Stupid deer in the road! First one in a long time....
 

So today on the way to work I was lucky enough to hit a large deer, luckily I had the LoD mid width front, not even a scratch on the bumper (now with some blood, cool), but the deer took out both of my IPF fog lights on the winch hoop and cracked up the passenger fender flare. I also slightly pushed in the passenger side fender so it bumps out slightly right at the center of the front wheel.

Question for you guys - I had already planned on getting the flat black flares for my Sahara and I can replace the fogs no problem, should I claim it on insurance and get the fender fixed or should I put a sticker over it and wait until I screw it up worse offroading. I could probably push it in slightly and make it even less noticable, but I'm worried that it looks like there are a couple of cracks in the paint and I hate rust, but I could also fix that later. My deductible is 1K and that could go towards my lift instead of the stupid fender. What do you guys think? Anyone else have a messed up fender? Post pics to make me feel better, I'll try to get some up tonight.

Oh well, at least no one was hurt.

Here are the pictures posted again in case you don't want to go to the end of the thread:

You can see some of the cracks in the fender flare too
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l9...e/IMG_0416.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l9...e/IMG_0412.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l9...e/IMG_0414.jpg
The side marker light was cracked
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l9...e/IMG_0415.jpg

My poor foglights
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l9...e/IMG_0409.jpg

If you are sure there isn't any other damage that you can't see further inside, then I would just roll with it and save a claim for something more serious.
A few minor battle scars aren't really a bad thing, especially when you can say it was from whacking a deer and not a shopping cart.
Just my .02

Just add a little deer sticker to the side of the Jeep, like they do on aircraft for number of planes shot down.

Did you get a police report,take pic of the blood ,evidence, the road kill? How much deductible do you have? How much do you think the total damage is? How long have you been with your insurance company? How would your insurance company handle a deer hit? All are things to consider :yup:

:worthless:

how about some pics ;-)

I believe deer accidents are covered under comprehensive not collision so it shouldn't count as a claim that could be used to raise your rates. Best bet is to call your insurance company and ask then weigh the damage cost against your deductable.

Yeah we want to see it pics. Leave it till you mess it up. :D

where are the pics?

Need the pics :)

All good things to consider, pieces of the deer and my fog lights flew everywhere after I hit it, but I think it got an adrenaline rush and took off into the woods. I'll have to talk to my insurance agent and see if I am covered because like I said, I'd rather buy the lift than get a small dent fixed, especially since I'm sure it'll be dented again next summer from offroading. I'll get some pictures posted tonight after work when I get home, it doesn't look like much but if you look close you can see the damage.

Hahhahaahah you can't even start a thread without posting a pic of something these days!!!

Red

turn it in, i actually hit a dear leaving the jeep dealer in my old truck playing hardball for the price, one mile away smack, thank god it wasnt in the new jeep, but i asked and hitting a dear is considered an act of god, and therefore not a penalty
happy insurance claiming

fresh meat,you should go and try to find him/her.with a hit like that the deer might not be too far in the woods. "its deer season"
i dont know if it is legal to take a deer by means of vehicle but the freezer will love you,just throw the deer across the hood. um um good!:thumbsup:

The cracks in the paint aren't on your fender are they?.... because if they were you wouldn't have to worry about any rust on account of they're made out of plastic, haha obviously!
Good thing you're alright though. Probably can't say the same thing for the deer but things happen!

at least you didnt have the lod stinger :eek2:

Be glad you dont live in WV! Never saw so many friggen deer in my life in the 6 years I've lived here!!! Can't even get out of my driveway without dodging a deer.

Doesn't sound like the damages would even be close to $1,000...so how/why would you make a claim? :thinking:

one Sahara flare, painted, is close to $600.. it will easily hit $1,000 I wouldnt claim it because it will show up on your VIN.. me general rule with insurance companies and making claims, if you can afford to pay for it, pay for it... insurance is for BIG stuff...

again check with your agent but i was told "a deer hitting your vehicle is considered an act of god and does not penalize you"

He has a $1,000 deduct.

$600? who/why?, Who has priced that out? You can get a full set of aftermarket flares for less..

And I don't think 2 foglights are $400....:crazyeyes:

If you're deduct is $1,000 and you make a claim of $1,001. You get a check for a whopping $1

Well, being the procrastinator I am, I haven't gotten pictures yet, but after getting a better look at it it isn't so bad, a couple dings/very small dents in the fender and a busted fender flare, plus the fog lamps. I actually brought it to the dealer that night for a couple minor issues including a flat tire so I couldn't get pictures. I will get some when I pick it up tomorrow, I promise.

While it was there I got an estimate on the damage, about $1600, mainly because of the painting of the hood, fender and flare, and it's the dealership. I also let the insurance company know, I don't have to get it fixed now, but they have a record of it and I can get it taken care of any time, but I will have to pay the $1000 deductible. Now to get it fixed now or wait for some more serious trail damage as opposed to the aesthetic damage from the deer, plus I don't want to be without my Jeep for a week:naw: It's a good stress reliever after work:yup:

Its that time of the yr glad to hear it wasnt worst I hope you get i fixed soon

Yup, I can confirm this. My wife hit a deer last year and that's the same thing we found out.

Definitely file a claim.

You're getting $1600 for the repair(well really only 600) BUT, here's how I would spend it.

AEV Hood
Xenon Narrow fenders

and just replace the fogs out of pocket.....I mean, why not? :dontknow2: :brows:

I doubt very much it's legal, you try and do that with a moose up here and they'll hang ya. I say that because if it was legal everybody would be going out and buying a $100 beater and drive out gunnin' for them. The only way you can get a moose up here if one is hit is if you're on the road kill list.

Oh and to the original op.....be glad it was "just" a deer. Up here we hit moose all the time, and many aren't lucky enough to walk away and tell about it. Yesterday morning it was foggy and I almost hit one not 100 yards from my house. Thank God I was only going about 20 mph or so. Last winter I almost hit a full grown cow moose broadside going 60. That could have killed my daughter and I easily. I hit a young bull back in the early eighties. It was an old truck, but it still mashed in the hood and screwed up the radiator, and it was just a glancing blow. Yeah........it's a real scary thing to hit these critters up here. A big moose can easily total a vehicle....:eek2:

Oh, I know it was lucky, I've hit deer and really done damage to my pickup truck, but this was no big deal, I just hopped back in and drove to work, but I know hitting a moose, the moose always wins. I am just going to get it taken care of so I don't have to worry about rust or anything like that. If it happens again, I guess it happens again. Cars and Jeeps can be replaced or repaired, people can't.

Well I finally stopped being lazy and went out in the garage to get some pictures of the Jeep damage, I really can't decide if I should get it fixed ($1000) and have them possibly screw it up worse, or just leave it and get 4 new black fender flares and some touchup paint. I've already let the insurance company know about the damage so I can get it fixed whenever if I want, but I don't know if any good body shops in CT, I know a ton back in MI where I'm from. Anyways, here are the pics, it really doesn't look that badm but what do I know? Guys have gotten WAY worse damage on the trail and just left it.
You can see some of the cracks in the fender flare too
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l9...e/IMG_0416.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l9...e/IMG_0412.jpg
You can see a ding and a spot where the fender is slightly pushed out in this one
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l9...e/IMG_0414.jpg
The side marker light was cracked
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l9...e/IMG_0415.jpg

My poor foglights
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l9...e/IMG_0409.jpg

good thing you had that nice bumper......:thumbsup: