Wife hit a deer - 2016 CX-5

[adgjqetuo]

All things considered, it wasn't as bad as it could have been. She slowed down from 40 but not enough and said she hit the deer around 25mph.

The grille and emblem took most of the damage. A few 1/8" cracks and a couple hairline scratches where the bumper met the grille. Not enough to replace the bumper I don't think.

Called the dealer and of course the prices are high.

Grille - $285
Emblem - $178
Bracket for emblem - $11
--------------------------------
~$475 total

They told me the non-radar cruise emblem was only $50 but the IActive-Sense emblem is $178 - ridiculous considering it's literally just hallow plastic (the sensor is mounted behind it on the frame)

I'm getting an estimate tomorrow from a trusted body shop just to see a comparison.


Does anyone happen to have a diagram for the front end? I'm trying to decide if to easy enough replace myself or have someone do it.



Also does anyone know of an alternate site I can price parts from or would I be forced to pay dealer prices because it's too new?

 

[eclypsecl]

pix of said wife or it didn't happen!

 

[Kedis82ZE8]

Glad to hear your wife wasn't hurt. These collisions can often be very dangerous to vehicle passengers as well.

Not sure if products like these work or not...

http://deerwhistle.com/

 

[Ride92]

That shouldn't be to hard to replace yourself. I believe you have to take the bumper off. Search for bumper removal, I thought I remembered someone taking theirs off not to long ago.

 

[MikeM.]

Not sure if products like these work or not...

http://deerwhistle.com/

Deer whistles don't work. I know three people who have hit deer with the whistles installed and they are now of the belief the whistles spook the deer and make them more likely to enter the roadway.

Don't do it.

It looks like the OP got off easy. When I hit a deer on my motorcycle it was totaled (even though I kept the bike upright through the trauma).

 

[Chris_Top_Her]

Lol even a regular emblem is about $20 shipped on ebay. I'd get the bloated dealer quote, then get the insurance money, fix it and keep the rest as my own labour cost!

 

[GAXIBM]

I came to the opinion that deer whistles reduce the probability of hitting a deer but do not eliminate it. On Amazon there are a couple of fleet users that reduced the number of strikes per year on large fleets. Many indicate the deer stop and stare at the car and are at least aware you are coming.

 

[vanspy65]

I'm just curious, why not turn it into your insurance as a collision claim?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[MikeM.]

I came to the opinion that deer whistles reduce the probability of hitting a deer but do not eliminate it. On Amazon there are a couple of fleet users that reduced the number of strikes per year on large fleets. Many indicate the deer stop and stare at the car and are at least aware you are coming.

The problem is never that the deer are not aware you are approaching. That's just not the problem. Deer have very sensitive ears and are genetically predisposed to always be alert. They always hear you coming. The vast majority of deer strikes are because the deer spooked and jumped into the roadway.


Natural selection has been at work for thousands of years and deer that jump in front of their attacking predator have a better chance of survival because they cross paths at 90 degrees. Predators at full attack speed cannot turn a 90 degree corner. Unfortunately, cars tend to travel considerably faster than mountain lions and other common predators so this behavior that is an advantage in the wild tends to result in a direct hit in a highway situation.

I've actually avoided a deer strike by accelerating rapidly. The deer kept accelerating too, right towards me and I was concerned she was going to run into the rear of my motorcycle (which was rapidly accelerating past 80 mph) and spin me out. Fortunately, the deer couldn't quite run fast enough to clip my rear end. But she would have if she was faster. They are completely stupid and react on instinct alone. This instinct doesn't serve them too well with fast moving vehicles.

Deer whistles don't help:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_l4F9vrmtQQ

http://www.deer-departed.com/air-velocity-deer-horns-do-not-work.html

http://slowcrow.blogspot.com/2006/10/ok-so-youve-heard-about-those-deer.html

http://advance.uconn.edu/2002/021118/02111812.htm

Using its claims data, State Farm estimated that 2.3 million collisions between deer and vehicles occurred in the U.S. during the two-year period ending on June 30. That's 21.1 percent more than five years earlier.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, deer-vehicle collisions in the U.S. cause about 200 fatalities each year. The average damage to a car or truck is $3,103.

Simple math shows deer strikes cost over $6 billion every year. Yet State Farm doesn't provide a discount for installing deer whistles. In fact, they recommend against them.

This car had two deer whistles. Now it has one, thanks to a deer.



This truck has two deer whistles mounted above the license plate.

 

[MikeM.]

I came to the opinion that deer whistles reduce the probability of hitting a deer but do not eliminate it.

If that were true, insurance companies would recommend them and provide a deer whistle discount.

On Amazon there are a couple of fleet users that reduced the number of strikes per year on large fleets. Many indicate the deer stop and stare at the car and are at least aware you are coming.

Deer often stop and stare at me when I approach. I don't have deer whistles. The only people that benefit from deer whistles are those who charge your credit card and laugh all the way to the bank.

 

[adgjqetuo]

I'm just curious, why not turn it into your insurance as a collision claim?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I thought about it, but we have a $1,000 deductible- I can't imagine it costing much more then that unless we have the bumper replaced.

Also, she totaled her car back in February so I'm not sure I want two claims within the same year on our insurance if I can help it. It hasn't been a good year for us!

The dealer said it appears from what he had on his screen that the bumper removal wasn't necessary and that you can remove it from the hood after you remove the top piece of plastic. He recommended going on a forum to see if anyone had any diagrams to follow.

Am I forced to buy these parts from the dealer? Anyone have a resource where I can get them cheaper?

 

[Dr_Watson]

Can you not use your insurance, that's what its there for. I had damaged repaired after hitting a fox, was no hassle at all.

 

[minnesotaart]

Car/deer collision is usually treated quite differently from other accidents. I doubt your insurance premium would go up.

 

[CX5-SO]

I think art is right. A lady I work with hit one a few months back and when she called her insurance right after it happened, they told her to not wash the vehicle, so they could verify that she had struck an animal.

 

[JbCalg]

forum readers often stop and stare at me when I approach....

fixed it for ya ! (poke)

[j/k]

 

[erhayes]

Poor BAMBE. Did you salvage the meat?

 

[MikeM.]

I thought about it, but we have a $1,000 deductible- I can't imagine it costing much more then that unless we have the bumper replaced.

Definitely have the damage inspected/quoted by a professional. It's not unusual for there to be hidden damage and it can very easily exceed $1000.

 

[brillo54]

Car/deer collision is usually treated quite differently from other accidents. I doubt your insurance premium would go up.

I agree. This type of accident is covered under the comprehensive portion of your policy instead of collision. You might even have a different deductible amount for comp. Check with your agent.

 

[GAXIBM]

If that were true, insurance companies would recommend them and provide a deer whistle discount.[/QUOTE

Mike, Perhaps most vehicles are used where deer do not roam so companies do not want to give a discount for a no risk situation. Please provide a reference for where "State Farm recommends against deer whistle."

Deer often stop and stare at me when I approach. I don't have deer whistles. The only people that benefit from deer whistles are those who charge your credit card and laugh all the way to the bank.

Stop and stare is normal when they are aware of you, they stop and stare to determine if you are a threat. If they are spooked from some threat(hunter, dogs, mating, etc.) before you enter and are moving fast they will not stop as your first video indicates. The whistle is to improve awareness. At less than $5 on Amazon, the expense is not a big deal.

Your references are opinion and single examples. The research article is 13 years old. Regarding deer in the headlight I have spotlighted deer many times and they freeze with bright light in the eyes. We used to raise alfalfa that is green most of the winter when most vegetation is dead and I have seen over 35 deer in one 40 acre field. Spook that herd and it looks like an animal migration with the whole field moving fast.

Your previous post that stated, "The vast majority of deer strikes are because the deer spooked and jumped into the roadway." is correct in my opinion but I believe that fast moving cars do often sneak up on them when they are moving and can not hear well because of their movement noise. A whistle should help this situation.

 

[flyfisherdon]

Around here where we have LOTS of deer, especially in town, it is common for them to travel in pairs, even when not in rut!! so if you see one ,look out for more.
Don