Just as I was driving home in my little Suzuki Swift from my girlfriends house about half ten tonight a black Labrador decided to leg it right out infront of my car. I slammed on the anchors but I had no chance even at the speed I was going at which was no more than 30 mph :cry:

 

I was sure the dog would be dead as it must have been pushed about 20 feet up the road but amazingly after the RSPCA came along it looks that the dog only has a broken hind leg so thank god for that! The dog had no collar on at all so I don't have a clue who the owner is. Looks in too good condition to be a stray.

 

Now that the most important thing is out of the way I can now go on about the state it has left my poor daily driver in. Apart from the radiator having a few dents in it where all the debris hit it I have all the front support beams bent in (hopefully be able to straighten them myself), I will need a new front bumper, grill and most probably a new bonnet:(

 

I spoke to my girlfriend and she is sure that the owners of the dog are liable to pay for the damage to my car. I know the most important thing is that the dog is ok but I was totaly unable to help hitting the poor thing and now thanks to some unresponsible owner letting their dog wonder about in the middle of the road late at night with no collar on it looks like I will be paying out more of my hard earned! :mad:

 

Does anyone know where I stand on this issue legally?

 

Thanks guys,

 

Justin.

Nice to see you stopped to help the little lad.

 

Should stand you in good stead to get your money off the owner. hope yu get something sorted.

I think they are liable, but as a lot of owners are not insured it means taking them to court for damages. Glad the dog is ok, but anyone who lets their dog run loose should be banned from having one.

the dog owners are liable for any damage to your vehicle under civil law ,even if the dog simply escaped you can take out a private law suit against the owner check it out with the citizens advice bureau

most animal owners who are responsible take on animal pet insurance which might depending on the policy cover this ,

 

As most dog owners look on their pets as part of their family, im sure out of relief that the dog is not dead they would be too happy to pay for repairs for your car

 

if not , find the dog , put some deep heat on its K******s and hide its water dish

i think you are correct with a dog because a dog is the owners property and therefore they are responsible - a cat howver is s different matter, i think it is still techincally classed as a wild animal :confused:

 

any responsible dog owner should have insurance anyway but if the dog didnt even have a collar then good luck .

 

Regards,

 

alex

Hi Justin,

 

I hope you do take them to court if they have no insurance. I can't stand irresponsible dog owners. I know if my dog caused any sort of accident, I would settle any costs.

 

Vijay

You need to report the accident to the police within 24 hours.

 

You will also probably need to sue (Small Claims Court) to get your dosh but "Under the 1971 Animals Act the owners are legally responsible for their dogs and therefore responsible for any damages caused."

 

http://www.provet.co.uk/Petfacts/The%20Animals%20Act%201971.htm

http://www.endsleigh.co.uk/web/policies/pet/industry/car_accidents.html

http://www.the-kennel-club.org.uk/kennelclub/documents/guide9_dog_law.qxd.pdf

 

 

 

Good Luck

Thanks for all the replies guys.

 

I think I will get down the Police station after work today and get it officially reported.

 

I have the vets number so I will call them and see if they know anything about who owns the dog and if it is microchipped. I think all I can do otherwise is put a few signs up in the area and see if anyone comes forward. Surely someone will be missing their dog!

 

Justin

Surely someone will be missing their dog!

 

Justin

 

You didn't :D

 

(oops - apologies to all Labrador owners and Justin - can't have been nice)

You didn't :D

 

(oops - apologies to all Labrador owners and Justin - can't have been nice)

 

LOL :rofl:

 

It's always best to try and have a good sense of humour with stuff like this:)

 

I will let you all know how I get on later.

Unlucky Justin, wrong place @ the wrong time i guess.

Hope you get it sorted bud. A mate of mine once hit a

deer in a pug 205, wrote the car off completely!

Just to clear up any confusion.....the deer wasn't actually

driving the 205! My mate was :wack:

Just to clear up any confusion.....the deer wasn't actually

driving the 205! My mate was :wack:

:rofl: :D

Im sure the owners are liable as well if its a cat, but only if its been ID chipped.

I know when some mad woman kidknapped my cat, the police said if it wasnt chipped then she could keep it. Luckily my Cats are Chipped, Insured, on Varous data bases so mad woman was forced to give it back.

 

If the owner of the dog (back to subject) has Pet insurance then it will cover your damages mate.

I had my Black Oriental cats chipped when they were kittens - was thinking about getting the rest of my cats chipped too, but does anyone know if they'll see a significant increase in performance?

surely a cat thats chipped will give birth to kittens that are chipped?? :wack:

I had my Black Oriental cats chipped when they were kittens - was thinking about getting the rest of my cats chipped too, but does anyone know if they'll see a significant increase in performance?

 

 

YUP you can chip cats a boost controller and 12psi i should think will be ok before you run lean also de-CAT aswell PMSL

Ok, Thought I would update now I have a bit more information.

 

I have reported the incident to the Police and have to hand my documents into the station.

 

I called the vets and luckily the dog is looking like he will be ok. His name is Gilbert and all he has is six or seven broken ribs after they opened him up for a look. He was also microchipped so the owner has been contacted.

 

I called the owner yesterday evening and she was very nice about it all. She thanked me for calling and for stopping in the first place. She said she is pretty sure that Gilbert is insured but needs to just check that the policy has not expired. She is going to call up the insurerers and see where I stand with the damage to my car.

 

I am thinking that if this becomes an insurance job then it might well be a right off:( What you guys reckon?

 

Its a "P" reg suzuki swift 1.0 and I reckon its valued at about £1200. I should think seeing taht insurance repairs are always done properly that it will need a new radiator, n/s headlight, support beams, bonnet, grill, and front bumper (£300 just for this as far as I know!). Its gotta be a close call surely :cry:

 

Thanks again for all the replies,

 

Justin:)

itl probably be a write off then even if i is just a close call when you think of paint sprayers time, mechanics time etc at +£30 an hour +parts and taking into account the depreciation of the car, insurers having to get u a courtesy car and so on...

what to do is, buy the wreck back and get second hand bits from the breakers, fit them yourself and youl be given £1200-price to buy back wreck (£200)-£300 for parts and youl make £700 from it all, and still keep your daily driver.

luckily the dogs gonna be ok and the owner is sound, could be a nightmare if you had no cooperation.

Thought I would do a wee update here.

 

I have been sending and recieving letters from this ladies insurance company and have had a couple of estimates. They are both around £1500 so in other words the cars a write off.

 

I just have to hope now that her insurance is going to pay out so I can avoid the hassle of a potential court case.

 

The insurance company (Norwich Union) is sending a techy out to look over the car in a week or so. I guess this is good news as surely if they were not going to go through with it then they would not send anyone out to see the car would they?

 

Anyone know if this is usually just procedure before I get my hopes up?

 

Justin:)

So what happens if you run somebody over, who pays in that case?

I had my Black Oriental cats chipped when they were kittens - was thinking about getting the rest of my cats chipped too, but does anyone know if they'll see a significant increase in performance?

 

PMSLMFAO :rofl: