The dog lives and I'm left with this damage - estimate repair?

gebbel

Swerved to avoid a dog this morning and hit a wall instead.

Hope to avoid my insurance but cost will decide that.

What could I be looking at?

Many thanks.

-Corkie-

Jesus thats nasty. I know it sounds terrible but you should have hit him as opposed to doing all that damage..

Wossack

is the dogs owner not liable?

-Corkie-

Wossack wrote: »

is the dogs owner not liable?

No because he didnt hit the dog..

Vanbis

Similar thing happened to my friends older brother except he wrote the car of after Swerving to avoid a dog and crashing into a wall, he was lucky to walk away.

That looks nasty and looking at the damage its going to cost a few thousand. It looks like you might need a new front wing and maybe a bumber, bonnet might be saved.

gebbel

A few thousand?! Was hoping to get away with 1,000. I shouldn't be so naive.

Any more than that and it's an insurance job, much as I hate losing the no claims bonus.

gebbel

Vanbis wrote: »

That looks nasty and looking at the damage its going to cost a few thousand. It looks like you might need a new front wing and maybe a bumber, bonnet might be saved.

I agree. The bonnet isn't too bad. Bit of panel beating hopefully. A new wing will also be needed...but it's not a very large piece.

Vanbis

gebbel wrote: »

A few thousand?! Was hoping to get away with 1,000. I shouldn't be so naive.

Any more than that and it's an insurance job, much as I hate losing the no claims bonus.

I'm far from a expert, just my own thoughts. Not sure you can save the front wing but if you can save the bonnet and bumper then maybe a little over a thousand?

Paintdoctor on here would be better able to get you a rough price.

guil

theres no way it would cost a few thousand for that, get the parts in a scrapyard and save a fortune

Tomebagel

Vanbis wrote: »

Similar thing happened to my friends older brother except he wrote the car of after Swerving to avoid a dog and crashing into a wall, he was lucky to walk away.

That looks nasty and looking at the damage its going to cost a few thousand. It looks like you might need a new front wing and maybe a bumber, bonnet might be saved.

Didnt realise the car was a very rare expensive bugatti....:rolleyes:

pajero12

The bumper and bonnet looks salvagable so probably just a new quarter panel? Dont think it'll go over a grand though!

On a car like that folks will be very slow to advise saving the bonnet, repairing a corner like that is not too challenging but it's not the done thing really. Bumper is 50/50 but to ensure 100% alignment I reckon the bumper is a goner too.

What car is it a modern A4??

Fair play for serving to avoid the dog, I reckon I'd be more of a stand on brake and hope I stop in time. Swerving to avoid dogs is really really bad driving though obviously it is a very decent thing to do.

If you're fully comp with a low excess, good unblemished history and fully protected NCB I'd go the insurance option, that's what it's there for

gebbel

RoverJames wrote: »

On a car like that folks will be very slow to advise saving the bonnet, repairing a corner like that is not too challenging but it's not the done thing really. Bumper is 50/50 but to ensure 100% alignment I reckon the bumper is a goner too.

What car is it a modern A4??

Fair play for serving to avoid the dog, I reckon I'd be more of a stand on brake and hope I stop in time. Swerving to avoid dogs is really really bad driving though obviously it is a very decent thing to do.

If you're fully comp with a low excess, good unblemished history and fully protected NCB I'd go the insurance option, that's what it's there for

It's a B7 A4, 2005

I am fully comp with low excess and ncb...but I am not fully protected.

In terms of avoiding the dog...it was just reflex. Pets mean a lot to some people. Cars can be fixed.

Rodin

a few thousand? i wouldnt put that kind of money into an 05 a4

andyseadog

Tomebagel wrote: »

Didnt realise the car was a very rare expensive bugatti....:rolleyes:

if he had to get a new bumper, wing, bonnet and headlamp (worst case scenario) i can see parts along coming to well over a grand, before you add paint and labour.

gebbel

gebbel wrote: »

In terms of avoiding the dog...it was just reflex. Pets mean a lot to some people. Cars can be fixed.

Oh I know, the thinking is it's best not to have a reflex that might result in something more precious that a dog getting a slap of a car, a child for instance.

On a 2005 a new bonnet and bumper could well be as cheap as repairing the damage, 2nd hand may be an option too if you are lucky.

YouTookMyName

Nasty bump that.

Ring your insurer and ask would you lose your no claims if you made a claim not involving a 3rd party.

gebbel

Rodin wrote: »

a few thousand? i wouldnt put that kind of money into an 05 a4

I agree.

mlumley

-Corkie- wrote: »

No because he didnt hit the dog..

:eek:

Wrong, the owner should have the dog under controll at all times. Do you know whos dog it is? If so, get round and tell them you age suing them for damages.

mlumley

mlumley wrote: »

:eek:

Wrong, the owner should have the dog under controll at all times. Do you know whos dog it is? If so, get round and tell them you age suing them for damages.

Only works if you hit the dog

n97 mini

It's a civil matter. The law doesn't have a position on it, and hence it gets tested in court. I would imagine the judge would apportion some blame to the owner as they were not keeping the dog under control.

gebbel

Just found out it was my neighbour's dog. She is a good person, expecting a baby soon, and out of work.

I won't be suing her, she has enough on her plate.

mickob16

gebbel wrote: »

It's a B7 A4, 2005

I am fully comp with low excess and ncb...but I am not fully protected.

In terms of avoiding the dog...it was just reflex. Pets mean a lot to some people. Cars can be fixed.

Yeah but dogs are alot cheaper than cars:)

fehenry

AFAIK, you are responsible for the damage caused to your as it is illegal to swerve to avoid a dog or cat or any small animal if there is a chance of you hitting someone or something.
If you had been unfortunate enough to collide with another vehicle or cause damage to another person's property, you could be charged with careless driving.
Now, if you had hit the s.o.b., the owner wouldn't succeed if he/she brought a charge against you unless it could be proved that you could have safely avoided the animal.
That was the position some years ago when I discussed it with an insurance broker and I haven't heard of any change of the law since.

n97 mini

n97 mini wrote: »

I would imagine the judge would apportion some blame to the owner as they were not keeping the dog under control.

The law doesn't take the domino effect into account, car swerved and hit a wall. Driver responsible end of story.

lol at the sheer thought of this getting in front of a judge anyway.

gebbel

mickob16 wrote: »

Yeah but dogs are alot cheaper than cars:)

Off topic but you can't put a price on the attachment some people have to their pets.

Yes I will incur financial loss but I'm prepared to take it...just want to minimize it, that's all.

ZENER

I don't think the parts are all that expensive !! Have a look at Micks Garage

Audi A4 Body parts : http://www.micksgarage.ie/carspec.aspx?&deptid=99&make=Audi&model=A4%202004-2008&basemodel=&year=&engine=&petroldiesel=&mode=drilldown

Ken

SV

-Corkie- wrote: »

Jesus thats nasty. I know it sounds terrible but you should have hit him as opposed to doing all that damage..

Wow.
Yeah, cars are definitely more important than a life.

gebbel

gebbel wrote: »

Yes I will incur financial loss but I'm prepared to take it...just want to minimize it, that's all.

2nd hand bumper, wing and bonnet is the way to go then

gebbel

ZENER wrote: »

I don't think the parts are all that expensive !! Have a look at Micks Garage

Audi A4 Body parts : http://www.micksgarage.ie/carspec.aspx?&deptid=99&make=Audi&model=A4%202004-2008&basemodel=&year=&engine=&petroldiesel=&mode=drilldown

Ken

Now you're talking. Thanks for the lead.

mb1725

At least no air bags deployed! That could be costly.

joey54

gebbel wrote: »

Off topic but you can't put a price on the attachment some people have to their pets.

Yes I will incur financial loss but I'm prepared to take it...just want to minimize it, that's all.

You did the decent thing, a lot of people would have gone into the dog. Any chance the owner has pet insurance?

With my dogs insurance if they cause a car accident insurance will pay out the damages. Might be worth checking out, you never know.

Hope you can pick up the parts cheaply and get a good repair job.

Stinicker

SV wrote: »

Wow.
Yeah, cars are definitely more important than a life.

A dogs life?? I'd willingly drive my own car straight into a telephone pole to try avoid hitting another human, a dog, cat or animal forget it. The OP shouldn't have swerved although knowing these things it was just instinctive to avoid the obstacle, swerving to avoid a cow or deer would be more understandable.

gebbel wrote: »

Just found out it was my neighbour's dog. She is a good person, expecting a baby soon, and out of work.

I won't be suing her, she has enough on her plate.

I would still sue to be honest because if the situation was reversed you can be damned sure she would sue you. Just because you have comprehensive cover shouldn't free her from her obligation as a pet owner, if she was a responsible owner the dog would not be on the road and ontop of it she should have it insured or her home and contents cover may cover it also.

My sister hit a dog in similar circumstances last year but hit and killed the dog, a large Labrador which shredded her front bumper and fog lights. She has only third party fire & theft insurance but the dog owners were very honest and also responsible dog owners, ok the dog got out but he paid the ultimate price, the dog owners home insurance covered the claim which saw over €900 in repairs needed.

This is a very Irish mentality of "enough of her plate" people really should not take personal circumstances into it to absolve the person of their transgression, as a child I was hit by another man at a hurling match, my father like that decided he had "enough of his plate" due to having a handicapped child, a few months later he did the same thing to another kid and had to pay the piper then to that kids family.

Big Nasty

Stinicker wrote: »

A dogs life?? I'd willingly drive my own car straight into a telephone pole to try avoid hitting another human, a dog, cat or animal forget it. The OP shouldn't have swerved although knowing these things it was just instinctive to avoid the obstacle, swerving to avoid a cow or deer would be more understandable.

Some people are very attached to their pets. Just because a cat / dog only lives for 15 or so years doesn't make its life worth any less than a humans IMO. There's people out there with no children, or possibly can'y have children and their pet(s) mean as much to them as any child would. Ok, it's not your own flesh and blood but neither is an adopted child.

Stinicker

MCMLXXV wrote: »

Some people are very attached to their pets. Just because a cat / dog only lives for 15 or so years doesn't make its life worth any less than a humans IMO. There's people out there with no children, or possibly can'y have children and their pet(s) mean as much to them as any child would. Ok, it's not your own flesh and blood but neither is an adopted child.

This is one for PI i think, I can't believe someone could equate the life of an animal to that of a human, if a dog gets killed you can get another one, if your son or daughter is killed you can't just go down to the human pound and pick out a new one, your comment about adopted children is a disgrace.

The Muppet

gebbel wrote: »

Now you're talking. Thanks for the lead.

Traynors in the north do new parts too, do yourself a favour and ring them for a price before buying anything if you' re going the micks garage route for repair.

I'd say you are looking around 2k for a body shop repair on that. That's replacing wing bonnet and bumper. Are the light mountings ok?

gebbel

The Muppet wrote: »

Traynors in the north do new parts too, do yourself a favour and ring them for a price before buying anything if you' re going the micks garage route for repair.

I'd say you are looking around 2k for a body shop repair on that. That's replacing wing bonnet and bumper. Are the light mountings ok?

Yes, lights are ok.

Delancey

I think the OP has shown great humanity in this situation - it may ' only ' be a dog to some people but sometimes the life of an animal cannot be counted in terms of financial cost.

The Muppet

gebbel wrote: »

Yes, lights are ok.

Good, Friend of mine had similar damage to a focus, Bumper Wing and headlight were €200 down here, he got them in Traynors for £80, brand new
parts.

They deliver down here for free too.

Fair play for not hitting the dog, shame it's going to cost you.

Yawns

Gf had a tip last summer. Wing, door and front bumper damaged. Wing was totally crumpled.

Needed new wing, side lamp & door hinge. Got them in micks garage delivered for about €130. The was a local lad who had a spraying garage set up. he had one of the big things inside his garage for it too. I think it's called an oven, not sure.

Anyways he did the job on it all with colour. Whole lot cost me about €550 all in. He fixed and sprayed bumper, bonnet, wing and the the door had a big dent. Did a nice job and sprayed it all in to match. Paid out of my pocket as it was so cheap to fix compared to what it could have been.

Unfortunately as I was reversing out a friends house about 2 days later I didn't realise his wall has a lower line of bricks attached and I scrapped the ****ing bumper again

Big Nasty

Stinicker wrote: »

This is one for PI i think, I can't believe someone could equate the life of an animal to that of a human

Well some people do, or at least are very emotionally attached to their pets.

Stinicker wrote: »

if a dog gets killed you can get another one, if your son or daughter is killed you can't just go down to the human pound and pick out a new one

If a dog gets killed you can get another dog - not the same dog.

Stinicker wrote: »

your comment about adopted children is a disgrace.

Explain how so?

The Muppet

MCMLXXV wrote: »

Explain how so?

But somewhere else, please.

Stinicker

MCMLXXV wrote: »

Explain how so?

You are comparing having a dog to adopting a child, as if a person just wakes someday and decides I'll just adopt a child, what you say if a persons adopted child died, oh who cares its not your flesh and blood you can just adopt another? To compare a person and the whole adoption process to something as trivial as pet ownership is disgraceful.

-Corkie-

LOL OP asked for a rough estimate on a damaged car and we in a arguement about child adoption...:D

Im off to the pub.

Sid_Justice

gebbel you're a hero, glad you're ok

Big Nasty

Stinicker wrote: »

You are comparing having a dog to adopting a child, as if a person just wakes someday and decides I'll just adopt a child, what you say if a persons adopted child died, oh who cares its not your flesh and blood you can just adopt another? To compare a person and the whole adoption process to something as trivial as pet ownership is disgraceful.

No, what I said was that it doesn't make any difference if an animals life is shorter than a humans or that an animal is not your own flesh and blood - people can become very emotionally attached to their pets. Similarly an adopted child is not your own flesh and blood but no less deserving of love and devotion all the same.

Whether YOU are emotionally attached to an animal or not ain't the point here. There are those that are very emotionally attached to their pets and may indeed put similar value on their loved ones as the would their own family. It's not unknown for people to have to seek counselling after the death of a loved animal.

tl;dr? Just because you don't put a value on a dogs life doesn't mean someone else sees different.

Back on topic - OP, fair play for avoiding the dog and I hope you can get the car fixed at a good price.

gebbel

Thanks all for yor comments.

-Chris-

I think the OP has all the information they need. Thread closed.

OP if you need the thread reopened for any reason, please just PM me.