How to prevent collisions with animals — and what to do if an accident happens

Thousands of animal-related collisions happen across the country every year. Not only do these accidents harm our wildlife, but hitting a large animal like a deer, moose, or elk can cause serious damage to your vehicle or — far worse — injuries or even death to you and your passengers. Learn how to prevent a collision with an animal, minimize injuries and damage to your vehicle if you can’t avoid a collision, and what to do if you’ve hit an animal.

How to avoid animal-related collisions

Animals can be unpredictable, and it’s not always possible to entirely avoid a collision when one crosses your path. The good news is, there are some things you can do to reduce your chances of being involved in an animal-related collision:

1. Be aware of your surroundings. When you’re behind the wheel, keep your eyes on the road and perform regular mirror checks so you’re always aware of what’s going on around you. Be especially mindful of signs that animals may be nearby:
   • Yellow wildlife warning signs are posted near the road
   • You’re driving in a heavily wooded area or near water like ponds, lakes, or rivers
   • You’re driving at dusk or dawn
2. Light up the night. Whenever possible, use your high-beam headlights when travelling through poorly lit areas. But remember, you need to turn your high beams off when you’re within 200 metres of another vehicle.
3. Watch for glowing eyes. Many animals’ eyes glow brightly when met with headlights. When you’re driving at night, scan the side of the road for the glowing eyes of animals that may be about to cross.
4. Ask your passenger to be your co-pilot. If there’s someone in the passenger seat while you’re driving, especially at night, ask them to be a second pair of eyes and watch for signs of wildlife that may be getting too close for comfort.
5. If you spot an animal on the road up ahead, slow down or try to stop your vehicle. Never assume that an animal will cross the road before you approach it — and if you see one animal cross, it’s safe to assume another may be close behind it. Check your rear-view mirror and apply your brake smoothly to slow down or come to a complete stop if it’s safe to do so. Animals can be unpredictable, so try not to get too close — instead, give the animal space to cross the road. You may also want to turn on your hazard lights to let other drivers know you’re slowing down. 

It’s not always possible to avoid an animal when one crosses your path, but there are things you can do to reduce the likelihood of being involved in an animal-related collision.

How to stay safe and minimize damage if you can’t avoid a collision with an animal

While no one wants to hurt an animal, you should prioritize your life and the lives of other drivers first. If you spot an animal on the road and you’re too close to safely avoid a collision, take these steps to lessen the severity of the damage:

1. Don’t panic. Panicking often leads to swerving, but swerving can put your life and the lives of others on the road at risk.
2. Quickly check your rear-view mirror. Make sure no one is behind you. If the coast is clear and if it’s safe to do so…
3. Hit the brakes. Put your foot firmly and evenly on the brake pedal.
4. Ease up on the brake just before colliding with the animal. This can help prevent it from going through your windshield.
5. Steer in the direction the animal came from if the coast is clear. If the animal came from the right, steer towards the right shoulder (but be careful to avoid hitting the guardrail or rolling into the ditch). This can encourage the animal to cross the road faster, which will minimize damage if you do hit it — or you might get lucky and miss it altogether.

Do you know what to do if you spot an animal on the road and you’re too close to safely avoid a collision? Take these steps to help lessen the severity of the accident.

What to do after you’ve been in a collision involving an animal

Here’s what you should do if you hit an animal with your vehicle:

1. Regain control of your vehicle and pull over. Only pull over if, and when, it’s safe to do so.
2. Turn on your hazard lights. This will alert other drivers to slow down as they approach your vehicle.
3. Check on your passengers and yourself. If anyone is hurt, call 911 right away.
4. Try to determine if the animal is injured or dead. If it’s injured, keep your distance (injured animals can be unpredictable) and contact local animal control or conservation services. If the animal is dead, contact local highway maintenance services so they can come and collect it. You should also call 911 if the animal is blocking a live lane of traffic.
5. If it’s safe to do so, inspect your vehicle for damage and call for help if you need it. Call 911 if your vehicle is blocking traffic or is no longer safe to drive.
6. Take photos of any damage to your vehicle and the scene of the accident. Photo evidence can help your insurance company process your car insurance claim faster if you need to make one.
7. Call your group’s broker or your insurance company’s 24-hour claims service line. Be prepared to provide as many details as you can to help your group’s broker or insurance company process your claim as quickly as possible.

Does car insurance cover collisions with animals?

A collision with an animal is generally covered under the comprehensive or collision loss section of your policy. Comprehensive coverage and collision coverage are optional, and if you don’t have either of them, damage to your vehicle caused by animals generally won’t be covered by your car insurance policy.

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