[Help] Accident – advice needed please

[GJN1]

So, I was driving back into Brighton after walking my dogs on Ditchling Beacon this morning. Wasn't going much more than 40mph. A black labrador ran out of the woods straight in front of me and I hit it. The cars behind me saw it happen and can back me up. The owner of the poor dog appeared soon after and was obviously distraught, as were we, as I think it was going to die. He picked it up and put it in his car and drove off, presumably to an emergency vets.

When we pulled ourselves together we drove home only to find pretty bad damage to the front of our car (we didn't check at the time as it was a horrible, horrible moment). Didn't get the owner's name but we was driving a grey BMW estate with an Albion sticker in the rear window (maybe he's on here and if you are I do hope your dog made it through).

What do I do about the damage to the car now? Do I just have to suck it up? Or claim on the insurance, something I've never done in 30 years of driving?

 

[mr sheen]

Might be different with domestic animals, but I did considerable damage to the front of my car on a badger and went through insurance

 

[Springal]

Damage from the dog ? Claim off your insurance.

Otherwise you’d need to take legal action against the owner of the dog

 

[Justice]

Dogs should be on leads in public places. One for incidents like this and for the risk of dog’s attacking other people’s dogs.
I own a dog.

 

[portslade seagull]

Claim on your insurance in this case

 

[happypig]

I think you need to report it to the police as it's a dog and you haven't got the owners details.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

If you can find the owner, you can claim from their household insurance (public liability). Inform the police.
If you can’t, then claim from your motor insurance. Hopefully you have protected No Claims, included.

 

[BN9 BHA]

Dogs should be on leads in public places. One for incidents like this and for the risk of dog’s attacking other people’s dogs.
I own a dog.

Agree dogs should be on leads when walking on pavements or maybe a footpath next to a road. I walk mine in the countryside but on public footpaths, she likes to run and isn’t near a road.

 

[GJN1]

If you can find the owner, you can claim from their household insurance (public liability). Inform the police.
If you can’t, then claim from your motor insurance. Hopefully you have protected No Claims, included

Yes, got protected No Claims. Just been on to the insurers. Going to cost me £310 excess. Really don't want to be tracking down the dog's owner. Poor bloke.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

How much would it cost not to go via the insurers, as if you claim your premium will probably go up next time even further than otherwise.

 

[upthealbion1970]

Yes, got protected No Claims. Just been on to the insurers. Going to cost me £310 excess. Really don't want to be tracking down the dog's owner. Poor bloke.

Your no ncd % won’t be affected but your premium will still increase next year

 

[virtual22]

How much would it cost not to go via the insurers, as if you claim your premium will probably go up next time even further than otherwise.

Too late now, they know and will adjust premiums at the next renewal even if the claim does not proceed.

 

[Horses Arse]

Yes, got protected No Claims. Just been on to the insurers. Going to cost me £310 excess. Really don't want to be tracking down the dog's owner. Poor bloke.

Dog owners likely have insurance, that would cover it. But yes, imagine you don't want to pursue it. Horrible situation all round

 

[edna krabappel]

Legally, you need to report it to the police if you haven't exchanged details with the owner.

I think you can do it online these days.

 

[Algernon]

If you're well off and aren't worried about the cost to fix your car or the loss of your no claims or the increase in next year's premium then sort it yourself.
If you're not well off and can't afford the above then sorry, it's a tough call but there's no place for sentimentality. If it's going to cause you and your family financial problems then you should claim on the dog owner's insurance. If he has any.

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

Too late now, they know and will adjust premiums at the next renewal even if the claim does not proceed.

Sadly correct

 

[Bry Nylon]

No more please, @Herr Tubthumper

Thanks

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

No more please, @Herr Tubthumper

Thanks

Apologies. On reflection I have deleted the posts.

 

[dazzer6666]

Yes, got protected No Claims. Just been on to the insurers. Going to cost me £310 excess. Really don't want to be tracking down the dog's owner. Poor bloke.

I has a similar incident, but it was a human rather than a dog. 100% his fault and lots of witnesses (it was at the lights at the end of Village Way after we’d lost to Villa in the cup). Long story short, insurance company paid up but I had to cover my excess - police said I could pursue the yoof that ended up on my wing/bonnet/windscreen - 3,000 to repair in total - but I decided not to. Just make 100% sure they record it as a ‘no fault claim’ otherwise you’ll find future quotes and premiums are much higher (mine didn’t initially and it was a right ballache getting it changed).

 

[happypig]

Legally, you need to report it to the police if you haven't exchanged details with the owner.

I think you can do it online these days.

Many years ago I had an accident (car on my inside thought he could turn right across my path without me hitting him. He couldn't). No damage to my BT van but a big gouge down the side of his BMW. He stopped but didn't want to swap details, shouted "I've not got time.", got back in the car and drove off.
I reported it to the police and got a reference.
A few days later I got a call from a police officer at John Street to tell me the bloke had been in and tried to report me for hitting him and driving off. I was told that if I hadn't let them know, I could have been done for failing to report.

This dog owner could conceivably do the same.