The chances of being killed by a deer are far greater than you may think. Death by bear? Only 33 fatal maulings have been recorded in North America since 2000. Death by shark? The odds are less than 1 in 11 million. But last year alone, 200 people were killed in deer-vehicle collisions, according to the Insurance Information Institute. In all, an estimated 1.2 million deer collide with vehicles each year, causing $4 billion in vehicle damage and resulting in $1 billion in medical expenses for injured drivers and passengers.
You’re most likely to be hit by a deer in the last three months of the year, with November being the worst month for deer-vehicle collisions. On any day in November, you are three times more likely to hit a deer than anytime between February and August, say insurance experts. Deer hunting, seasonal migration, and the rutting season combine to make November a particularly bad month for these types of accidents.
How do you protect yourself? Pay attention to deer crossing signs. Wear a seat belt and shoulder harness. Slow down, especially from dusk to dawn and during inclement weather. If one deer crosses the road, assume it won’t be alone. And if a collision is inevitable, avoid swerving wildly to avoid the animal. In many accidents, loss of control and a potential rollover poses greater risks than a head-on collision with a deer. For more information about deer-vehicle collisions, and how to avoid them, read this report.