Deer Collision Season in New Jersey: What to Do and When to Get Checked

Deer collision season in New Jersey runs roughly October through December, and November is the single most dangerous month. If you hit a deer, or brake hard to avoid one, getting checked out is worth doing even if you feel fine at first, because neck and back symptoms can take days to show up.

Right now, fall mating season means deer are moving more at dawn and dusk, exactly when many people in Sussex and Morris County are driving home from work. Statewide, New Jersey reports well over 10,000 deer-vehicle crashes a year, with roughly half of them happening in October, November and December. Morris County consistently ranks among the top counties in the state for deer crashes, and Sussex County's rural two-lane roads, including Route 15, Route 206 and Route 94 near Newton, see their share of deer strikes.

What happens to your body: even a moderate impact, or a hard swerve to avoid a deer, can jolt your neck and back. The sudden stop-and-start forces of a collision stretch muscles, tendons and ligaments, and the whiplash pattern of neck strain is common even when the car shows little damage. Soft-tissue symptoms often build over 24 to 72 hours, which is why people sometimes wake up stiff the next morning and only then connect it to the crash.

Right after a deer collision: pull off the road safely, turn on your hazard lights, call the police, and do not approach an injured deer, since they can be dangerous. Document the scene and your own symptoms even if the car looks fine. Your health information stays between you and your providers, so report what you feel honestly.

When to get checked: if you felt any jolt at all, if your neck or back is stiff or sore, or if pain is spreading or getting worse, an evaluation is reasonable. Seek medical attention promptly for severe pain, numbness or tingling, weakness, or pain that follows a serious impact. For the more common strain-type symptoms, chiropractic care may help support recovery, and an early evaluation gives you a clearer picture than waiting to see if it goes away.

Dr. Gregory Martin has practiced chiropractic since 1996 and sees patients at his Sparta office at 283 Sparta Avenue and at Speedwell Family Chiropractic at 520 Speedwell Avenue in Morris Plains. If you have been in a deer collision or any accident and want to understand what is going on, call or text (973) 699-4100 to schedule an evaluation.