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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:
novalia89 · 30/10/2023 17:14

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.

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

Put the cyclist hating aside. You have no way of knowing his speed and you are trying to blame the cyclist when a dangerous dog chases him and tries to bite his foot, causing him to fall off. That's a ridiculous conclusion that you have taken.

Wetblanket78 · 30/10/2023 17:19

What was the damage to his bike? £1000 sounds extreme sounds like he's milking it. My sister was knocked off her bike a few years ago cycling to work. Luckily someone got the number plate. It was an elderly woman. She was the sister of a local well known business man. She never even realized she had hit her. When police called round to speak to her. She said don't you know who I am?

She got a fine got a driving ban for 6 months and had to resist her test. But she failed that. She also had to pay for the damage to my sister's bike.

BardRelic · 30/10/2023 17:19

@PumpkinsAndCoconuts It's pretty much always the cyclist's fault, mainly for existing but also for having the temerity to be on a bike, rather than just buying into car culture. And cyclists are always too fast if anything happens to them, and too slow if you're behind them. Interestingly, they can be simultaneously too fast and too slow.

rwalker · 30/10/2023 17:20

MargotBamborough · 30/10/2023 15:50

If you're going to own a bike worth that much, surely you'd insure it?

Show quote history

Insured or not if someone else’s negligence damages it why should you have to pay excess and be have increased premiums be you have claimed

JanuaryBug · 30/10/2023 17:28

Listen, whatever way you want to see this the facts are.

  • Someone left your garden gate open and no one is willing to claim responsibility for this.
  • Your dog was not under proper supervision at the time and he caused an accident with a cyclist, whether he was intending to bite the cyclist is neither here nor there.
  • You did not witness this accident as you were not properly supervising your dog at the time of the accident.
  • The cyclist has incurred damage to both himself and the bike due to your dog not being properly supervised.
You need to text the cyclist your pet insurance details and let him contact the insurance company. They will investigate what happened and will pay out to the cyclist if there is a claim to be upheld.

That's all there is to this.

CormorantStrikesBack · 30/10/2023 17:29

all the people saying the cyclist is trying it on, you have no idea. Bikes can be worth a fortune, some of mine are worth 5k. A bad accident could easily cost 1k of damage. If the bike is carbon the frame might be written off.

plenty of people even with expensive bikes may only have theft insurance rather than accident insurance. The chances of me just falling off my bike and causing significant damage is very slight. And if a car hits me I’ll be claiming off their insurance! I do actually have insurance but only because it comes with my British cycling membership. Most cyclists don’t bother.

but I agree ask for receipts. Check your home insurance. But you not been able to pay is not his concern. Your dog caused the accident. Maybe he can’t afford to pay…..and even if he can why should he be 1k out of pocket?

DuesToTheDirt · 30/10/2023 17:33

BardRelic · 30/10/2023 17:19

@PumpkinsAndCoconuts It's pretty much always the cyclist's fault, mainly for existing but also for having the temerity to be on a bike, rather than just buying into car culture. And cyclists are always too fast if anything happens to them, and too slow if you're behind them. Interestingly, they can be simultaneously too fast and too slow.

Yeah, this is so true!

howdoesyourgardengrowinmay · 30/10/2023 17:35

where's the joy in having a 'scary breed dog'?

If you can't keep a 'scary breed dog' under control it would be better to rehome or put it down.

GoodOldEmmaNess · 30/10/2023 17:36

I seem to remember that many home insurance policies have a public liability element that covers cases where you are liable for damage to third-parties caused by your dog. Worth checking if you have such cover, op.

Saz12 · 30/10/2023 17:39

Text him and tell him youve insurance for this, and give him the policy details.

CormorantStrikesBack · 30/10/2023 17:45

And yes, it’s more important that a dog owner has dog insurance than a cyclist has bike insurance. If my dog did this I’d be covered by both the dog insurance and also the home insurance. OP is lucky dog didn’t cause a car to swerve and crash, she could be facing a much bigger bill.

Breadahead · 30/10/2023 17:48

Christ, your dog had the pedals in its mouth?! Fucking thing should be put down if you are unwilling to keep it muzzled and on a lead, because it's only a matter of time really isn't it.

And yes, you should pay up for his medical expenses and bike repairs. Obviously.

Baabaapurplesheep · 30/10/2023 18:04

This really winds me up - she went for the pedals but not to bite?! How was he to know that? Same thing as when dogs race at young children and the owners say ‘oh they mean no harm.’ As someone not experienced with dogs this sounds terrifying

CesareBorgia · 30/10/2023 18:06

Go through your insurance.

Someoneonlyyouknow · 30/10/2023 18:26

You can send him your insurance details but may want to consider your excess and possible increase in premiums. Either you or your insurance company will need to see quotes for repair or replacement of the bicycle and a receipt for the antibiotics.

Saying your dog didn't bite him but was trying to take a pedal in its mouth FFS!! To the cyclist that is going to look exactly like a dog trying to bite him. You should count yourself lucky that he wasn't injured worse and hasn't reported your dog to the police. I know you have had a fright but this could honestly have been much worse

MajorBarbara · 30/10/2023 18:32

If a dog tried to get one of my pedals in its mouth, it might unbalance me and make me fall off. If I had on stout shoes it might get a kick that would make its head ring, or perhaps I'd stamp on the bloody thing's head in the heat of the moment while I was panicking, m'lud.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 30/10/2023 18:36

Breadahead · 30/10/2023 17:48

Christ, your dog had the pedals in its mouth?! Fucking thing should be put down if you are unwilling to keep it muzzled and on a lead, because it's only a matter of time really isn't it.

And yes, you should pay up for his medical expenses and bike repairs. Obviously.

Why would the dog be muzzled and on a lead in its own home? It got out, it was an unfortunate accident and it sounds like one OP will do her best to prevent happening again.

OP should only pay for his bike and medical bills when she sees proof or it should go through insurance.

Londiniumrocks · 30/10/2023 18:38

I would tell him to take a fecking hike, then block his number.
he’s trying it on.

TheSpikySpinosaurus · 30/10/2023 18:43

It's not a fine; he's saying his bike was damaged.

I'd go though your insurance. He might be trying it on.

vodkaredbullgirl · 30/10/2023 18:48

Breadahead · 30/10/2023 17:48

Christ, your dog had the pedals in its mouth?! Fucking thing should be put down if you are unwilling to keep it muzzled and on a lead, because it's only a matter of time really isn't it.

And yes, you should pay up for his medical expenses and bike repairs. Obviously.

Dog was in its own garden and the partner accidently left the gate open.

Breadahead · 30/10/2023 18:58

vodkaredbullgirl · 30/10/2023 18:48

Dog was in its own garden and the partner accidently left the gate open.

Show quote history

So?

Breadahead · 30/10/2023 18:59

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 30/10/2023 18:36

Why would the dog be muzzled and on a lead in its own home? It got out, it was an unfortunate accident and it sounds like one OP will do her best to prevent happening again.

OP should only pay for his bike and medical bills when she sees proof or it should go through insurance.

Show quote history

It wasn't in its own home.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 30/10/2023 19:01

Breadahead · 30/10/2023 18:59

It wasn't in its own home.

Show quote history

It was. It escaped by accident from its own home. No normal person would think the dog should be muzzled and on a lead in its home FFS 🙄

Londiniumrocks · 30/10/2023 19:03

Block block block and ignore.

CormorantStrikesBack · 30/10/2023 19:03

Londiniumrocks · 30/10/2023 18:38

I would tell him to take a fecking hike, then block his number.
he’s trying it on.

How is he trying it on? The dog attacked him, causing an accident which damaged his bike. By all means ask for receipts/quotes but the bill could easily be 1k so why do you think he’s trying it on?