Brake, Don’t Swerve: Why You Should Just Hit the Deer

It is a scenario every Michigan driver knows all too well. You are driving down a quiet, tree-lined road when suddenly a deer leaps directly into your headlights. Your immediate survival instinct screams at you to yank the steering wheel and pull a fast-and-furious stunt move to save both the deer and your car. But as hard as it is to hear, safety experts and your friendly neighborhood insurance nerds agree: you should brace yourself, brake firmly, and just hit the deer.

While swerving feels like the natural thing to do, it is actually the most dangerous decision you can make in that split second. Swerving at high speeds often causes you to lose complete control of your vehicle, especially on dark, wet, or leaf-covered roads. A deer is soft compared to a massive oak tree, a concrete utility pole, or an oncoming vehicle. When you swerve, you risk rolling your car into a ditch or crossing into oncoming traffic, turning what will most likely be relatively minor to moderate damage into a catastrophic event.

Beyond the obvious physical dangers, there is another reason it is best to just hit the deer. If you stay in your lane and collide with the deer, your insurance carrier classifies this as a Comprehensive claim. Because hitting an animal is considered an unavoidable act of nature, your deductible is typically lower. However, if you swerve, successfully miss the deer, but end up wrapping your car around a tree, the law views things differently. You have now hit a stationary object, which triggers a Collision claim. Legally, you are now "at fault" for the accident, which means a higher deductible and a likely spike in your insurance rates.

So, the next time a deer decides to test your reflexes on a Michigan highway, take a deep breath and keep your hands steady. Grip the steering wheel firmly, apply the brakes in a straight line, and let your front bumper do the job it was built to do. We know it’s a terrible thing to hit a deer, and of course our fingers are crossed that braking allows it time to get out of the way but, your car and those in other lanes have people in them. In the worst-case scenario, your first priority is your safety and that of the drivers around you.

 Don’t swerve, for your own sake, your passengers’ safety, and your wallet.

Have any questions about what you just read? Please contact your Independent Insurance Agent or email us at socialmedia@psmic.com!

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