When an animal like a white-tailed deer runs in front of your car in Florida, your first instinct is probably to swerve around it. You are trying to avoid a car accident. You want to avoid injury, and you also want to avoid damaging your vehicle. Many animal collisions result in severe damage to the front of a car, even if the people inside do not suffer serious harm.
However, this instinct is generally wrong. Swerving to avoid an animal in the road can be very dangerous.
The problem is that the alternatives often increase your risk. If you swerve to the left, you could be struck by an oncoming vehicle. This is a much more violent and dangerous crash and puts both you and the occupants of the other vehicle at risk. If you swerve to the right, you could lose control of the vehicle, leave the roadway, and strike a stationary object, such as a tree or telephone pole. This is also extremely dangerous and can lead to severe injuries.
What should you do instead?
Instead of swerving, try to brake as quickly as possible while maintaining control of your vehicle. Reducing your speed before impact can help limit the severity of the collision. In some cases, you may even be able to stop before striking the deer, or slowing down may give the animal time to leave the roadway.
It can also be helpful to honk your horn while braking. This may startle the deer and cause it to run out of the road. Even if you cannot stop in time, it is generally safer to slow down and hit the deer.
Other drivers make mistakes
Even if you know how to respond when an animal enters the roadway, another driver may instinctively swerve into your lane while trying to avoid a collision. If you suffer injuries in a crash caused by another driver’s actions, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills and other losses.