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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:
BlueEyedPeanut · 30/10/2023 16:12

What if it had been a child cycling past? Keep your dog under control.

Loverofoxbowlakes · 30/10/2023 16:14

She is trained and easy going, but always is reactive to bikes

So, not fully trained, and with a known aggression towards bikes and cyclists...

Fml you know you are in the wrong op, and it could have been so much worse had the cyclist fallen into traffic. Stop making excuses. Pay for his bike and his antibiotics, and thank God he's not suing for serious injuries (or his family for his death). Secure your dog and train it properly.

StarDolphins · 30/10/2023 16:17

WeCanCallItEven · 30/10/2023 15:28

The dog certainly didn't do 'nothing'. It didn't bite him, but it caused an accident. It ran in front of the bike and bit the pedals, which made the cyclist fall and injure himself as well as damaging the bike. The dog was dangerously out of control and the OP is responsible for the damage.

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Yes sorry, apologies, hadn’t read the update.

Stravaig · 30/10/2023 16:17

For obvious unrelated reasons, I have so had it with minimising language and a complete abdication of responsibility by the offending party.

wishful2012 · 30/10/2023 16:21

Check that he’s has insurance for his bike

Lunde · 30/10/2023 16:22

AGovernmentOfLawsAndNotMen · 30/10/2023 15:36

As noted.
He needs to submit quotes for the bike repair and receipts for anything else. £100 for antiseptic …..no!
£1000 for bike…..receipts!……or is just buying a new bike cheaper. Like with car damage.

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Doesn't an A&E visit cost about 100 euros in Ireland? If I had been attacked by a loose dog trying to bite "the pedals" or my foot while cycling causing me to crash - I would go to A&E to be checked over.

OP - You should report this to your insurance and text him the claim number so that he can submit his costs

If the dog owner was reluctant to pay my costs and I had to go to court then I would add pain and suffering and court costs to the claim

mathanxiety · 30/10/2023 16:24

Call your house insurance company.
Call your pet insurance company.
See if this sort of claim is covered by either of them.
Make it clear there was no bite.

Do you have a local solicitor?
Make an appointment. Ask for legal advice. This is especially important if your insurance doesn't cover the damages but even if it does, you need to have a solicitor represent you in dealing with this hothead.

If this person contacts you again, refer them to your insurance company and to your solicitor.

SpringHexagon · 30/10/2023 16:25

Brumbies · 30/10/2023 15:33

Your dog, your gate, your responsibility.

Should have made sure the gate was locked.

What amazingly useful insight! Sure the op found this incredibly helpful 😒 problem solved op, jump in your time machine and close the gate, FFS can't believe you didn't think of this yourself!

AgingDisgracefullyHere · 30/10/2023 16:25

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.

Earlier you said she didn't bite. This is biting. She just didn't manage to get ahold of his actual feet.

You seem to be downplaying how serious the incident was.

mathanxiety · 30/10/2023 16:28

If you want to just pay, then do so with a cheque accompanied by a solicitor's letter telling him that this settles all current and future claims against you related to the incident and his negotiation of the cheque is acknowledgement of that.

CatherinedeBourgh · 30/10/2023 16:29

Give it to the insurance. Even if you have to pay in the end, they can deal with it for you and they will reject any claims that are unfounded.

mathanxiety · 30/10/2023 16:31

And to those questioning the cost of the antibiotics, if he doesn't have a medical card (not all Irish seniors do) he would likely have paid for a visit to a GP and also for his prescribed medication.

OP I'd try to settle quickly before he charges you for physiotherapy.

Please call your insurance companies asap.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 30/10/2023 16:35

Alexandra2001 · 30/10/2023 16:09

Its a 30 to 40kg dog, easily capable of of causing serious injury to anyone, esp someone on a bicycle.

I'm sure you'd feel exactly the same if you were punted off your bike and hurt yourself... not.

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My post was in response to the ridiculous comment of 'You shouldn't be owning this type of dog in the first place'.

babyproblems · 30/10/2023 16:37

I mean has your dog bitten the man? Has a fine actually been issued? It sounds like he is just asking you for money himself?? That’s not a fine. It’s a request.
I would probably offer him £600 as a gesture to repair his bike. If he wants to take it further he would have to take you to court which imo would be daft. Could it be just as likely a kid ran out into street etc and gave him a fright. Would you still pay then? I don’t see why you would rehome your dog at all. It’s a risk of cycling that you might fall off if something unexpected runs onto the road - and I think some of the responsibility is his for probably going too fast. I would be very apologetic but I would not rehome my dog nor pay £1000.

momonpurpose · 30/10/2023 16:43

Emotionalsupportviper · 30/10/2023 15:34

That type of "reaction" is protective.

To the dog, the cyclist can appear as a threat.

German shepherds, well-bred and trained are superb family dogs and very protective, particularly of vulnerable family members.

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Not a chance I'd take with kids or the gate being opened again nope not a chance

BardRelic · 30/10/2023 16:48

Having a dog chase you and bite at the pedals isn't nothing, or something that should be dismissed. Bear in mind that many cyclists wear shoes that clip into their pedals, so it can be particularly unbalancing if a dog goes for you. And the cyclist was lucky that it wasn't worse and he didn't fall in front of a car.

That said, I wouldn't pay up random amounts of money. I would either go through my insurance, or if I didn't have that, I would be asking to see bills/ invoices/ receipts. £1000 is at the cheaper end for a road bike, but I would still want to know where the money was going.

The dog doesn't need rehoming or worse, but she does need containing and to be kept away from people on bikes, unless and until she can be better trained around them.

BardRelic · 30/10/2023 16:51

and I think some of the responsibility is his for probably going too fast.

And how fast would that be? Do you know how fast he was going or are you just making assumptions? GSDs have been clocked at 30mph so it may not be a question of the cyclist going too fast to stop in time, but the dog catching up with him.

PumpkinsAndCoconuts · 30/10/2023 16:58

BardRelic · 30/10/2023 16:51

and I think some of the responsibility is his for probably going too fast.

And how fast would that be? Do you know how fast he was going or are you just making assumptions? GSDs have been clocked at 30mph so it may not be a question of the cyclist going too fast to stop in time, but the dog catching up with him.

I am honestly confused. What is that poster trying to suggest?

That a slower going cyclist wouldn’t have been caught by the dog? That is obviously ridiculous.

that the cyclist wouldn’t have fallen if he had been slower? If a dog jumps at a cyclist and grabs/bites the pedals, the cyclist will most likely fall. Even when going very slowly.

or that cyclists shouldn’t ride above a certain speed level so OP’s dog won’t be triggered/ reactive?

That seems ridiculous as well!

The fact that the cyclist hasn’t been hurt more severely (just a few scraps etc) doesn’t suggest “excessive” or uncontrollable speed to me.

FictionalCharacter · 30/10/2023 16:58

Try to calm down and take your time.
You haven’t been fined. Someone is trying to scare you into giving them money. That isn’t what a fine is.
Don’t give him any money yet. Don’t let him threaten or scare you. Tell him you are taking advice and don’t reply if he pesters you.
Contact your insurance company for advice. You are not necessarily legally liable to pay what he’s asking. The fact that your dog apparently caused his accident doesn’t mean you have to pay for everything.

Cordeliathecat · 30/10/2023 16:58

Girlmom83 · 30/10/2023 15:31

I am not in any way disputing paying any amount to this gentleman. I am completely liable here but only for costs incurred as he is 100% fine and upgrading garden security. I want to ensure im dealing with it in the correct manner. Your comment is not advice.
But others have helped therefore I will close this thread.

I would speak to your insurer and then pass your insurance details to the chap.

Not the same situation but when my DH was knocked off his bike by a delivery driver he had to supply a formal quote for bike repairs and a doctors report for injuries plus be seen by a doctor appointed by insurance company to assess his injuries.

DisquietintheRanks · 30/10/2023 17:01

I think €100 for the pain and inconvenience is pretty reasonable actually. I'd want to see some paperwork for the bike.

Brumbies · 30/10/2023 17:06

SpringHexagon

Doesn't take much to lock a gate. But maybe too much for you to take on?

Imagwine · 30/10/2023 17:08

Ask for proof of the costs but bikes can cost thousands of pounds for serious cyclists and it could easily be £1000 of damage. Dh’s bike cost £3000 and there are loads more that cost a lot more than that.

Keepingthingsinteresting · 30/10/2023 17:10

novalia89 · 30/10/2023 15:02

Strawman argument. That has nothing to do with this situation.

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You mean like so many of the others on this thread…

ok for others to fantasise about the dog being, for example, an xl bully (it isn’t and the op never said it was), going for the guys face ( clearly not) , it being terrifying when dogs go for you on a bike (i.e. what I was replying to) & various others including punitive damages, phantom carbon fibre bikes etc.

LK2610 · 30/10/2023 17:10

£1,000 sounds pretty low in terms of costs for bike damage. If he’s fallen to one side, the wheels, pedals and possibly his cycling clothing is scraped, torn and needs replacing. A pair of new bib shorts can cost £300 alone. If he fell on the side with the derailleur and the gears are broken, that’ll cost hundreds to replace. If the carbon fibre is damaged, he may even need a new frame. He should have taken the bike to a shop and they’ve done a crash report and mechanics tend to suggest things are replaced to be on the safe side and to get their moneys worth if they know it’s an insurance job. Of course he should have bike insurance to cover this but he shouldn’t have to claim on his own insurance if it wasn’t his fault. Or you could offer to pay his excess to claim on the bike insurance.