Quick Summary:
- Get to safety, check for injuries, and switch on hazard lights.
- Call 911 if anyone is hurt or the car is dangerous.
- Notify police and your car hire company before arranging towing.
- Photograph damage, the deer, and precise location details for claims.
Hitting a deer in Pennsylvania can happen fast, especially at dusk, dawn, and in wooded corridors. In a car hire, the priorities are the same as in any vehicle: protect people first, prevent a second collision, and then create a clear record of what happened. The difference is that you also need to follow the rental agreement, because unauthorised towing, repairs, or informal arrangements can complicate any claim and may leave you liable for extra costs.
This guide covers safety-first roadside steps, who to call and in what order, what evidence matters most, and what to avoid saying or doing. Keep in mind that procedures vary by provider and cover level, so always follow the instructions in your car hire paperwork and the emergency number provided with the vehicle.
1) Make the scene safe before you do anything else
Your first job is to reduce risk to you, passengers, and other road users. In Pennsylvania, secondary crashes are a real concern after wildlife impacts, because drivers may not anticipate debris, a stopped vehicle, or an animal on the roadway.
Do these steps in order:
Check for injuries. Ask everyone if they are hurt, including pain that might not show immediately. If anyone has neck pain, dizziness, bleeding, or trouble breathing, treat it as urgent and call 911.
Get out of traffic if it is safe. If the car can move and you can do so safely, pull well off the carriageway onto the shoulder, a lay-by, or a nearby car park. Avoid stopping just over a rise or around a bend where approaching drivers have limited visibility.
Use hazard lights immediately. Keep hazards on. If you have reflective triangles supplied with the vehicle, place them only when it is safe and you can stand well away from moving traffic. If you are on a fast road, staying behind a barrier can be safer than trying to place warning devices.
Stay aware of the deer. Do not approach the animal, even if it looks still. Injured deer can kick and may suddenly move. Also, other deer may be nearby. Keep passengers, especially children, away from the roadside edge.
Watch for fluids, smoke, or fire risk. If you smell fuel, see smoke, or notice leaking fluids, switch off the engine, move away from the vehicle, and call 911. Do not smoke or use flares.
2) Who to call in Pennsylvania, and in what order
In a deer strike, the right calls help protect you and your claim. The best order usually looks like this, adjusted for severity and immediate danger.
Call 911 if anyone is injured, the vehicle is blocking traffic, there is a fire risk, or the deer is creating an ongoing hazard in the road. Emergency dispatch can send police, medical help, and highway assistance.
Call local police for a report if there is significant damage, the deer is dead or injured and poses a hazard, or your rental terms require a police report for any collision. Even when not legally required, a report can be valuable evidence for a car hire claim because it timestamps the incident and records the location and circumstances.
Call the car hire emergency or roadside number shown in your rental documents. This is essential before towing or arranging repairs. Many rental providers require you to use their roadside service or approved vendors. If the vehicle is not drivable, ask what to do with keys, where the vehicle will be taken, and how you will be re-accommodated.
Call your insurer or card benefits line only after the immediate safety calls. If you are relying on third-party cover, such as a credit card benefit or travel insurance, ask what documentation they require and whether they need specific wording or a particular type of report.
If you arranged your Pennsylvania trip through Hola Car Rentals, your booking confirmation and voucher will show the supplier and their emergency contact details. Before travel, it can help to save those numbers in your phone. For context on local pick-up points and supplier options, see Philadelphia Airport car rental or car hire at Philadelphia PHL.
3) Decide if the vehicle is safe to drive
After a deer impact, damage is often concentrated in the front end, but not always. Before you attempt to drive, do a careful, brief assessment from a safe position.
Look for:
Cooling system damage. A cracked radiator can leak coolant, leading to overheating within minutes. If you see steam, a puddle under the front, or a temperature warning light, do not drive.
Headlight and indicator function. If lights are broken, driving at night or in poor weather is risky and may be illegal.
Tyre and wheel issues. If the deer strike pushed debris into the wheel well, you might have a damaged tyre, bent rim, or rubbing that could cause a blowout.
Airbag deployment and sensors. If airbags deployed, the vehicle may have additional safety system faults. Follow the rental company’s instructions.
Windshield and visibility. If the windscreen is cracked in the driver’s field of view, it can quickly worsen.
If you are uncertain, treat the car as not roadworthy. It is better to wait for guidance than to drive and potentially worsen damage, create an unsafe situation, or breach the car hire agreement.
4) Evidence that matters most for a car hire claim
Good evidence is simple, time-stamped, and specific. You are trying to show what happened, where it happened, and what damage resulted, without guessing or editorialising.
Photographs and video should include:
Wide shots of the scene. Capture the car’s final position, your lane or shoulder, and the surrounding road layout.
Close-ups of damage. Photograph all affected areas, including bumper, grille, bonnet, lights, windshield, undercarriage if safe, and wheel arches. Take overlapping photos from multiple angles.
The deer and debris. From a safe distance, photograph the animal’s location relative to the road and any debris. Do not move the deer yourself.
Road identifiers. Photograph street signs, route numbers, mile markers, and nearby landmarks. If safe, also take a photo that shows both the sign and the vehicle in the same frame, which can help connect the location to the damage.
Dashboard warnings. If lights are on, photograph the instrument cluster while the car is safely stopped.
Your notes should capture:
Exact time and date. Use your phone notes and include whether it was dark, raining, foggy, or clear.
Exact location. Road name/number, direction of travel, nearest cross street, mile marker, and GPS coordinates if available.
Speed and conditions. Record approximate speed and traffic conditions, but avoid speculation like “it came out of nowhere” if you did not see it. Stick to observable facts.
Events in sequence. For example: “Deer entered roadway from right shoulder, impact to front left, vehicle remained controllable, pulled to shoulder.”
Witness details. If someone stopped, ask for name, phone number, and a brief factual statement. Do not pressure anyone, and do not argue about fault at the roadside.
Police documentation should include:
Officer name and badge number. Ask how to obtain the report and the incident number. In many cases you may receive a card or reference number rather than the full report on the spot.
Any instructions given. Note whether you were told not to drive the vehicle, or where it would be towed.
Finally, keep every receipt connected to the incident, such as towing authorised by the rental company, taxi or rideshare to a safe location, or temporary accommodation if you are stranded. Only incur costs that the rental company or your cover provider has agreed to, where possible.
5) What to avoid saying or doing, because it can complicate claims
After a collision, it is natural to apologise or fill silence with explanations. With a car hire claim, loose statements can be misunderstood as admissions.
Avoid these pitfalls:
Do not admit fault. You can be polite without saying “it was my fault” or “I should have seen it.” Wildlife collisions are typically treated differently from driver-to-driver incidents, but liability can still be disputed if your statements suggest negligence.
Do not guess about speed or impairment. If asked, provide factual information. Do not estimate wildly or make jokes about tiredness or distractions.
Do not move the vehicle again unnecessarily. Once safely positioned, wait for instructions if the vehicle seems damaged. Extra movement can worsen mechanical issues or undermine the clear timeline of events.
Do not arrange repairs yourself. Even if a local garage offers to “just fix the bumper,” unauthorised repairs can breach the rental terms and create disputes over costs and parts.
Do not accept unofficial towing. Use the rental company’s roadside service or approved vendor. “Accident chaser” tow operators sometimes appear quickly, but unauthorised tows can be expensive and hard to unwind.
Do not leave the scene without guidance. If the vehicle must be left, confirm with police and the rental company what to do with keys and personal belongings, and document the vehicle’s condition and location before you go.
6) Reporting to the rental company, what information they usually need
When you speak to the car hire provider, keep the conversation structured and factual. You typically need:
Rental agreement number and vehicle details. Registration, make/model, and any vehicle number shown on your paperwork.
Location and whether the car is drivable. Include nearest mile marker or cross street.
Summary of what happened. A short sequence description, plus whether police attended.
Photos and supporting documents. Ask how they want them sent, and keep copies.
Any third-party involvement. In a deer strike, this is usually “none,” but mention if another vehicle was involved after the initial impact.
If you picked up near Philadelphia, the supplier and terms can vary by brand. Information pages like car rental in Philadelphia and National Car Rental in Philadelphia can help you identify the supplier you booked through when reviewing documentation, but always rely on the emergency contact details on your specific rental agreement in an incident.
7) If the deer strike happens at night or in rural Pennsylvania
Many deer collisions occur on unlit roads where help may take longer. Plan for safety while you wait.
Stay visible. Keep hazard lights on. If you have a torch, use it to help you be seen, but do not shine it into oncoming drivers’ eyes.
Stay protected from traffic. If there is a guardrail, stand behind it. If you must remain in the car due to weather or personal safety, keep your seatbelt on and stay alert, but only do this if the car is well off the roadway.
Conserve phone power. Use low power mode, and send a location pin to a friend or family member if you are alone.
Be cautious about wildlife. If you see one deer, assume more may follow. Do not walk along the road looking for help unless you are certain it is safe.
8) After you are back on your journey, follow up promptly
Once you are safe, complete the administrative steps quickly, while details are fresh.
Request the police report using the incident number, if one was filed. Keep a PDF or photo of any paperwork.
Submit your evidence to the rental company as instructed. Label photos by date and time and keep them unedited, because some systems treat edited images as less reliable.
Monitor your payment method for deposits or damage holds. If you have questions, ask for an itemised breakdown rather than debating at a high level.
Write a short timeline for your records: when it happened, who you called, who attended, and what was authorised. If you later need to explain the incident to an insurer, this saves time and reduces inconsistency.
If you are travelling with a group, vehicle choice can affect what happens next, especially if the car is undrivable and luggage must be transferred. In Philadelphia, options like minivan rental in Philadelphia can be useful context when re-accommodating passengers, but in the moment the key is following roadside instructions and keeping everyone safe.
FAQ
Do I have to call the police after hitting a deer in Pennsylvania? If anyone is injured, the car is unsafe, or the deer creates a road hazard, call 911. Even when injuries are not apparent, a police report can help support a car hire claim, so it is often wise to request one if feasible.
Can I keep driving my car hire after a deer strike? Only if the vehicle is clearly roadworthy and the rental company agrees. If you see leaking fluids, overheating, broken lights, tyre damage, or warning lights, stop driving and arrange roadside support through the rental provider.
What photos are most important for a deer collision claim? Take wide shots showing the car and road layout, close-ups of all damage, the deer’s position from a safe distance, road signs or mile markers, and any dashboard warnings. Also photograph the licence plate and overall vehicle condition.
What should I say to the rental company when reporting the incident? Stick to facts: time, location, direction of travel, what you observed, and the resulting damage. Provide the police incident number if available, and avoid admitting fault or speculating about what you “should” have done.
Should I move the deer or pick up debris from the road? No. For safety and legal reasons, do not approach or move an injured animal. If debris is creating immediate danger, warn others with hazard lights and call 911 or police to handle the scene safely.
