.png)
What to Do After Hitting a Deer in Winchester: A Towing & Repair Guide
Learn how to prevent deer collisions in Winchester, VA, and what to do if you hit a deer — from safety steps and insurance to towing and repairs.
In 2016, more than 61,000 accidents involved deer, a number that rose to 81,694 in 2022. Over 15 percent of all VA collisions involve a deer, so it doesn’t come as a surprise to learn that VA is on the list of the top 10 states with the highest number of deer accidents.
If you’re a driver, staying safe during deer season will help immensely to lower your risk of a collision — the experience of hitting a deer is quite scary, as well as potentially dangerous. Keeping your risk low and knowing what to do in case of a collision with an animal is a must if you drive through Winchester or anywhere else in VA.
Why Deer-Vehicle Incidents Are so Frequent in Fall?
As fall arrives, more white-tailed deer are noticed crossing the roads in VA as they’re searching for food and mating partners, hence the higher risk of being involved in a vehicle accident. They usually happen at dusk or dawn, around 5:00-8:00 am and pm.
November is considered to be one of the riskiest months, not just because deer are very active, but also because the day becomes shorter, making it harder for drivers to notice animals appearing out of nowhere on the road in the darkness.
How to Prevent Deer Collisions If You Live in Winchester?
- Drive Slowly & Don’t Lose Your Focus
- Slow down: If you’re driving through parts of deer regions, especially at dawn and dusk, slow down. This gives you more time to react promptly if a deer appears.
- Use high beams and low beams properly: You should use the high beam headlights when there aren’t other cars. They will improve your visibility and help you spot a deer’s eyes reflecting light from a greater distance. If there’s oncoming traffic, switch to the low beams.
- Put distractions away: Avoid texting or using a phone because it takes away your focus and reduces your reaction window. Always check the sides of the road for deer trying to cross — if you see movement, brake because it could be an animal.
- Pay Attention to Your Vehicle & Surroundings
- Keep up with the signs: Drive according to the signs, especially if you’re passing through deer crossing areas.
- Always drive with a clean windshield: Spray the windshield with a liquid glass cleaner and wipe it with a microfiber cloth. Then, use another clean and dry microfiber cloth and polish it. This will significantly improve the visibility while reducing glare.
- Brake firmly: If a deer is crossing the road in front of your vehicle, brake, but avoid swerving to keep control of the vehicle and avoid crashing into another car.
- Use the horn and headlights: If you’re seeing an animal, but it’s still not in your path, honk several times and flash the headlights. This may help scare the animal away.
- Use Helpful Tools & Apps
- Deer whistles: Deer horns are popular, although not a foolproof prevention method. Several theories have been proposed as to why they don’t work 100 percent. For example, deer may not be able to hear the sounds produced by the whistles or may be too accustomed to them that they don’t recognize them as a threat.
- Collision warning apps: These specialized apps include reports from citizens to help identify high-risk areas for deer collisions. The data is used to make maps of hotspots, helping drivers be more careful when driving through those parts. At the moment, though, there’s no such app available in VA.
- Modern driver-assist features: Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) and Night Vision may help lower the risk and severity of deer accidents by automated braking and better visibility. That is, Night Vision uses infrared cameras that detect animals and obstacles beyond the headlights’ range, while AEB can automatically apply the brakes in case of an imminent crash.
What to Do After Hitting a Deer in Winchester?
- Take immediate safety steps
- Pull over: Pull the vehicle over to the side and turn on the hazard lights.
- Check if participants are okay: Check yourself and everyone else involved for injuries and call 911.
- Don’t approach the deer: Never approach the deer because it may be alive, injured, scared, and dangerous.
- Contact Authorities & Your Insurance Company
- Report the collision to the appropriate authorities: Report the accident to the local law enforcement, and they’ll handle the deer. If possible, document the incident with photos and videos.
- Notify your insurance provider: Send the photos and videos to your insurance company to back up your insurance claim — contact the company as soon as possible.
- Vehicle Recovery and Towing
- Call the pros: We cannot stress enough the importance of calling a professional towing service in case of a deer collision. These technicians have the skills and equipment to handle damaged vehicles.
- Choose Brian Omps Towing and Repair: Offering 24/7 towing services, the team of experienced technicians will safely transport your vehicle to a repair shop, handle it with ultimate care, and perform all necessary checks and repairs.
Brian Omps Towing and Repair has been in the business for 23+ years, towed 100K+ vehicles, and repaired 45K vehicles, serving not just the community of Winchester, but Berryville, Hayfield, Clearbrook, Jordan Springs, and Stephens City too.
Handling Car Repairs After Crashing into a Deer
- Assessing the Damage
The most common vehicle damages after crashing with a deer are hood dents, broken bumpers, cracked windshields, and cracked lights.
Some other, less visible yet more severe issues may be underhood damage, brake system damage, and struts and shock absorber damage affecting alignment and steering. Before any repairs are done, take photos and videos that you can use for insurance.
Brian Omps Towing and Repair is at your service 24/7 to inspect, handle, and repair all vehicle damage, including hidden issues.
- Preventive Maintenance After a Crash
Even if your vehicle looks fine, a professional should take a look at it. They can find damage that you can’t see, such as bent suspension, subtle frame shifts, or misaligned wheels. In addition to inspecting the vehicle, a trained technician can resolve all collision-related issues, from the alignment, suspension, and braking system to leaks and safety systems.
- Choosing a Repair Shop
If you’ve been involved in a deer-vehicle collision in Winchester, Berryville, Hayfield, Clearbrook, Jordan Springs, or Stephens City, contact Brian Omps Towing & Repair — a certified repair center.
The technicians on the team will inspect your vehicle and perform necessary repairs using premium parts from proven brands in the industry, including Carquest, TechNet, and NAPA Auto Care.
Final Thoughts
With the help of this guide, you can significantly lower your risk of hitting a deer in Winchester. Driving slowly, keeping the windshield clean, and knowing what to do in case you crash into a deer are a must for every driver passing through VA.
If you’re driving through Winchester and you’ve hit a deer, call Brian Omps Towing and Repair — a towing service at your disposal 24/7.
