I Hit A Dog With My Car - Advice On Court Action

atrixblue.-MFR-.

pgilc1 wrote: »

If you're such an "expert" on bodywork it surprises me that you cant tell that replacing a front bumper, bonnet, grille, headlight, possibly front panel and possibly radiator and various ancilliaries wouldnt easily come to £1500 for an insurance quality job. And that it couldnt be done for much less using non genuine or second hand parts - a point the O/P has long since clarified.

Also, just because you've "painted more cars than i've had hot dinners" didnt stop you coming across as a prat and also isnt particularly relevant - I was an underwriter in the motor trade for going on 15 years, and still have close ties to it, (and therefore, have prepared more cars for resale than "you've had hot dinners" :whistle:) so i'm very well used to estimating damage / repairs to cars prior to resale, so it surprises me that an "expert" like you cant?

Obviously there are inconsistencies from the O/P as to what parts are broken - hes not an "expert" like you.

Also, did you see what i did there included double quotes around the word expert to belittle it - just like you did with the word uni.

My point RE: second hand parts - the O/P shouldnt *have* to now accept parts off scrap cars on his pride and joy over something that clearly wasnt his fault.

Yes, i have a chip on my shoulder - against morons like you trying to make a fool out of people

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:and it's 'uni' see what i did there? not "belittle" it like you just have! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

i wouldnt say you have a chip on your shoulder, more of a potato field IMO.

who looks more of a moron? me? or you posting abuse? by the way that is a rhetorical question!

the whole point of mse is advice and money saveing! i offered this, second hands parts are money saveing and op has said the bumper is second hand! the car isnt young enough to be covered under manufacturers warenty so no issue with manufacturers parts to honour that and it also not an old,old car is it so what wrong with a couple or year old car parts like bumpers and bonnet and light n' grill? they get painted the same colour and the difference is nothing?

yes albeit the car sustained a dented/bent aircon that is not leaking op had already said the light was temp fixed, were talking about a hitting a dog and not a very heavy one at that its not like he hit a lamppost at 60mph and crumpled the car completely.

i have not jumped on the young,speeding,his fault band wagon, and sympothise that he has a damaged car that he has to pay out of pocket
but then again this is why we have insurance on our vehicles to cover the costs of this even if you have to pay an excess OP could of asked the dog owner to pay this, yes his premium would of gone up an NCB gone but thats the risk of owning a vehicle accidents happen its life, we all deal with it. eventhough it was not OP's fault and partially the dog owners and part dogs fault the dog ultimatly decided to run into the road, whether he was let off the lead or slipped its collar the dog made that decision, ultimately things could of been worse the OP could of swerved into oncomeing traffic causing serious injury or death or he could of been rear ended and x amount of people hurt. the Dog is dead the owner has lost his companion the car is rerpaired for the OP to put this behind him.

like i advised OP could go to court for costs and damages, but if the dog owner is unemployed, broke, registered bankrupt, or has a excisting ccj in force and on benefits he wont get a lump sum back but paid monthly if on benefits, if owners on a ccj this will be the method and may get out of paying court costs.

propaintballa

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:and it's 'uni' see what i did there? not "belittle" it like you just have! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

i wouldnt say you have a chip on your shoulder, more of a potato field IMO.

who looks more of a moron? me? or you posting abuse? by the way that is a rhetorical question!

the whole point of mse is advice and money saveing! i offered this, second hands parts are money saveing and op has said the bumper is second hand! the car isnt young enough to be covered under manufacturers warenty so no issue with manufacturers parts to honour that and it also not an old,old car is it so what wrong with a couple or year old car parts like bumpers and bonnet and light n' grill? they get painted the same colour and the difference is nothing?

yes albeit the car sustained a dented/bent aircon that is not leaking op had already said the light was temp fixed, were talking about a hitting a dog and not a very heavy one at that its not like he hit a lamppost at 60mph and crumpled the car completely.

i have not jumped on the young,speeding,his fault band wagon, and sympothise that he has a damaged car that he has to pay out of pocket
but then again this is why we have insurance on our vehicles to cover the costs of this even if you have to pay an excess OP could of asked the dog owner to pay this, yes his premium would of gone up an NCB gone but thats the risk of owning a vehicle accidents happen its life, we all deal with it. eventhough it was not OP's fault and partially the dog owners and part dogs fault the dog ultimatly decided to run into the road, whether he was let off the lead or slipped its collar the dog made that decision, ultimately things could of been worse the OP could of swerved into oncomeing traffic causing serious injury or death or he could of been rear ended and x amount of people hurt. the Dog is dead the owner has lost his companion the car is rerpaired for the OP to put this behind him.

like i advised OP could go to court for costs and damages, but if the dog owner is unemployed, broke, registered bankrupt, or has a excisting ccj in force and on benefits he wont get a lump sum back but paid monthly if on benefits, if owners on a ccj this will be the method and may get out of paying court costs.

To be fair to you, you have offered some good advice but your original post did seem a bit intimidating at first, but upon a second read, you seemed nice enough.

Can you just please stop the arguing. It's getting a bit boring up in here now. Can't we all just have a group hug and get along?

On a plus note, i have just been to inspect my newly painted bonnet and bumper. The bonnet has a few little bits on that a brought to the sprayers attention, so tomorrow i will also be picking that up once he has sanded down the imperfections and re polished. Thanks

atrixblue.-MFR-.

theres great satisfaction when a damaged car comes back to life aint there!

if i may can i give you some tips and info on the colour of the car? you may know these but i though as you sound like you take great pride in you car and look after it i though id give you a few pointer and info.

the metelic colour on the car is subject to uv damage (as with all cars) but because the colour is light the roof, bonnet, tops of the wings suffer with fade and laquer peel if not properly protected. cheap polishes and wax's dont offer the same quality uv protection as some more expensive polishes and may affect the protection against fade and uv damage. the fiesta's plastic door guards fades something chronic with uv damage also and after time will show the molding "tide" marks on them you can also protect against this and make the cars plastic look new!

i use car plan/auto glym and meguirs products.

i use car plan wax £5.99 a tin and will last a good while and offer uv protection.

i use auto glym deep shine (black label'd) this deepens the shine further from the car plan one and again uv protection, (the cars paintwork looks like a mirror after polishing) and the metallic particles really shine through as if metalflake is on the car! and washing the car when dirty is a doddle as the dirt just runs off with water.

meguiars gold class endurance tire gell i use to shine tyres protects agains browning of the tyre wall and lasts. i also use it plastic trim as it has uv protection also you do not need a large amount on a sponge about a pea size amount will do both sides of the cars door trim! it takes off dirt grime back to black spray polish road film and tarr and polish residue (white polish marks).

also the end result is the polish cloths used. i use microfiber polishing mitts to remove the polish, and a polish applicator pad to apply the polish when polishing you dont need to use a large amounrt so the car is white just a little on the pad and rub into paint to a haze on the surface. after removing the car plan wax with the micro fibre mitt i use another microfibre mitt to buff all round take out swirl mark and left over polish i have missed, this ensures the shine deepens. then apply the auto glym deep shine in the manner.

on washing the car before wax and polishing i dont use any product that has a wax based soap i try to use plain filtered water or plain water and wash with a microfiber wash mitt (£2.99 for two in aldi) then on drying the car i use a genuine leather chamois this polishes out water marks on drying and preps the surface for the waxing.

the car looks amazing after all is dfone and satifaction that it looks like it came out of the showroom.

i do have tips on removing surface scratches but i have to go pick my kids up now from school let me know if your interested in knowing this ill post back?


i know this is off topic guys but as the OP loves his car i thought id give a few tips on how to protect his newly painted parts.

somech

you got toooo much time on your hands:D

atrixblue.-MFR-.

somech wrote: »

you got toooo much time on your hands:D

mmmmmmmmm we both do lol :rotfl::D

dunclane

A massive thumbs up to the OP for being more mature and level headed than many people twice his age!

Thats not to sound patronising by the way

propaintballa

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

theres great satisfaction when a damaged car comes back to life aint there!

if i may can i give you some tips and info on the colour of the car? you may know these but i though as you sound like you take great pride in you car and look after it i though id give you a few pointer and info.

the metelic colour on the car is subject to uv damage (as with all cars) but because the colour is light the roof, bonnet, tops of the wings suffer with fade and laquer peel if not properly protected. cheap polishes and wax's dont offer the same quality uv protection as some more expensive polishes and may affect the protection against fade and uv damage. the fiesta's plastic door guards fades something chronic with uv damage also and after time will show the molding "tide" marks on them you can also protect against this and make the cars plastic look new!

i use car plan/auto glym and meguirs products.

i use car plan wax £5.99 a tin and will last a good while and offer uv protection.

i use auto glym deep shine (black label'd) this deepens the shine further from the car plan one and again uv protection, (the cars paintwork looks like a mirror after polishing) and the metallic particles really shine through as if metalflake is on the car! and washing the car when dirty is a doddle as the dirt just runs off with water.

meguiars gold class endurance tire gell i use to shine tyres protects agains browning of the tyre wall and lasts. i also use it plastic trim as it has uv protection also you do not need a large amount on a sponge about a pea size amount will do both sides of the cars door trim! it takes off dirt grime back to black spray polish road film and tarr and polish residue (white polish marks).

also the end result is the polish cloths used. i use microfiber polishing mitts to remove the polish, and a polish applicator pad to apply the polish when polishing you dont need to use a large amounrt so the car is white just a little on the pad and rub into paint to a haze on the surface. after removing the car plan wax with the micro fibre mitt i use another microfibre mitt to buff all round take out swirl mark and left over polish i have missed, this ensures the shine deepens. then apply the auto glym deep shine in the manner.

on washing the car before wax and polishing i dont use any product that has a wax based soap i try to use plain filtered water or plain water and wash with a microfiber wash mitt (£2.99 for two in aldi) then on drying the car i use a genuine leather chamois this polishes out water marks on drying and preps the surface for the waxing.

the car looks amazing after all is dfone and satifaction that it looks like it came out of the showroom.

i do have tips on removing surface scratches but i have to go pick my kids up now from school let me know if your interested in knowing this ill post back?


i know this is off topic guys but as the OP loves his car i thought id give a few tips on how to protect his newly painted parts.

Thanks for the reply buddy, you clearly put a lot of time into it, and i appreciate that

I'm part of a car club so hear a lot about cleaning products and such, dodo juice and what not. At the moment i use all Auto Glym products, i use the shampoo, i also have the Super resin polish, Turtle wax nano wax and the auto glym tyre dressing. To apply wax/polish i use the mit the wax came with and the auto glym polish cloths.

I need to polish her again but try and only do it twice a year, and wax every other time. I washed her on Wednesday as i haven't since Christmas (unlike me) and she came out great with just a shampoo and didn't have time for wax. But i'll bare some of your other tips in mind. Thanks

rev_henry

Have we actually got to the bottom of this yet or are we still bickering?

atrixblue.-MFR-.

rev_henry wrote: »

Have we actually got to the bottom of this yet or are we still bickering?

all is fine in my understanding.

Anihilator

How has this got to 13 pages?

The OP has 2 course of action to consider

1) Claim on the insurance; take the hit and let them pursue the third party. If they suceed the loading of a non fault claim is likely to be minimal compared to 1k repair

2) Small claims court. To do this they would need to reasonably prove the TP was negilent. If the dog slipped a collar they didnt necessary have neglient behaviour

Overall I think the OP either takes the hit and takes money off the TP or goes to the insurers. The Small claim court doesnt seem likely to suceed

I can see how people are suspicous though. That is a lot of damage for this type of collision.