Insurance company claims for deer strikes are increasing, and so are prices for repairing vehicles

Sully's Autobody Shop in Ronkonkoma owner David Sullivan says he is not surprised that wildlife and cars are colliding more than usual.

He says it's mating season, so the deer are not paying attention to where they are going.

Sullivan also says that the amount of construction happening on Long Island is causing an increase in the number of deer people are seeing in places they wouldn't expect to see them.

Sullivan says a deer strike can cost drivers between a couple of hundred dollars to close to $20,000.

In one scenario, he says a truck driver told him he tried to avoid hitting a deer but ended up hitting the deer and then a parked car.

The autobody owner says no one wants to hit wildlife, but sometimes it's the safest thing to do when one pops out in front of your car.

"It's best to probably just hit the deer and not try to swerve, you don't wanna hit oncoming traffic," Sullivan says.

AAA says anyone sees a deer pop out in front of their car, there are likely one or two more behind it.

Drivers should also know what kind of insurance they have because they will typically get a rental car for a period of time while their car is in the body shop being fixed.

Sullivan says parts are on backorder most of the time because manufacturers don't have the supply, so it becomes a headache for owners.