Hit a Deer? What to Do Next and How to Get Your Vehicle Repaired

Late fall is the riskiest time of the year to share the road with deer in South Carolina. According to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, about 45 percent of deer-vehicle collisions happen in a roughly 60-day window that lines up with the October and November breeding season.

Greenwood County logged 117 reported deer collisions in 2023 and 95 in 2024, based on preliminary state figures. Neighboring Laurens County reported 147 in 2024. 

Most of these crashes damage vehicles rather than people, but what you do in the minutes and days after impact still matters. Here’s what to do if you hit a deer on the roads around Greenwood, and how to get your car, truck, or SUV back to factory condition. 

What to Do Right After You Hit a Deer

Stay calm and work through these steps in order. 

1. Get to a safe spot. Pull onto the shoulder and turn on your hazard lights. If the vehicle won’t move, stay inside, keep your seatbelt on, and call for help.
2. Check everyone for injuries. Call 911 right away if anyone is hurt.
3. Keep your distance from the deer. An injured deer can kick and thrash. Don’t try to move it. If it’s still alive or blocking the road, tell the dispatcher.
4. Document the scene. Photograph the damage from several angles, along with the road, any mile markers or street signs, and the time. These photos make your insurance claim much easier.
5. Look before you drive. Check for leaking fluid, steam from the hood, a hood that won’t latch, broken headlights, or new warning lights on the dash. If you see any of these, call a tow instead of driving home.

Do You Have to Report a Deer Collision in South Carolina? 

In many cases, yes. South Carolina law requires drivers to notify police, the county sheriff, or the Highway Patrol immediately after any crash that causes injury or death.

For property damage only, the threshold is $1,000. If a crash causes $1,000 or more in total damage and law enforcement doesn’t investigate, the driver or owner must file a Traffic Collision Report (Form FR-309) with the SCDMV within 15 days.

On a modern vehicle, $1,000 in damage adds up fast. A single LED headlight assembly or a front bumper with built-in sensors can reach that on its own. The simplest move is to call the South Carolina Highway Patrol or the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office from the scene. SCDNR also recommends reporting deer collisions to law enforcement and your insurance company, and a police report gives your insurer official documentation of what happened.

Does Insurance Cover Hitting a Deer? 

Usually, as long as you carry comprehensive coverage. Most insurers file animal strikes under comprehensive rather than collision, so your comprehensive deductible applies. A liability-only policy won’t pay to fix your own vehicle.

There’s one catch. If you swerve to miss the deer and hit a tree, guardrail, or another car instead, the claim typically shifts to collision coverage. That’s one more reason to brake firmly and stay in your lane.

Because deer strikes are generally treated as not-at-fault, a deer claim may not affect your premium the way an at-fault crash would. Every policy is different, so call your agent with your photos and police report number. Your insurer may suggest a repair shop, but you can ask to have the work done at Quality Color and Collision Center.

Hidden Damage to Check, Even If Your Vehicle Seems Fine 

A deer strike can look like nothing more than a cracked bumper cover. Costly damage often hides behind it.

• Radiator and A/C condenser. Both sit just behind the grille. A small puncture can leak coolant slowly and lead to overheating days later.
• Driver-assistance sensors. Many newer Jeep, Ram, Dodge, and Chrysler models place radar and camera sensors for adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning in the grille, front fascia, or windshield. Even a slight shift can throw off their calibration.
• Headlight aim and mounts. Broken mounting tabs can leave a headlight pointing the wrong way, which matters more once evening commutes move into the dark.
• Hood, frame, and alignment. An uneven hood, an off-center steering wheel, or a pull to one side can point to more serious structural or suspension damage.

If you’ve hit a deer, have the vehicle inspected even if it drives normally.

Get Deer Damage Repair at Quality Color and Collision Center 

Quality Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram FIAT’s collision repair center, Quality Color and Collision Center, is at 1702 Montague Ave Ext. in Greenwood. The shop is staffed with I-CAR-trained technicians and uses the latest spray booth technology with computer color matching, so repaired panels blend with the rest of your vehicle.

Most insurance companies prefer us, and every estimate is free. Whether you drive a Jeep, Ram, Chrysler, Dodge, or FIAT, our team can get it back on the road.

• Call Quality Color and Collision: 864-223-0586
• Learn more: Visit our Body Shop page
• Need a mechanical check after the repair? Schedule service online
• Was your vehicle totaled? Browse new vehicles and used vehicles, or value your trade

Want to lower your odds of a deer strike in the first place? Read our Fall Car Maintenance Checklist for deer season driving tips around Greenwood and the surrounding areas.

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