Video: Columbus Auto Shop Keeps Busy from Deer Crashes

[syndicaster id=’5335848′]

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) — New data from State Farm insurance shows Mississippi is ranked sixth in the country for the most deer crashes.

Workers at Bob’s Paint & Auto Body Shop tell WCBI they’re not surprised.

Bob’s has been keeping busy all year fixing cars damaged from deer crashes – not just during deer season.

“Normally they’re light until about September, and then as deer season and the weather change occurs, then it becomes more apparent to have more claims,” said owner Tom Cooper.

Cooper says they’ve been fixing two to three cars a week from deer hits, and that’s just the off season. He expects things to pick up even more.

“We’re yet to see how bad this deer season’s going to be, but we expect it to be pretty busy due to it,” Cooper said.

Fixing any damage isn’t cheap.

Cooper says repairs can cost anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000. Sometimes more, depending on your car, or if your airbags deploy.

“Deer are unpredictable,” he said. “They can come across your hood, hit right into the windshield. They can hit the corner of your headlight, and go all the way down the side of the car to the tail light.”

While you can’t always avoid deer, Cooper advises drivers to be extra cautious when more of the animals are out – early in the morning, and late at night.

“Deer are everywhere. They come out of your blind side on a split second, crossing in front of you, and sometimes you don’t have time to react.”

Cooper says if you see a deer, don’t try to swerve to avoid it. Running off the road can cause even more damage to your car.

Categories: Local News

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *