OHIO — Ohio drivers have been in more than 100,000 deer related accidents since 2016 according to Ohio State Highway Patrol.
What You Need To Know
- Mating season is causing deer to be more unpredictable, causing accidents
- Ohio State Highway Patrol says swerving to avoid deer could put you in a dangerous situation
- Some auto shops are experiencing backlogs with these added incidents
November is peak season for these accidents. It's a busy time of year for Carlos Maldonado and his repair shop, Extreme Body Experts.
“These two came in yesterday and Monday," he said pointing out two sedans with their hoods and front bumpers smashed in.
In both cases, collisions with deer caused the damage.
During daylight saving time, most accidents happen around 6 p.m., causing thousands of dollars of damage.
“The minimum that I’ve seen is upper $7,000 to $12,000 worth of damage," explained Maldanado, "it doesn’t take much to create a $10,000 to $12,000 bill in a new car.”
A labor shortage along with supply chain blocks means repairs may take a little longer.
"It’s been really busy, supply chain, everything's taking a while, when you call to order something they’ll always tell you 'the next day,' it’s not in 2-3 hours," said Maldanado.
So far, eight cars involved in deer related collisions have come into Maldanado's shop in Lorain since the start of the fall season.
He says some damage is made worse by people swerving.
“She hit a deer, and then she slid and hit a pole," he said.
Ohio State Highway Patrol said swerving to avoid a deer is the wrong move.
“Applying the brakes firmly and staying in your lane," said Sgt. Ray Santiago. "Do not swerve because that may cause increased opportunity for damage or harm... or even death.”
Ohio State Highway Patrol ranked the five counties that have seen the most deer related crashes since 2016:
- Stark County - 2,771
- Richland County - 2,478
- Hancock County - 2,305
- Trumbull County - 2,287
- Lorain County - 2,193
“We know this time of year is mating season so they become visibly more active," said Santiago. "During this time they start chasing after each other and entering the roadway without caution and due to those unpredictable tendencies and behaviors it’s really important for folks to: remain alert, monitor their speeds and just be aware of their surroundings at all times.”