Deer Collision with a VW Golf

From May-June and between October-November, there’s an increased chance of a deer collision when they are running into the road. Living in such a glorious part of the countryside, the team at Non-Fault Accident Repair commonly see deer when driving in Hertfordshire.  As you will know if you are local, the fallow deer are an integral part of the landscape at Ashridge and have been here for hundreds of years.

The AA reports that more than 42,000 deers are killed in road collisions every year. They also say that 400 car occupants are injured in accidents with deer. Compared with other roadkill incidents, a deer presents a greater risk due to the larger size. The extent of damage can be seen on the VW Golf.

The front bumper and grill of this Golf were ruined in the collision. There was both external and internal damage on the nearside which is obviously where the car took the majority of the impact.

The nearside wing was also damaged in the deer collision. The wing needed filler, primer and a paint blend with the front nearside door.

Here’s the repaired nearside wing being blended with the front nearside door inside our low-bake oven. The new bumper is sprayed at the same time so it’s ready to fit as soon as the lacquer is dry. We worked directly with Aviva to repair this VW Golf, which takes some of the hassle away from the customer. The car was ready to go home in no time, looking as good as new.

_{How to avoid a deer collision}

The AA have helpfully put together these pointers on avoiding a collision with a deer and also some notes on what to do if you are unable to avoid a collision. Ashridge even gets a mention, highlighting how common a deer collision is in our local area;

1. Accidents involving deer peak in May, October and November.
2. The worst times of day are around sunrise and sunset to midnight.
3. Some areas have bigger problems than others. Hotspots include: A134 in Thetford Forest, A22 in Ashdown Forest, B4506 in Ashridge Forest, A4136 in the Forest of Dean, and M27 between Southampton and Portsmouth.
4. Be extra vigilant where you see ‘deer’ or ‘wild animal’ road signs.
5. A deer can appear almost instantly – nature makes them hard to see and they don’t follow the green cross code.
6. Use your high-beam headlights (without dazzling other drivers) when it’s dark, but dip them if you see a deer, otherwise it may freeze in your path.
7. Don’t over-react or swerve excessively. It’s safer to continue on your normal track rather than swerving or braking hard to try to avoid a deer.
8. Bear in mind that if you do swerve and miss a deer (or any other animal), but hit something else, it will be very hard to prove that the deer ever existed.
9. If you do hit a deer, try to stop somewhere safe.
10. Report the accident to the police – they’ll contact someone who can help the injured deer.

You can read the full article on AA.com

If possible we aim to repair your vehicle for as little as or below the excess of your insurance policy. We take all the stress from the process, liaising with the relevant parties and working as quickly as possible to get you back on the road. For more information on our Non-Fault Accident Repair services see our website or call us on 0800 059 0220