Driver kills dog near Cloquet, Minn, then sues owners

Hmmm, I don't think that counter suit will hold up in court, unless they can prove the guy was breaking the law when he hit the dog.  An accident is an accident.  I would think that technically, the owners were negligent, not the driver.  But again....just an accident...

I doubt it will even make it to court.

I would think the counter suit is strictly because the first jerk is suing. I think the judge will throw the whole thing out.
 

How in the world did a 13-lb dog cause $1,100 worth of damages to a car?

janet_rose

How in the world did a 13-lb dog cause $1,100 worth of damages to a car?

My thought exactly!!!!  If a piece of the bumper was propelled into the engine then a) how fast was he driving?  b) there must have been pre-existing damage to the car.

I feel bad that this family has lost their dog and I hope it had no pain.

I'm just guessing here too, but I think that if it goes to court the law will definitely be on the drivers side.  The dog was in the road.

Joyce

janet_rose

How in the world did a 13-lb dog cause $1,100 worth of damages to a car?

Depends on the speed.  I imagine just dropping a 13# rock on a car would make a sizable dent.  Unfortunately, I've seen dogs get hit by cars, not even going fast, and the crash it makes is unreal.  

Also, some dents can't be pressed out so the panel has to be replaced.  Someone tapped my dad's bumper and made a small dent, but since he did not own the car she had to pay to fix it (if it were our car, we would not have cared).  It cost her over $600 just for one little tap on the bumper. 

I'm going to take the devil's advocate position here.  The problem is you only know one 'side' here and neither well.  It is made to SOUND like the big bad driver is taking advantage of the bereaved owners ... but wait a minute here -- you don't know anything really about this.

1.  This dog was apparently a KNOWN runner -- so why the heck didn't someone LEASH HIM before they opened the door?  I have one -- I never *EVER* not even one time open the *front* door with Luna loose.  Her training has now progressed and she's not the runner she was, but flatly even tho she was a mega 'bolter' -- she never EVER got away because we don't allow it to happen!

2.  I'd have to wonder how often this dog bolted ... was the driver local or was maybe told that this dog often slipped out of the door?  There are some people who just helplessly wring their hands and say 'Ohh dear, got away AGAIN!' -- when you live on a fast road you, the homeowner/dogowner have to take ALL the necessary precautions.

3.  The driver also claims to be a dog owner -- but it sounds to me like he's trying to teach a lesson, which leads me to wonder if there isn't more to the story somehow.  Like a serial escape artist that the whole neighborhood just KNOWS is gonna "get it" someday.

Unfortunately, going to small claims court is costly -- everyone misses work, and it winds up nasty most of the time. 

But we see over and over on here posts so many of us have made out of pure frustration because we all know those neighbors who just don't contain their animals ... some don't bother at all, others bother only when it's easy.

It's HARD to make sure that every time someone opens a door that the dog is contained.  It takes time.  It's inconvenient.  It's aggravating. 

But it's also necessary. 

it's likely going to be deemed frivolous -- and it's possible it was done merely to prove a point.  That's not the purpose of the law ... and I doubt anyone will learn much.

I agree Callie. We even have the front half of our house blocked off to prevent anyone from running out the front door without the OK.

What I really don't like it the family sueing to get money to 'replace' their dog....That's just something that always irks me...

Callie you make good points.  It also got me thinking about the time my dad's car got hit and the bumper dented and the girl had to pay to replace it b/c we didn't own the car.  Maybe this guy didn't have a CHOICE in getting the car fixed?  My family has never owned cars, my dad drives leased company cars for his job and because they are leased, they can't be returned with dents punched in them even if *he* doesn't care about the dents.

janet_rose

How in the world did a 13-lb dog cause $1,100 worth of damages to a car?

 If the dog hits the wind shield.  Windshields can be very expensive to repair.  Also, if the bumper is damaged and it is a color matched bumper.  I had a scrape on my Intrepid (put on by DS#!'s buddy when he was test driving it) and to replace the bumper would have been $1000.00! This is a FIST SIZED scrape, mind you!

I hope it gets deemed frivolous and tossed out...  That will give me hope.

Some terrible, awful reprehensible !@$^$%^ is sueing my aunt's estate to the tune of $700,000 because she hit my aunt with her car (in a cross walk!!!) and now claims she's traumatized.   This has been going on for years now, my aunt died of cancer, and these horrible people are still pushing this crap! 

People can be sick.  Maybe I should start mowing people/animals down.  There seems to be good money in it...

I agree with the driver, why should he be out any money because someones dog ran into the road.