It is deer season again in Iowa; drivers need to be more focused on the road and on the lookout all the time when driving on highways, interstates, and rural roads. The number of accidents caused by deer has increased 17% in Iowa from 2004, this is not as drastic as some states, but drivers still need to be aware. When a car hits a deer, the damage to the car is usually pretty significant. You shouldn’t try to swerve to avoid hitting a deer, because it tends to cause more damage to your car and you can get injured if you lose control of your vehicle or if you get into the path of another vehicle.

Here are some tips on how you can reduce your chance of hitting a deer:

Look for deer crossing signs- this is a good indicator that there may be deer in the area. You should pay extra attention to the road.

Deer are most active between 6 and 9 at night- During the fall/winter months it is dark out at this time; you should use your high beam headlights as much as possible so you are able to see more areas of the road and surrounding the road.

Stay alert- Do not let little things distract you, if you look down at a text message or are reaching for something, taking your eye off the road for a second could result in a deer-vehicle collision, they tend to appear out of nowhere and they are very quick!

Keep in mind that if you see one deer, there is usually more to follow- Deer generally travel in herds.

Remember that trying to avoid a deer might be worse than actually hitting it- You should not swerve or go into the other lane, because you never know how many deer might be crossing and you could lose control of your car.

If you or someone you know has been involved in a car accident caused by someone trying to avoid a deer you may want to speak with an attorney before you talk to the insurance adjustor. You can protect your family by knowing your rights and what you should do in your car crash claim. Attorneys Corey J. L. Walker and Erik D. Bair of Walker, Billingsley & Bair practice primarily in personal injury cases and are dedicated to giving your case the personal attention that it needs. If you would like to learn more about car accident claims you can request a Free copy of our Injured Iowan Book by calling 1-800-707-2552 ext. 810 or visit IowaCarAccidentBook.com