Deer Mating Season Car Crashes in Missouri
Late fall is when Missouri deer stop being careful. Bucks chase does across fields and highways, usually after dark, and drivers get a second or two to react. That’s when deer mating season car crashes in Missouri start to stack up. Patterson Legal Group works with injured drivers and passengers across the state, and a Missouri car accident attorney on our team can win you top compensation for your injuries.
Below, our seasoned injury attorneys explain how fault works when a deer sets off a chain-reaction wreck. We’ll also go over insurance, common injuries, and when it makes sense to file a lawsuit.
How a Missouri Deer Collision Attorney Proves Fault
Obviously, you can’t sue a deer. So when one bolts onto the highway and someone gets hurt, the real question is which driver made a bad moment worse. Maybe someone jerked the wheel and crossed the centerline. Maybe a pickup was riding a sedan’s bumper and couldn’t stop in time. A Missouri deer collision attorney focuses on those choices, not the animal.
We start with the physical evidence. Skid marks and the final resting spot of each car say a lot about speed and steering. If anyone had a dash cam running, that video can end the argument fast. We’ll also talk to the trooper or officer who worked the scene.
Related: Will My Insurance Pay for a Car Accident Involving Deer?
Understanding Swerving Car Crash Liability Missouri
Swerving feels like the right move in the moment. The Highway Patrol warns against it, though, because dodging a deer can put you straight into oncoming traffic. When it comes to swerving car crash liability Missouri juries look hard at whether the swerve made sense. A driver who brakes firmly and stays in the lane usually looks careful. One who whips into the next lane without checking it usually doesn’t.
If you were a passenger, you didn’t make that call. Depending on who caused the auto accident, you may have a claim against your own driver’s insurance, the other driver’s insurance, or both.
RSMo 304.012 Driver Negligence Missouri Standards
Missouri asks a lot of drivers. Under R.S.Mo. 304.012, every motorist must use the highest degree of care. In real life, that means watching the shoulders at dusk and slowing down when you can’t see far ahead. It also means leaving enough room to stop if the car in front of you brakes hard. That duty sits at the center of every RSMo 304.012 driver negligence Missouri claim we take on.
Deer mating season car crashes in Missouri don’t lower that bar. If anything, a driver on a dark two-lane road in November should expect to see wildlife. Ignoring that risk is a choice. Choices like that can make someone legally responsible for your injuries.
Liability in Secondary Deer Mating Season Car Crashes
The first hit usually isn’t the one that hurts people most. A car strikes a deer and stops hard. The SUV behind it slams into the rear bumper. Then a third driver steers around both and clips a car in the oncoming lane. Secondary wrecks like these cause many of the serious injuries we see in deer mating season car crashes in Missouri.
Each driver in that chain gets judged on their own conduct. The one who rear-ended a stopped car was probably following too closely. The one who cut across the centerline made an unsafe swerve. Our team works out each person’s share so every responsible party pays.
Risks of Deer Mating Season Car Crashes on Highways
The numbers are hard to ignore. The Missouri State Highway Patrol counted 2,951 deer-related crashes in 2024, or about one every three hours. Four people died and 420 were hurt. Most of these wrecks happen between October and December, and November is the busiest month. About 21% of them happened in urban areas, so city drivers in Kansas City aren’t off the hook.
Highway speed makes everything worse. At 70 mph, a sudden stop or swerve can turn a fender-bender into a rollover. Deer mating season car crashes in Missouri send people to the hospital with broken bones in their arms, legs, and ribs. Whiplash and other soft tissue damage are common, too, even in collisions that look minor at first.
Head injuries worry us the most. Hitting a side window or an airbag can cause a traumatic brain injury, and the symptoms sometimes take days to show up. If you notice headaches or trouble remembering things after a car accident, see a doctor.
The worst automobile crashes cause catastrophic injuries like spinal cord damage or paralysis. Some families lose a parent or child on a dark rural highway. When that happens, Missouri law allows certain relatives to file a wrongful death claim against the driver who caused it.
Multi-Vehicle Pileups on I-70 and I-29 Corridors
I-70 runs east out of Kansas City past Blue Springs and Oak Grove, where trees and farm fields come right up to the shoulder. I-29 heads north through Platte County toward St. Joseph, past creek bottoms and cropland. Deer cross both corridors all fall. Add heavy commuter and semi-truck traffic, and one panicked driver can start a pileup that pulls in half a dozen vehicles.
Around Kansas City, deer are a common sight near Swope Park and the wooded trails by Lakeside Nature Center, both close to I-435. Drivers heading home from either one at dusk should keep their speed down and their eyes on the ditches.
Up north, the drive to the Remington Nature Center on the Missouri River runs right along the bluffs. On St. Joseph’s north side, the roads around Krug Park cut through the same kind of habitat. Deer don’t care that you’re running late.
Deer Mating Season Car Crashes FAQ
The Missouri Injury Attorneys at Patterson Legal Group get many of the same questions every November. Here’s what our team tells people who call us after deer mating season car crashes in Missouri.
Who Is at Fault if a Driver Swerves to Miss a Deer?
Usually the driver who swerved, if that swerve caused the crash. Missouri doesn’t excuse a driver just because a deer was in the road. Other drivers can share fault, though. Someone who was speeding or tailgating may carry part of the blame, and your recovery depends on how that blame gets divided.
What Damages Can a Kansas City Car Accident Lawyer Pursue?
Hospital bills and lost paychecks come first for most people. A Kansas City car accident lawyer can also go after future medical care and the pain and suffering you’ve lived with since the wreck. If you can’t return to the same job, lowered earning capacity counts too. We make sure nothing gets left out.
Does Auto Insurance Cover Deer Mating Season Car Crashes?
If you hit a deer and nobody else was involved, the comprehensive coverage on your own policy typically pays for the damage to your car. Once another driver plays a part, liability coverage comes into the picture. That’s when shady insurance adjusters like to blame the deer instead of their own policyholder.
What Automobile Crash Injuries Do Your Attorneys Handle?
Our team handles any injury that costs you money, caused you to miss work, or inflicted significant pain that made everyday life difficult. We’ve represented people with fractured wrists and crushed pelvises. Others came to us with back injuries or a concussion that wouldn’t go away. Some clients only needed a few weeks of physical therapy, while others will need care for the rest of their lives.
When Should You Sue after Deer Mating Season Car Crashes?
Not right away, in most cases. Plenty of claims settle without ever going to court. A lawsuit makes sense once the insurance company stops negotiating in good faith or refuses a fair offer. Missouri generally gives you five years from the crash to file an injury lawsuit and three years for wrongful death. Don’t wait that long to call us, because evidence fades much faster.
Call an Experienced Deer Mating Season Car Crashes Lawyer
A deer on the highway wasn’t your fault, and neither are the medical bills that follow. Our Missouri personal injury lawyers handle deer mating season car crashes in Missouri from Kansas City to St. Joseph, and we’re ready to dig into yours. Reach out today for a free consultation.
Remember, our firm works on a “No Win, No Fee” basis. So you pay nothing unless we recover money for you.
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The information on this blog is for informational purposes only. It is not meant to serve as legal advice for an individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create an attorney-client relationship nor does viewing this material constitute an attorney-client relationship.
