As we head deeper into the fall-time months, it’s important to be more aware than ever while driving.

Rural areas where deer are more active can always pose a threat to drivers — but during these months, it’s especially important to watch out for deer at any time and any place.

Manic mating season

In autumn and early winter, mating season for deer begins, affecting the behavior of these large animals in a dangerous way. During mating season, deer are more active and aggressive as they search and fight for a mate.

The result? An increase in the number of  deer-car collisions. These accidents can cause an extreme amount of damage to a vehicle and even put the lives of the driver and passengers at risk, depending on the speed of the vehicle and the size of both the vehicle and the deer.

How to react to a deer in the road safely

The best way to react to a deer in the road is to gradually slow down and drive carefully while passing the animal. While flashing your headlights may seem like it would be effective, this action may cause the deer to freeze in the road.

However, if you are traveling too fast to slow down gradually and there are cars behind you, most experts agree that it is safer to hit the animal than to swerve around it or slam on your breaks. Some sources recommend sounding your horn continually in a last attempt to get the animal out of the way.

Hitting the animal is safer than swerving because if you swerve into a tree, guardrail, or another vehicle, more damage and worse injuries are likely to result.

Prevent deer-car collisions

Though a deer can quickly emerge from the side of the road, there are a few preventative measures you can take to avoid a collision and be prepared for a deer’s presence:

• Be most alert during and following sundown
• Look for two glowing dots (the deer’s eyes)
• Wear a seatbelt
• Drive slowly in rural or dimly lit areas
• Use high-beam headlights to see more clearly in dark areas
• Be wary of more deer after spotting one

These tips can help prepare you for the dangers of deer during the fall and winter months in Louisiana. However, it can be hard to prepare if another car reacts poorly to a deer sighting.

If you are involved in a crash after another driver fails to recognize or react properly to a deer, you may be entitled to compensation for resulting damages and injuries. Consult with a personal injury attorney any time you are involved in one of these crashes so that you can seek compensation for your recovery.