I dropped into third gear and let the engine pull me through the curve in the mountain road. The sun was just setting, the very first colors of fall tinting the leaves, and I savored everything about the moment. Then Wham a deer leapt onto the road and bounced off of my fender.

Many drivers will hit an animal at some point in their life. Sometimes it’s a wild animal when driving through the wilderness. Other times it’s a pet on a residential street. It’s a tragic but common part of being on the road. But it’s important to know what to do when the worst happens.

First and foremost, you don’t want to cause an even worse accident after a minor animal strike. You’ll need to be aware of your surroundings: Bumper to bumper traffic? Don’t slam on the brakes because you just hit a squirrel. Don’t veer of the road in panic because you hit a low-flying bird. Keep your hands on the wheel and come to a stop quickly, but safely. Once you’re parked, check yourself and your passengers for injuries.

Another note: After an animal strike or a near-miss, it’s important to look for other animals. A deer running across the road could have a baby deer, or an entire herd, following close behind.

This next part is critical: do not approach an injured animal. It doesn’t matter how much you want to save Bambi, even a smaller animal can be vicious when injured. Tending to a wounded animal is a job best left to professionals.

So, who is the professional you need to call? In a city you’ll want the local animal control officer. In a rural area you’ll contact a game warden. How do you find them? Well, if you’re dealing with an injured animal or a dead one blocking traffic, it’s worth a call to 911 so you can quiz the dispatcher.

Once you’ve taken care of yourself, your passengers, and figured out what to do about the animal, you’ll want to examine your car. Are any fluids leaking from it? Is a fender caved in and rubbing on your tire when you turn the steering wheel? Are any lights smashed? Is there anything hanging off your car that might break off down the road?

The first question is whether you can drive your car away. But the second important question is whether you’ll be making an insurance claim. If so, you’ll want to begin collecting evidence like any other accident. Many insurance company apps now have a built-in function you can use to take and upload photos.

An expert explains how to avoid hitting a deer in the video below:

What about my recent accident? I got extremely lucky: the deer was running diagonally across the road, in a very similar direction as my car. So even though it hit my fender, it stayed on its feet, ran next to my car for a few steps, and then disappeared into the woods. But my close call contains some important lessons.

Many wild animals are most active around dawn and dusk, so my sunset drive was a good time to be especially vigilant. I was at an even greater risk driving toward the sun because it reduced my visibility. Next time I’ll be careful to keep my eyes peeled.