Hit a dog on the road, need advice!!

flowers

I was driving a friends car the other nite, on route home, a bullmastiff dog ran out in front of me and unfortunately I killed the dog, by the way I'm an animal lover and felt desperate for what had happened, but there was an oncoming car so there was no way avoiding him. there is a lot of damage to the lights and bumper, rang guards straight away to come over, he saw the jeep and helped us move the dog, did not want to leave him lying there.

The next morning we got the dog scanned to see if he was chipped and sure enough we tracked the owner.

The owners have said they are not going to pay for the damage to the jeep which is costing over €3000, they said they have no money.

Im covered on my own car fully comp, but because I was driving someone elses car Im only covered third party so I cant put this through my insurance.

What can I do to get the owner of the dog to pay, any advise at all??

Owner of dog is responsible for costs.

challengemaster

The owner is legally liable, they can't refuse to pay. Get on to a solicitor

corktina

see a Solicitor. Its an expensive dog and they went to the expense of chipping it so they must have some money. They are responsible as already said.

Atomic Pineapple

As far as I am aware the owner is responsible for the dog and therefore responsible for the damage the dog caused as the owner failed to keep control of the dog.

Therefore the owner is legally obliged to pay for the damages to the car.

I'd contact a solicitor immediately for proper legal advice on what you should do though and take anything said on an internet forum with a pinch of salt until you get proper legal advice.

Bigcheeze

flowers wrote: »

any advise at all??

Yeah don't post about this on the Animal and Pets forum.

MURDERER!!! :pac:

rotinaj

Although the owner is liable for the damage it could take years to get money from him, if at all. Is your friend willing to wait that long? Looks like you will have to pay up and try to claim the money back from the owner.

Lex Luthor

rotinaj wrote: »

Looks like you will have to pay up and try to claim the money back from the owner.

might be the best option at the moment...I'm sure any court will be in your favour.

The dog owner just needs to be reminded of that and will get stung for all costs if this goes to a claim court

kildare.17hmr

have you reported it to your insurance company? They might be able to help you out. Defo see a solicitor its the dog owners full responsibility and they May have some insurance that covers things like that

flowers

Does anyone know if are you covered under third party on another persons vehicle if you can prove it was not your fault??

dev100

You are really stuck in limbo with third party whilst driving your mates car. Check with your mate if his insurance covers you fully comp whilst driving his jeep . 3k or more is alot any pics? A deer would hardly do that much damage.

Id have another option but the mods wouldnt be impressed

See a solicitor thats the best option. The dog owner is fully at fault. Unless you want to end up paying for it pursue the owner fully.

Woofstuff

Woof. .. the poor dog:mad:

We have pet insurance for our dogs maybe its something more dog owners should have especially if they are free to roam around.

dev100

Woofstuff wrote: »

Woof. .. the poor dog:mad:

We have pet insurance for our dogs maybe its something more dog owners should have especially if they are free to roam around.

Your meant to have full control over your dogs at all time The day of the dog being free to roam has long gone...

wee truck big driver

a dog done 3000 euro damage to a jeep. soft jeep

chiefwiggum

no bullbars anymore...i'd easily believe it..

flowers

Hi we have pics of the jeep and the guard saw it that night as well, right after it happened.

Sky King

You might be better off asking in the legal forum although in fairness they'll probably just tell you to get onto a solicitor. That's all they ever seem to do..

As I am sure you're aware, suing someone who has no money will cost you a lot of money and get you nowhere. And going to a solicitor in an official capacity will cost you too. The legal system is frustrating and inefficient, despite what the generic 'get onto your friendly local solicitor' ads on the radio will have you believe.

I suggest getting legal advise to establish for sure if the dog owners are in fact liable, but do your utmost to resolve the situation yourself without legal intervention by talking to the dog owners and explaining that they are in the wrong (if indeed this turns out to be the case, as many people here think it is) and that you really don't want to spend money taking them to court - but you will if you have to - and that will cost time and money and a whole lot of headaches for all concerned..

But if they really don't want to pay you they won't. No matter how many times you take them to court or whatever they won't. They'll pay you a fiver a week and stop after two weeks or whatever, and you'll have to go through the whole rigmarole again. Or such is my experience with these types anyway.

Mr. Presentable

Get a solicitor. I would have thought their home insurance would cover things like this.....

flowers

they are renting their house so dont have house insurance. Ive never been so frustrated. the system is so wrong. Couldnt we all say we didn't have money and get away with a lot of things. One of them is working and are claiming child benefit for 4. Can the guards even do anything for me considering they were there?

corktina

Id still go to the solicitor.You might get something out of them . Do people who rent not have Home Insurance then?

dev100

flowers wrote: »

they are renting their house so dont have house insurance. Ive never been so frustrated. the system is so wrong. Couldnt we all say we didn't have money and get away with a lot of things. One of them is working and are claiming child benefit for 4. Can the guards even do anything for me considering they were there?

They should have contents insurance..... Any guard will tell you after taking a deep breath its a civil matter. Well depending you could go have a word with guard im sure there is a law stating you should be in control of animal at all times. If the dog had caused you to crash and cause injuries to others then the owners would have been in big trouble.

But getting a guard to look after you like that be like pulling hens teeth .

Raiser

dev100 wrote: »

You are really stuck in limbo with third party whilst driving your mates car. Check with your mate if his insurance covers you fully comp whilst driving his jeep . 3k or more is alot any pics? A deer would hardly do that much damage.

Id have another option but the mods wouldnt be impressed

See a solicitor thats the best option. The dog owner is fully at fault. Unless you want to end up paying for it pursue the owner fully.

I'm sure its inflated tenfold - Any sniff of an insurance claim is like Viagra to the repair shops - Ah sure the claim will cover our ignorant rip-off......

flowers

The thing is we cant claim through our own insurance as you are only convered on third party insurance when you drive someone else's vehicle, meaning the insurers are not obliged to pay out.Ahhhhhhh!!!

Hammer Archer

Raiser wrote: »

I'm sure its inflated tenfold - Any sniff of an insurance claim is like Viagra to the repair shops - Ah sure the claim will cover our ignorant rip-off......

To be fair a Bullmastiff is a pretty huge dog that would do a good bit of damage if a car hit it at a decent speed.

You would wonder about their apparent lack of money given the amount of money they would be spending on dog food every week. Surely they wouldn't have such a large dog if they were so short on money.

corktina

Yes but what raisers is saying is get the jeep owner to check with his insurance company to see if they will cover damge caused to the vehicle by someone other than you, or pursue the person responsible. Worth a shot.

PseudoFamous

flowers wrote: »

there is a lot of damage to the lights and bumper

flowers wrote: »

The owners have said they are not going to pay for the damage to the jeep which is costing over €3000, they said they have no money.

There is no way that damage to lights and a bumper from a dog would cost over €3000. From a wall, maybe, but certainly not a dog. Our beamer just got an entirely new engine for €1500, so I suspect you're a woman, OP, and the mechanic is trying to rip you off.

dev100

flowers wrote: »

The thing is we cant claim through our own insurance as you are only convered on third party insurance when you drive someone else's vehicle, meaning the insurers are not obliged to pay out.Ahhhhhhh!!!

Its something a lot of people dont think about when borrowing other peoples car. It only covers damages if you hit someone else. But is your mate fully comp? I dont know but it may be a case you could be covered fully comp on his or her policy that is if they fully comp.

dev100

corktina wrote: »

Yes but what raisers is saying is get the jeep owner to check with his insurance company to see if they will cover damge caused to the vehicle by someone other than you, or pursue the person responsible. Worth a shot.

You beat me to it:)

Stinicker

The dog owners are responsible, and of this there is no question, however it is up to the OP on how they should pursue it, everybody is claiming they have no money nowadays when for many people they have never had it so good. I'd be quite certain that this family have the money but are just trying to get out of their responsibility. You and your friend who is the owner of the car in question should see a good solicitor and sue them if they refuse to pay up, I can guarantee if the law was on their side they would sue you for the dead dog!

Make sure you have all the facts right and get your insurance assessor to take a look at the damaged vehicle and if it is old or of low value the most sensible option might be a write off and sue for a replacement vehicle.

Don't let them get away with it, a responsible dog owner would not have the dog out on the road and you were lucky not to have caused a worse accident when another driver may have swerved causing an accident effecting humans, the dog would live and the person would be guilty of dangerous driving and having caused an accident. Sue them and get your money. If they have money for this type of dog then they have money to compensate the damage done to the jeep, don't go soft on them!

Something similar happened my sister and the pet owners house and contents insurance covered it, and as these owners are renting then most likely the house is insured by the landlord and you maybe able to claim off that insurance as part of the contents IF the insurance extends to the tenants, its a long shot but you never know.

This sort of case was discussed twice this year already and it might be worth the op having a read of the two threads.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056241219

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056369747

rebel.ranter

PseudoFamous wrote: »

There is no way that damage to lights and a bumper from a dog would cost over €3000. From a wall, maybe, but certainly not a dog. Our beamer just got an entirely new engine for €1500, so I suspect you're a woman, OP, and the mechanic is trying to rip you off.

Some car a headlights can be as much as €800 (I have seen a bill for a headlamp this dear, for a 6 Series), a bumper the same or more, if an indicator lamp & fog lamp is damaged then add another €50 each, all the cowlings underneath the bumper are expensive too, add another €200 conservatively, damage to a wing mabye?, add another €200 there, plus €600 for painting. If the front grille gone then add €300

800
800
200
200
600
300
___
€2,900

That's €2,900 for just the big ticket items. So the €3,000 may not be totally wild. Oh, and the "new" engine you got, I'd be fairly certain it's not a new engine, you'd be lucky to get a new cylinder head for that money let alone a full engine. 2nd hand normally doesn't come into it when insurance companies are involved.

john t

flowers wrote: »

The thing is we cant claim through our own insurance as you are only convered on third party insurance when you drive someone else's vehicle, meaning the insurers are not obliged to pay out.Ahhhhhhh!!!

flower is that breed of dog on restricted breed list? is it supposed too be muzzled, on lead under 3foot long, only allowed in public with adult over 16yrs old?? check citizens advice. but really no dog allowed off lead in public so owners fault...

Fishtits

OP,

3k damage?

Get an assesor who lives in the real world for a start.

Rip Off Ireland is alive and well... I don't think so.

Unless the Mutt was wearing a suicide belt when he was hit there is no way in Hell it could have caused 3G worth of damage.

Someone is trying to gouge you.

challengemaster

Lads, it doesn't matter what the quote is, the OP (or OP's friend, in this case) is entitled to have their vehicle repaired at the cost of the dog owner.

john t

challengemaster wrote: »

Lads, it doesn't matter what the quote is, the OP (or OP's friend, in this case) is entitled to have their vehicle repaired at the cost of the dog owner.

yes dogs are not legally allowed roam freely too cause nuisance,

TheUsual

flowers wrote: »

The owners have said they are not going to pay for the damage to the jeep which is costing over €3000, they said they have no money.

Im covered on my own car fully comp, but because I was driving someone elses car Im only covered third party so I cant put this through my insurance.

What can I do to get the owner of the dog to pay, any advise at all??

Yeah ask this in the Legal thread, get advice on chasing the owners in the small claims court maybe (no solicitors to pay).

Be glad you are not injured, could have been a lot worse if you went into a parked car or lamp-post. Hitting the dog was the better choice.
Cars can be fixed up 100% again, you can't.

I would well believe that amount of damage from a dog that size, my friend's Toyota Starlet lost a headlight , bumper and front and side panel after hitting a small dog. Owners were kids and ran off when he got out of the car, so he had to pay for it himself.

If that's what you end up having to do in the end, I would look at spares from car-breakers in the UK on-line, they have photos and that so you can check what you need, or get a mechanic to do it for you.
Get the ferry over buy what you need and come back and get a mechanic to fit it all. Also you might get non-original parts on the internet, I have done this for electrical parts before and they were grand.

BigEejit

Several years ago a labrador ran out in front of my car, I jammed on the brakes but still hit it .... The fecker broke the passenger side headlight, grille and wrecked the bumper. Luckily didnt damage the wing etc.

Then it stood up and ran off (limping) .... Cost me 370 quid (6 year old car so used motor factor and second hand parts). Bastard dog.

padz

come up with a reasonable figure and go back to them 2-300e sounds right

challengemaster

padz wrote: »

come up with a reasonable figure and go back to them 2-300e sounds right

based on what, exactly? Nobody here has seen any of the damage caused. Stop making up stuff without a clue :rolleyes:

Ardennes1944

sure an ol bottle of t cut 'ill do CM!;)

padz

challengemaster wrote: »

based on what, exactly? Nobody here has seen any of the damage caused. Stop making up stuff without a clue :rolleyes:

stop trolling please..... the op said 'there is a lot of damage to the lights and bumper' thats what we have information wise to go on i am expressing my opinion as the op is looking for feedback and having myself replaced a bumper and a headlight for 300e i would think my point is valid :rolleyes:

mikemac

Home insurance would have covered this so a shame they don't have it

Gardaí aren't going to help you on this one, you'll be told it's a civil matter

Ask over in legal forum maybe?
You can get banned for asking for specific advice so phrase it as a general question

x in the city

flowers wrote: »

I was driving a friends car the other nite, on route home, a bullmastiff dog ran out in front of me and unfortunately I killed the dog, by the way I'm an animal lover and felt desperate for what had happened, but there was an oncoming car so there was no way avoiding him. there is a lot of damage to the lights and bumper, rang guards straight away to come over, he saw the jeep and helped us move the dog, did not want to leave him lying there.

The next morning we got the dog scanned to see if he was chipped and sure enough we tracked the owner.

The owners have said they are not going to pay for the damage to the jeep which is costing over €3000, they said they have no money.

Im covered on my own car fully comp, but because I was driving someone elses car Im only covered third party so I cant put this through my insurance.

What can I do to get the owner of the dog to pay, any advise at all??

dogs should not be on the road.

so sue the dog owner

that is all..

lomb

padz wrote: »

come up with a reasonable figure and go back to them 2-300e sounds right

A headlight alone could cost 2-300e never mind fitting it, a new bumper grille and spraying to match. Sounds like around 1000-1500e of damage to fix it properly possibly using parts from a breaker.

corktina

challengemaster wrote: »

Lads, it doesn't matter what the quote is, the OP (or OP's friend, in this case) is entitled to have their vehicle repaired at the cost of the dog owner.

a valid point here. The OPs involvement is really only as the driver of the car. In a hard world, its the Jeep Owner who has the bill to pay and should be pursuing the dog owner. The OP COULD wash her hands of it as the dog owner has, depends on how good a friend the jeep owner is and whether she wants to keep him as a friend. (not sure I could though, even though it wasnt my fault, Id feel responsible)

jimmy2pens

challengemaster wrote: »

The owner is legally liable, they can't refuse to pay. Get on to a solicitor

As stated above, the dog owner is fully liable, I know a person who hit a dog and had alot of damage to his vechicle, the owner of the dog said that he would not pay up, but when he got a solicitors letter he changed his tune, and paid up straight away!

Anan1

padz wrote: »

stop trolling please..... the op said 'there is a lot of damage to the lights and bumper' thats what we have information wise to go on i am expressing my opinion as the op is looking for feedback and having myself replaced a bumper and a headlight for 300e i would think my point is valid :rolleyes:

Unless you're a psychic insurance assessor, your point is nonsense. You don't know what the OP was driving, and you don't know exactly what damage was done. There's a reason why professionals need to examine crashed cars before issuing repair quotes, you know.

Fey!

As said by numerous people ahead of me, the dog owner is liable.

They may well have pet insurance, which would cover this. Also, even if they don't have contents cover as renters, the landlord probably has the buildings covered, which MIGHT cover the dog if it ran out of the driveway of the house. Worth checking out, or asking the Garda who came to the scene to check out.

Even though the damage may well be a civil issue, laws or local by-laws may well state that animals must be kept under control. Check with the local dog warden, and give them a full report too; these dog owners may have other animals roaming free.

PseudoFamous wrote: »

There is no way that damage to lights and a bumper from a dog would cost over €3000. From a wall, maybe, but certainly not a dog. Our beamer just got an entirely new engine for €1500, so I suspect you're a woman, OP, and the mechanic is trying to rip you off.

I hit a fox about 4 years ago, and I did nearly €2,500 worth of damage. That was on an 8 year old BMW 520. €3,000 on a newer vehicle doesn't sound bananas, especially hitting something like a strong, heavy dog with something high-end.

For example, on my 12 year old Hilux a new bumper, lower valance, 2 front bumper brackets, grille, rhs wing, rhs filler panel, rhs headlight, rhs indicator, rhs side repeater, bulbs, front radiator slam panel, and rhs front bumper end would cost me £978.07, plus VAT and postage from the UK, which makes them around €1,700. Then I would have to get them painted and fitted, which would cost probably another €800. That's €2,500 before even looking under the skin.