Trucker charged after rig swerves

Having nailed a deer with my front bumper a few weeks ago, and needing to have a new bumper put on possibly on Monday, I can tell you this man made a bad decision. You do not swerve and put yourself and your vehicle, much less other drivers in danger to avoid an animal collision. You take the hit and repair the damage afterwards. I love dogs as well, but if it comes to a choice of hitting one or wrecking the truck and load, there's only one professional choice to be made.

Bad judgement call on his part.

 

/Agree.
I may try to stop for a cow, but they tend to be very visable, and at great distance. But a coyote, dog, cat, deer... It's prolly just gonna be a slpat moment.

Hit a Coyote once while hauling the family's 38' Fith Wheel, Ford 1 ton Powerstroke. Dead of night. Coyote had it made crossing the road. Seen nothing but darkness on the other side, and it decided to come back accross. Blam.

On the same trip, a deer slammed into the side of the trailer, bounced off and kept running.
That reminds me, I need to get a couple of deer whistelers.

 

I also agree.

More people die swerving to avoid animals than if they were to hit them. It's better to take some damage than to lose your life completely trying to swerve out of the way. When it comes to moose, that's a different story.

 

Don't forget; NOTHING beats a big steamy bowl of venison burger stew....

 

Thanks all for the info, as a soon to be driver I had wondered what the proper protocal was for animals. Good to know the general concensous is "sorry sparky". I had figured small animals were not a question, deer was a bit different. Again thanks.

 

I was always told when I was running a fuel tanker .... if an animal comes in the road .... hit them .... it is cheaper to fix THAT damage than it is to have a fuel spill cleaned up

Driving a truck .... it is always best to hit it and hope for the best .... its a hard call to do .... your mind wants to swerve but you have to keep a steady hand and keep straight .... but in the long run it will save you

You never know .... might hit a deer just right and have venison steaks for a couple days

 

Hitting a deer seems like it would really be a dangerous situation. We have tons of them around here and I just hope that day (or worse night) doesn't come.

 

No matter what you do its going to be a dangerous situation .... but hitting the deer is a less evil one than swerving to hit it and killing a car full of kids

Its all a matter of split second thinking .... and you will probably always second guess your decision no matter what

 

Swerving to miss a deer is a common excuse for losing control of your vehicle. At least if you hit the deer, it is almost more credible that there was actually a deer anywhere near the vehicle.
Driving my 4 wheeler I was hit head on by a woman who swerved to miss a dog. Goodness, what a mess. Thankfully it was at relatively low speed.