I Hit A Dog Tonight

Unless you slam on the brakes and cause an accident, hitting an animal should not be considered a reportable event. What is the recommended driving tip to do in such a case? Try to slow down if possible, if not hit the poor thing? … that's what I would do rather than risk a more serious outcome.

It's reportable since there's probably damage to your truck. Since the deer hit you, it's not a "preventable" accident, and that doesn't put a black mark on your record.

"My" deer was running along side the lane then jumped in front of me, thereby hitting the truck.

Later another trucker said you should not slow down, changing the sound of the engine, which causes the deer to change course.

Remember to state that the dog hit your truck... not the other way around :P

i read that somewhere on these forums...

Whatever you do, don't slam on the brakes or swerve to avoid hitting the deer. Grab the wheel with both hands, at least let off the accelerator, and STAY IN YOUR LANE. My trainee almost rolled the truck last week avoiding a deer - hard brake and swerve, two critical events in one incident. The first thought I had when I woke up after slamming into the bunk wall is "I'm gonna die today."

If you hit the deer, the deer dies and you cause maybe $5000 - $10,000 damage to the truck. If you roll the truck trying to avoid poor little Bambi, you cause $200,000 - $300,000 or more in damage, depending on your load, and maybe you and anyone else on the truck dies. Bambi will probably still die anyway as your rolling truck crushes him.

Hit the dang deer. It's not worth your life.