Animal and Deer Collisions on the Highway
Written By Justin A. Villeneuve
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According to the latest statistics from the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, there were an estimated 154,000 collisions between vehicles and animals in Ontario for the year 2018. This figure is a 4% increase from 2017. Of these animal collisions, 55% involved deer, with the remaining 45% split between other animals such as moose, geese, and bears.
Most of these animal collisions occur in rural areas rather than urban ones. In fact, 85% of all animal or deer crash incidents happened on highways and untravelled roadways outside of major cities. In addition to this, these accidents tend to happen more often during certain times of the year.
The data also shows that most animal collisions occur at night or early morning due to decreased visibility and increased wildlife activity during these times.
Additionally, drivers should not assume that all animals will move away quickly; some may run into traffic lanes instead of away from them, increasing their chances of a fatal collision with a car. Overall, understanding the statistics around animal car accidents can help drivers stay safe on roads by more motorists being aware and cautious of potential hazards and risk posed by wildlife activity in certain areas and times throughout Ontario’s year.
Most Common Causes of Animal Collisions:
- Poor visibility due to darkness or weather conditions
- Animals crossing roads in search of food or habitat
- Unfenced roads that traverse wildlife habitats
- Distracted or impaired drivers
- Excessive speed for the road conditions
- Animals chasing prey across the road
- Unmarked road crossings used by wildlife
How to Avoid Deer or Animal Car Accidents
When driving on the roadway, it is important to be aware of your surroundings and watch out for animals that may cross your path. Here are some tips on how to avoid colliding with wildlife when you’re on the road:
First, drive slowly and cautiously. Animals can come out of nowhere, so be prepared to stop at any moment. It is also important to pay attention to signs warning of animal crossings. A lot of times these will indicate an area where animals are known to cross frequently, so stay alert when passing through these areas.
Additionally, certain products can help you avoid a collision with wildlife while driving. Some items that can be purchased include protective covers for headlights and grilles, fog lights with wide-angle high beams for better visibility, special mirrors that extend the driver’s field of view, and animal reflectors or infrared cameras that detect animals in the dark. Further avoidance items include:
- Radar detector: Detects radar signals from police vehicles or other sources and alerts the driver to slow down.
- Deer whistles: Produce a high-pitched sound that warns deer away from vehicles.
- Animal warning light: Emits a bright beam that warns animals away from roadsides and curbsides, allowing drivers to have more time to react if they encounter an animal on the road.
Interesting Information About Deer and Animal Crashes
- How common is hitting a deer?
- It is not uncommon to hit a deer while driving in Ontario. According to recent statistics, there were approximately 9,500 reported collisions involving deer and motor vehicles in the province of Ontario in 2018 alone.
- What color car do deer hit most?
- Deer hit cars of all colours, but studies have shown that deer are more likely to collide with white and silver vehicles than any other colour.
- What is the most likely time of year for deer collisions:
- Most deer collisions typically occur during the fall months, from October through December, when deer are more active and mating season is in full swing.
A Personal Injury Lawyer’s Involvement:
When an animal collision occurs in Ontario, it’s important for both drivers and victims to understand their legal rights. Depending on the circumstances, an injured driver may be able to pursue compensation for their losses from an at-fault party’s car insurance company.
In some cases, even if another vehicle was not involved in the accident, a negligent landowner may still be found liable for damages caused by their pet or wild animal.
When this is the case, a personal injury lawyer can help victims better understand their legal options and get them the compensation they deserve.
First of all, a personal injury lawyer can assess your case and determine who should be held accountable for any damages incurred as a result of an animal collision.
What to Do if Injured in an Animal Car Crash
If you were injured while driving because a wild animal rushed into your path without warning or if you hit someone else’s pet while behind the wheel, then there could be various parties responsible for paying out damages depending on where liability lies under Ontario’s laws.
A car accident injury lawyer will evaluate your claim and build a strong legal case against any at-fault parties so that you have an opportunity to obtain adequate compensation for your suffering.
If you hit an animal with your car and it resulted in property damage or harm to other individuals, then there are also certain steps that must be taken according to Ontario laws.
Oftentimes, police reports are required whenever large animals such as deer or moose are struck by vehicles; however, when small animals like cats or rabbits are hit, it might not always be necessary to involve law enforcement officials unless other vehicles were included in the accident as well.
In these cases, working with a personal injury lawyer can help you make sure all necessary paperwork is filled out accurately so that everything is documented properly during your legal proceedings and insurance claims process.
Experiencing an animal collision can be traumatic for both drivers involved and those affected by it directly or indirectly; therefore, seeking help from a qualified personal injury lawyer immediately following such an incident is highly recommended so that you don’t miss out on any potential avenues for obtaining compensation from those who might have been responsible for causing harm through negligence or recklessness actions on their part.
Your lawyer will ensure that no detail goes unaccounted for when making claims against those potentially liable parties so that you get equitable justice for whatever losses were suffered as a result of the incident and receive a fair financial recovery.
Accident Benefits in a Deer or Animal Car Crash
Ontario Canada’s Statutory Accident Benefits can help Ontario drivers involved in animal crashes in a number of ways. In the event of a collision with an animal, SABS can assist by providing medical and rehabilitation benefits to cover the costs associated with assessing and treating any injuries sustained in the collision. This includes costs for physiotherapy, occupational therapy, chiropractic or psychological services.
In addition to medical and rehabilitation benefits, statutory accident benefits may also provide coverage for income replacement if the collision results in lost wages due to illness or injury. Drivers may also be eligible for caregiver benefits if they are required to care for a family member as a result of their injuries from the animal collision.
Finally, SABS can assist drivers who have suffered property damage due to an animal collision by covering certain repair costs. This includes the cost of repairing or replacing a damaged vehicle and any other objects damaged in the crash such as eyeglasses or hearing aids.
Resources
- Canada Safety Council: Road Safety: https://canadasafetycouncil.org/traffic-safety/road-safety/
- Humane Society International – Canada: Road Safety for Animals: https://www.hsi.org/ca/issues/road_safety_for_animals/
- Canadian Automobile Association (CAA): Animal Accidents on the Road: https://national.caa.ca/newsroom/animal-accidents-on-the-road
- The Furbearers: Protecting Wildlife from Vehicle Collisions: https://thefurbearers.com/protecting-wildlife-from-vehicle-collisions/
- Ministry of Transportation, Ontario (MTO): Wildlife Collisions in Ontario: https://www.ontario.ca/page/preventing-wildlife-collisions
Justin is a fully bilingual lawyer and services clients in both French and English. He represents parties in insurance disputes, personal injury claims, and employment disputes at various levels of courts in Ontario. He was given early acceptance to the Common Law program at the University of Ottawa Law School. He obtained his Juris Doctorate in 2014 and was admitted to the Law Society of Upper Canada in 2016 after articling at Weaver Simmons in Sudbury, Ontario.
Education
University of Ottawa – Common Law
