcupine, Rabbits, Frogs/Toads, Turtles, Birds, Turkeys, Pheasants. And many, many deer - and they just leave them lay there and rot.
Saw a fox just the other day, too.
Dogs and cats running too. Don't see many of them hit, but a few. Have lost a couple of mine to the fate of cars. (We have a nice fishing creek just across the road, and they love going over there!!!)
Had a baby muskrat coming across the yard from the creek last spring.
My eyes are constantly darting about because sometimes you can see the reflection of the headlights in their eyes in time to react appropriately.
I have hit 2 birds. They splatter and make a big mess. But my primary concern was that I had killed the birds and cried both times all the way home.
this is my driving privilege pet-peeve
Throw them in Jail already !