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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Dog causes over €1000 fine

280 replies

Girlmom83 · 30/10/2023 13:19

My scary breed dog breed is confined to our relatively large space with secure gates. One of gates was left open and in that instant was triggered by a passing cyclist. Absolutely, my dog, my problem. This experienced older cyclist got a severe fright, bike and himself crashed to ground. He has 2 significant scrapes and bike had damage (in my own shock I did not examine it) I was totally owning the situation completely apologetic and helped this man with disinfectant etc. He threatened me with millions very quickly and I'd lose my house hence my extra shock. He reported me and the dog to the guards. I've been looking at re homing her.
Today I received a text that he is well but to pay 1000 for a new bike and 100 for antibiotic etc. I've no problem paying what is due, 1000 is not millions, but to me I also cant even afford 1000, what checks should I make first and would I be unreasonable as it was my dog and my gate?

OP posts:
margotrose · 30/10/2023 14:18

Refer him to your insurance company and let them deal with it. That's why you have insurance - to pay for incidents like this.

Mumofoneandone · 30/10/2023 14:19

Have the guards been in touch with you directly at all? When I reported an off lead dog attack on my leaded dog to the police, they visited the owner and then contacted me with an update.

Alexandra2001 · 30/10/2023 14:19

Girlmom83 · 30/10/2023 14:11

I didn't see I was inside. I heard the yell
But my dog most definitely tried to take the pedals in her mouth either causing the bike to fall or causing the frightened man to swerve and fall.

Well, in all honesty, i'd pay him, after seeing receipts for damage, if he pursues you through the courts, could end up costing you far more, with the potential the dog could be destroyed.

You re lucky he never had his child on the back or on their bicycle.

Fwiw, a damaged break lever on a mid level bike could easily cost £250, pedals £100, saddle £100 and a damaged wheel £500.

You shouldn't have a dog like this, completely irresponsible, your dog could have killed or seriously injured him.... is it worth that risk to you?

Itsnotchristmasyet · 30/10/2023 14:20

What country are you in?

Do you have insurance that will cover it?

I have a big ‘scary’ dog and I’m not scared of big dogs at all, I love them!
But a dog going for me would have definitely scared me and I do think it’s right that you should pay.

I would definitely pay for his medical bills but I fail to see how him falling off the bike would break the bike.
I would not be paying for the bike unless there was proof it got damaged and then I’d pay for the damages only and not the actual bike.

I would reply that you are very sorry but you’re going to put it through the insurance so it’s all above board and your solicitor will contact him and get all of the medical details and assess the bike damage etc.

RunningFromInsanity · 30/10/2023 14:21

Girlmom83 · 30/10/2023 14:14

Thank you for this helpful and practical reply which also makes me feel somewhat justified in my questioning his money motives

And you know what his insurance will do? Take you to court to claim back the money + costs + compensation. Will be way more than €1000. And they will likely report you to the guardia. Putting your dogs life at risk.

mauvish · 30/10/2023 14:21

The dog may "only" have gone for the pedals. It may not actually have intended to bite anything at all. But nonetheless it caused an accident, it caused the man to fall off, and it could have been a lot worse -- the man could have been very seriously injured or even killed in the fall, or if he'd swerved into the path of another vehicle.

I don't know about Ireland, but insurance isn't compulsory for cyclists in the UK That's another argument, but in this case, the cyclist has done nothing wrong so the other party (ie the OP) will have to use their insurance.

vodkaredbullgirl · 30/10/2023 14:23

Badlydrawnmum · 30/10/2023 13:47

You should pay every penny! Disgraceful that you think you can get away with not paying. If I were him I’d sue you for more.

your dog gets out and harassed him to the extent that he comes off his bike, damaging his bike and you are quibbling? Ask him for quotes by all means but you ought to be paying double for the stress you put him under and get your dog destroyed if it reacts like that in public.

Are you always dramatic?

stayathomer · 30/10/2023 14:24

Badlydrawnmum
The way I’m reading it op has claimed responsibility, I don’t think she’s try to get out of anything? As for it being his only mode of transportation, if he’s in Ireland this is extremely unlikely- Ireland is not very cyclist friendly except in Dublin where there’s a lot of public transport. Hope it works out for you op, another that says yes be accepting (as you are I think personally) that you may need to pay something, but not necessarily what he’s saying (and I do get it would have been a scary experience and he’s probably still shocked and angry)

wetotter · 30/10/2023 14:24

I'd turn it over to your insurer. I think all policies have third party cover (in UK, at least, and I expect Ireland is much the same).

They will assess if the claim is reasonable, and pay out accordingly

mauvish · 30/10/2023 14:24

Oh, and some of you clearly have no idea what an upper-end bike costs. A grand will barely cover the gears. And a carbon framed bike can be written off in an impact.

Round here, "experienced older cyclists" tend to be v keen cyclists indeed and are often extremely proud of their very expensive bikes.

Silverfoxcub · 30/10/2023 14:24

Alexandra2001 · 30/10/2023 14:19

Well, in all honesty, i'd pay him, after seeing receipts for damage, if he pursues you through the courts, could end up costing you far more, with the potential the dog could be destroyed.

You re lucky he never had his child on the back or on their bicycle.

Fwiw, a damaged break lever on a mid level bike could easily cost £250, pedals £100, saddle £100 and a damaged wheel £500.

You shouldn't have a dog like this, completely irresponsible, your dog could have killed or seriously injured him.... is it worth that risk to you?

Show quote history

But pedals and saddle are unlikely to be damaged.

Loverofoxbowlakes · 30/10/2023 14:26

Neither of you (AFAIK) are required to have insurance (though you should, dangerous dog plus expensive bike).

Fact is, your ddog caused him and his bike damage. An expensive bike can be written off quite easily even after one fall, and €1000 is on the cheap end of a good bike value.

You need to pay op.

MajorBarbara · 30/10/2023 14:27

sangriapeople · 30/10/2023 14:18

You'll not get much of a bike with £1000. He's having you on.

What planet are you on?

Bromptotoo · 30/10/2023 14:28

OP's use of the term 'guards' and prices in Euro suggests they're in Republic of Ireland?

Won't help with the fine but do you have insurance for the dog?

DiaNaranja · 30/10/2023 14:29

StarDolphins · 30/10/2023 14:14

What did the dog actually do? Sounds like nothing? Why would you rehome the dog? He didn’t open the gate & let himself out, just keep the gate shut.

Struggling to understand where you got "sounds like nothing" from the ops (probably under exaggerated) account of what happened? Certainly doesn't sound like nothing to me! Nothing would be staying in the garden and not reacting to a bike going past, the complete opposite of what happened here. Of course you need to pay up for the damage YOUR animal caused. Plus if I were you, I'd personally want to compensate the injured man for the inconvenience and traumatic situation YOUR animal put him in. The dog sounds incredibly dangerous, and quite frankly a ticking time bomb in a house with two young children. Get rid before something really terrible happens. Reactive dogs are unpredictable... Large, powerful, reactive dogs are extremely dangerous, potentially deadly as has been proven time and time again. This dog is capable of killing your children. Whether you think that is likely or not is besides the point, it COULD kill them. Even with the smallest possibility of that happening, reality is... it could. Not a situation I'd ever in a million years chance, deliberately putting my children in.

vodkaredbullgirl · 30/10/2023 14:31

You don't say if the guard have been in contact with you or is it just the cyclist demanding money? Or did I miss something.

Loverofoxbowlakes · 30/10/2023 14:32

Silverfoxcub · 30/10/2023 14:24

But pedals and saddle are unlikely to be damaged.

Show quote history

The dog went for the pedals, could very easily have broken on impact with the floor. Likewise the saddle, only takes one scuff, and why should the cyclist be OK with a scuffed saddle - it's up to the op the get him and his bike back to the same state they were before the run-in with her dangerous dog. Never mind wheel hubs, gear mechanisms, cables, handlebar wraps, even the frame could be kaput after one fall.

My dh's bike cost nearly £3k and wasn't the cheapest in the shop (cycle to work scheme, it's his only vice blah blah blah) but he shouldn't have to claim on his own insurance for an incident involving a dangerous dog lunging at him!

Anyfeckinusername · 30/10/2023 14:35

OMG just do the right thing! You big dog attacked a cyclist and he fell. £ or € - 1,000 is entry level carbon road bike pricing. It could we've been so much worse. If his bike is carbon it's a write off from the fall.

You can always report it but be prepared to be in trouble for letting a dangerous dog let loose! Jesus, it's terrifying when dogs go for you on a bike.

AbbeyGailsParty · 30/10/2023 14:38

There's a chance this might be covered under public liability on your house insurance so check that too. Definitely don’t just hand over money.

whynotwhatknot · 30/10/2023 14:38

go through insurance they can assess how much he will get

HelloItsMeHowAreYou · 30/10/2023 14:40

Thank goodness it wasnt a bike with a child at the back. Pay it. You got away lightly.

Though I am hoping he has reported your dog and an investigation will result.

Illbebythesea · 30/10/2023 14:40

So what are you going to compensate the cyclist for the loss of use of his bike? And what if he can no longer get a comparable bike for the same cost? I’d be taking you to the small claims court op, and asking that your dog be destroyed. Why on earth but an aggressive dog in the first place? What’s wrong with a spaniel?

@Badlydrawnmum nothing. This isn’t America (unless it is, but I’m not in America!) you pay the costs lost. OP needs to make him whole again, not get him a better, brand new bike. She pays what his lost financially, and maybe £100 for the inconvenience of it all. FWIW, I would have been pissed off if I was the bloke but these things happen, can’t make everything into £1000s claims just because life happened.

PumpkinsAndCoconuts · 30/10/2023 14:43

sangriapeople · 30/10/2023 14:18

You'll not get much of a bike with £1000. He's having you on.

It’s possible that he’s being kind and taking depreciation into account. Especially if it was an older bike…

dawngreen · 30/10/2023 14:45

Stupid comments dragging the kids living with dog in to it. The dog has a thing for chasing bikes, like some dogs car chase. The dog needs a secure fenced area that you can padlock the gate so no idiot lets your dog on to the street!

Stroopwaffels · 30/10/2023 14:45

One of gates was left open

All by itself? No. Someone left a gate open and your animal got loose. If it is that much of a danger, then you should have predicted this was a possibility and got self-closing gates or something.

Poor cyclist. His age and experience have nothing to do with it.