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

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  • dacouch
    dacouch Posts: 21,636 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    tandraig wrote: »
    i get the feeling here that OP was exeeding the speed limit - and wants to blame the dog.
    so OP - post back and tell us - were you on a motorway or dual carraigeway?

    You could be onto somthing here, as the OP did say it was a racing dog, perhaps they were racing or it was a passenger and was egging him on
  • propaintballa
    propaintballa Posts: 152 Forumite
    edited 9 March 2010 at 12:07AM
    Hey guys... I have just skimmed most of the replies because there are so many... I just want to put a few things straight.

    The Police were informed, and so were my insurance company, i have witness', my friend was driving behind me at the time, the road IS a 60mph limit, it's single carriageway in between the mainland and an island with beach either side, the dog had no insurance, it was a rescued racing dog.

    To the people saying to claim through insurance, that's what it is for, and to the people assuming i was speeding, shame on you. It's people like yourselves that keep this whole rubbish stereotype on going... I will have you know, i have paid over £3000 for insurance alone... and i have been driving a year and a half, any claim, will result in loss on no claims, then will have a claim to my name, therefore increasing my next premium.

    And at Tandraig... I don't think you're in a position to make assumptions about the situation i was in... Do you think i would be posting this and wanting to take it to court if i was the guilty party? I don't think so somehow. I really hope you can re-evaluate your outlook on young drivers, because at the moment, it's a bit of a joke.
  • McKneff
    McKneff Posts: 38,857 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 9 March 2010 at 12:17AM
    pgilc1 wrote: »
    You know that soooo typical of the attitude towards young drivers - hes 18, driving his own car, so must have been speeding and it was his fault he hit a dog that shouldnt have been off the lead in the first place.

    Also VERY typical response in this day and age by the owner of the dog - trying to weedle his way out of it rather than face up to his responsibilities.

    Your post insenced me, i did not judge the 18 year old, At no time in my post did i say the OP was speeding, did i'
    60 mph is not speeding and i
    was merely speculating what the dog owner was probably thinking. The dog had been on a lead and slipped it, so the OP said.

    The owner of the dog was not trying to weedle his way out of his responsibilites, he admitted that his dog had slipped his lead. Most people want to face up to their responsibilites but if you had no resources ie money wise, what can you do.

    Your jugement of me and my post was unwarranted and insulting.
    You should read my post again.
    make the most of it, we are only here for the weekend.
    and we will never, ever return.
  • somech
    somech Posts: 624 Forumite
    so the dog owner has no insurance
    dog owner may be skint
    could take to court but if he's skint whats the point
    you could get the car repaired yourself
    to be honest and non judgemental i would claim on insurance as i years no claims is not a huge amount to lose
  • somech wrote: »
    so the dog owner has no insurance
    dog owner may be skint
    could take to court but if he's skint whats the point
    you could get the car repaired yourself
    to be honest and non judgemental i would claim on insurance as i years no claims is not a huge amount to lose

    Correct... 1 year no claims took £700 off of my first year driving... So without that, and then a claim to my name, then it's going to be very high again. So it's out of the question.
  • terryya
    terryya Posts: 603 Forumite
    I think some of the replies you've had are a disgrace, but unfortunately I think you're going be hit with an increased premium regardless of whether you claim or not. I'm fairly sure insurers ask if you have had any accidents at all, not just claims! It might be worth going on the comparison sites to check out what the difference will be before you fork out 1k of your own money, only to find you're paying extra on insurance premiums as well.
  • McKneff
    McKneff Posts: 38,857 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    and just to add, just because there is a 60mph limit on a road, doesnt mean you have to drive at 60pmh.

    To the OP, even if you are not claiming through your insurance company its too late because just by the very fact that you have informed them of this incident will raise your premium so you might as well claim anyway now. Check on it if you like but Im fairly sure I am correct but happy to be corrected if i am wrong.
    make the most of it, we are only here for the weekend.
    and we will never, ever return.
  • Jakg
    Jakg Posts: 2,267 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    somech wrote: »
    to be honest and non judgemental i would claim on insurance as i years no claims is not a huge amount to lose
    With sensible insurance prices, maybe not. But for an 18 year old a years NCB can be worth £400...

    EDIT - "just because there is a 60mph limit on a road, doesnt mean you have to drive at 60pmh" - does this imply you therefore never do the posted sped limit?
    Nothing I say represents any past, present or future employer.
  • mollycat
    mollycat Posts: 1,475 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    OP...there are more important things in the world than your silly bit of dented metal.
  • terryya wrote: »
    I think some of the replies you've had are a disgrace, but unfortunately I think you're going be hit with an increased premium regardless of whether you claim or not. I'm fairly sure insurers ask if you have had any accidents at all, not just claims! It might be worth going on the comparison sites to check out what the difference will be before you fork out 1k of your own money, only to find you're paying extra on insurance premiums as well.

    I agree, some of the responses are actually quite surprising, just goes to show the general outlook on young drivers is still floating around...

    When i spoke to my insurance company, i was making sure with them and they said that it won't make a difference to my premium if i don't claim, and that they're there if i need them to take action against the dog owner.
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