Deer-vehicle accidents on the rise
The number of deer-related vehicle accidents in Butler County has increased over the last few years.
Deer-related crashes have been steadily increasing since 2010, according to statistics compiled the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation from its own information, state police and other law enforcement agencies.
“In 2018 there were 171 deer-related crashes. That was a 27 percent increase from 2017,” said Jamie Arehart, community relations coordinator for PennDOT District 10, which covers Butler County.
The number of crashes hovered around 100 a year until 2010 when 126 crashes with 23 injuries and one fatality occurred.
Deer-related crashes escalated to 168 in 2014. Since then, there were 153 in 2015, 140 in 2016, 145 in 2017 and 171 last year. Injuries from last year's crashes totaled 39, which ties the county record, and one fatality.
Arehart said the numbers are released annually in October. Deer-vehicle crashes spike in the fall.
There were 41 crashes in October, 38 in November and 19 in December last year, she said.
“Those are the top three months when Butler County has the most deer-related crashes, and that is the same in all counties,” Arehart said.
John Williams of Spectrum Insurance Services in Butler agreed.
“You're talking to a guy that just hit one,” Williams said. “We've had four this week.”
Darkness comes early in the fall due to the switch from daylight saving time. Deer become active at dusk when many people are driving home from work, he added.
“At dusk, slow down. You've got to be aware.” Williams said.
It pays to drive cautiously because vehicles have become increasing more expensive to repair.“There's been an uptick in the amount of the claims. The damage that's done to cars is more expensive. You have a lot of computerized things. The dollar amount paid out on a deer claim is a lot higher than it was 10 years ago,” Williams said.The accident he had caused extensive front-end and fender damage. Williams said the repair bill is $7,500.He noted that Pennsylvania is among the top three or four states with the most deer accident insurance claims every year.Even cautious drivers can encounter deer, and Williams advises those who do to rely on their vehicles' brakes instead of swerving to avoid deer.He said hitting a deer is covered under comprehensive insurance, which has a lower deductible than collision insurance. Collision insurance would come into play if a driver swerves to avoid a deer and strikes a tree, he said.“I think your best bet is to stay in your lane and brake as much as possible,” Williams said.“It's definitely more expensive now,” said Bob Wearing, body shop manager at Mike Kelly Automotive.High-speed accidents with deer on highways such as Interstate 79 result in more vehicle damage than lower-speed accidents, he said.“This is the time of year for deer. It's just the start of it now,” Wearing said.He said the number of deer-damaged vehicles he sees in the shop has been steady over the last few years.“This time of year, we know its coming,” Wearing said.
