MotorEagles’ motorcycle injury lawyers’ tips to steer clear of deer

The words “deer season” spark different emotions in different people. For hunters, it’s likely excitement and visions of a favorite tree stand tucked away on some state hunting land. But for bikers, deer season brings about a different set of emotions: Concern, a little anxiety and that adrenaline rush only the sight of a buck’s eyes glowing in your headlight can bring.

Although quite a bit of deer season has passed, deer are still active throughout the winter months (bow hunters in Ohio, for example can hunt deer through Feb. 5), so it’s a good time to consider a few tactics to help avoid hitting a deer – or any critter, for that matter – and how to minimize the damage if it can’t be avoided.

Motorcycle accident lawyers: The cost of deer-cycle crashes

Just to get an idea of the scope of the problem, the motorcycle injury lawyers at MotorEagles found a study of 2010 vehicle-deer crashes in Michigan by the Michigan Deer Crash Coalition showing 55,867 deer-vehicle crashes were reported that year. Most of them happened on two-lane roads from dusk through dawn and cost the state about $130 million, the report shows (http://michigandeercrash.org/statistics.aspx). The average insurance claim related to a deer-vehicle wreck was around $2,100, according to the coalition.

Knowing when deer are near can improve motorcycle safety

In one section of T.R. Michaels’ book the Complete Whitetail Addict’s Manual (http://www.trmichels.com/DeerActivityCharts.htm), the author conducted an in-depth study into the behavior of deer in Minnesota and compared that data with studies done in other states. In the book, he explains that deer tend to be most active around dawn or dusk, depending on the season. In the summer, for example, deer tend to be more active – and therefore more likely to cross bikers’ paths – at dusk, or from roughly 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. As the days grow shorter and chillier in the fall, however, most deer activity takes place at dawn: About 4 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Another factor in deer behavior pointed out not only by our motorcycle accident lawyers and motorcycle safety advocates, but by riders in general is that deer activity in the darkness of the fall and winter months doesn’t seem to decrease. In fact, it’s during this time that it becomes particularly dangerous to us bikers.

According to Michaels, deer are actually more active during hours with less daylight in the fall than in the summer. It mainly has to do with the types of feeding they do. In the spring and summer, they’re feeding and spending time in wooded areas. But as trees shed their leaves and crops mature, deer are out in the open more and therefore seek the security of darkness and the feed available this time of year in more open areas.

Our motorcycle injury lawyers’ tips for riding during deer season

The motorcycle injury lawyers at MotorEagles take motorcycle safety very seriously. As part of our continued commitment to promoting motorcycle safety, we’ve collected some pointers from around the Internet dealing with the deer-motorcycle collision issue – how to spot ‘em, how to avoid ‘em and what to do if you can’t. Refer to the provided source Websites if you’d like to read further.

From Ultimate MotorCycling.com: (http://www.ultimatemotorcycling.com/motorcycle-deer-safety):

• At night, look for animals’ eyes. Your headlights will reflect back from the eyes of deer, raccoons, elk and any other critters that cross its beam’s path.
• If you see one deer, there are likely more around. Deer travel in groups, so if you see one ahead, prepare for more to be with it. Slow down and prepare for anything.
• Deer are unpredictable, and although studies indicate they will run (at the last moment) in the direction they’re looking, then in a zigzag pattern.

 From Motorcyclecruiser.com:(http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/streetsurvival/preventing_fatal_deer_accidents/)

• Heed deer-crossing signs, particularly in the seasons and times of day when deer are active. Slow down, use your high beam, and cover the brakes.
• Additional good, powerful driving lights are worth their weight in gold on a deserted road at night. Alternatively, fit a bulb with a 100-watt high-beam
• Noise—a horn, revving your engine, etc.—may drive deer away. (Don’t count on it though.)

From Bikesafer.com: (http://www.bikesafer.com/other_animals.html)

• This is a good resource covering all manner of animal-bike crashes, not just deer-motorcycle crashes.

As with any road hazard, motorcycles and their riders are the most vulnerable motorists out there. We don’t enjoy the same protection a passenger vehicle’s interior compartment provides. Animals in particular – especially larger ones like deer – pose a particular threat to bikers during the fall and winter because the darkness during which they’re most active makes it extra-hard for us to detect them and avoid a crash. The bottom line is an awareness of deer and animal activity where you ride, staying alert and riding with common sense are the surest ways to prevent the worst from happening when you cross paths with wildlife.

This entry was posted on Friday, December 2nd, 2011 at 4:19 pm and is filed under Blog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.