Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - With the fall season in full swing, Western New York drivers are on high-alert for the darting deer and the increased likelihood of car-deer collisions.
The AAA of Western and Central New York says deer-car collisions are up 7%from last fall and collision shops tell WBEN it can be challenging to find the necessary repairs.
AAA's Elizabeth Carey says it's important to be on the lookout when driving. But if you see a deer crossing the road, don't panic. "If you swerve it could lead to a more serious incident where you could go off the road, you could be injured, there could be a fatality," says Carey, who says the best move may be to drive through the deer. She says if you do strike a deer, don't get out of your car. "Sometimes the roads are really dark, and we're going to be setting the clocks back even more. So you know, it's going to get dark earlier. So it can be very dangerous to be outside trying to assess the situation. So calling for help immediately while you're still in the vehicle is going to keep you safe," advises Carey.
Dan Dayfert of Northtown Collision tells WBEN he's seen seven to nine such cases each week, which is about average. He says damage from a car hitting a deer can be costly, ranging from $6,000-$9,000.
Dayfert says it can be challenging to get the parts necessary for repairs. "it could be anywhere from you get them right away to with the strike that's going on, it could be weeks," says Dayfert. "Parts are getting better since COVID, and are more readily available up until the strike that just happened."
Dayfert says he's resourceful when it comes to getting parts. "We'll go online find them and other dealers across the country and we'll pay the shipping," says Dayfert. He'll also pay for rentals for customers if his crews need more time to make repairs.
Carey says Erie County ranks ninth for all of New York State for animal crashes based on the numbers from last year from 2022.
