Hit a dog on hwy...

[CaptainJack]

Let me explain exactly what happened. I was driving on a local rural highway. It was about 9:40 at night so it was totally dark. I'm driving and I didn't even see anything and then I heard a sound comming from my front passenger side. I figured I must have run into something so I pulled over. That's when I figured out what had happened. The poor dog was dead instantly. But it also took out my passenger side front bumper and the side part that kinda wraps around.
So it happened right out in the middle if the road. I do feel bad even having to ask for money to repair my 6 month old 2013 Subaru Imprezza. But I didn't make the dog go after my tires. I didn't leave it out without a leash or electric fence. But now I have to be the "Bad" guy and ask this lady to pay a couple thousand to fix my car.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

Well, I assume you have insurance which will pay to fix it, but as you noted, you'd have to pay a deductible and will increase your rates because it is a claim being paid against your policy.

If you want to recoup the money, you'll likely have to sue the owner.

It's not an idea situation for anyone, but it is what it is.

 

[CaptainJack]

Yes, I have Progressive. Which is just a little bit better than nothing... I don't want to claim anything on MY insurance. The police report says it was the dogs owner who is at fault. So if anything, it should go on the homeowners policy.
I strongly DO NOT recommend #Progressive insurance. They only want to collect their money. When I told them that I was told that they are supposed to go after the dogs owner they said they don't do that at progressive.

 

[DonIago]

If you can afford it, I think it's time to consult an attorney then. Sorry you're faced with all of this.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

The problem is there is no other insurance to collect it on. Legally, neither the homeowner's insurance nor their auto insurance policy is involved, since it didn't happen on their property and it didn't involve their car.

I was wrong when I said your insurance would take care of recouping from the pet owner. Given the circumstances, they are liable, but their insurance isn't.

If you want your car fixed, get it fixed under your auto insurance, or pay for it out of your own pocket. Either way, once you've done that, you can sue the pet owner to recover your damages. Their pet caused it, you have a police report to that effect, so it shouldn't be too tough a case. It's just a matter of whether you want to go through the trouble.

 

[Green Shirt]

Its almost like Progressive (my auto insurance) doesnt want me to do anything. Just go away and keep the damages.

They sound like the typical business. We can get lost as long as we keep sending the money.

 

[Lindley]

I have Progressive Insurance and they said that I have to pay the deductible on the damages and that it would go as a claim on my insurance and then after the work is done, then they would send the lady the bill and hopefully she would decide to pay it.
That doesnt sound right. Its almost like Progressive (my auto insurance) doesnt want me to do anything. Just go away and keep the damages.
And why should I have to file it as ANY type of claim on MY insurance. It should go on the ladies homeowners insurance right?

That's the same thing Allstate did when a guy changed lanes into me a couple of years ago. Fortunately, I had his insurance info, but I still made the claim through mine. They took my deductible, got the work done, and then fought it out with the other insurance company. About six months later I got my deductible back. No rate increases since I wasn't at fault.

Well, I assume you have insurance which will pay to fix it, but as you noted, you'd have to pay a deductible and will increase your rates because it is a claim being paid against your policy.

If it's covered as a collision event, it could increase his rates. If it's covered as a comprehensive event, it won't. If the animal had been a deer instead of a dog, it almost certainly would be treated as comprehensive. I'm not sure what they do with dogs.

 

[Captain Ice]

I'm sorry that you have a negative image of Progressive Insurance. I had such a positive experience filing a claim against one of their policyholders that, when my insurance came up for renewal, I switched to them.

They not only had an appraiser look at the damage to my car, but the appraiser handed me the keys to a rental car, delivered my car to the repairing shop, and then, when i was unhappy with the repair, they arranged to have it done again.

Oh, and my original appointment with the appraiser was at 6:00pm on a Friday night.

 

[Brolan]

I'm sorry that you have a negative image of Progressive Insurance. I had such a positive experience filing a claim against one of their policyholders that, when my insurance came up for renewal, I switched to them.

They not only had an appraiser look at the damage to my car, but the appraiser handed me the keys to a rental car, delivered my car to the repairing shop, and then, when i was unhappy with the repair, they arranged to have it done again.

Oh, and my original appointment with the appraiser was at 6:00pm on a Friday night.

I had a good experience with Progressive too. When I was rear-ended at an intersection they made it very easy for me to come to their claims center, drop off my car, pick up a rental while it was being repaired, and come back later and pick it up. Couldn't have been easier.

 

[Peach Wookiee]

Maybe it depends on where you are.

 

[Yoda]

It's amazing how negligent some pet owners are. I mean, I can almost understand shitty parents because hey, some people have kids as accidents. But it seems like you actually have to make the decision to acquire a pet.

 

[Alpha Romeo]

Kind of like the topic title says I had a recent incident where I hit a dog with my car on the highway. The dog ran out front of my car on the highway and I hit it. It caused quite a bit of damage to my vehicle. The police report states that the homeowner is at fault for not having his dog secured. But now my problem is that the homeowner is refusing to give me any insurance info or anything really. What can I do? I have a 2013 Subaru imprezza that cost about 36,000.
Also, the dog did die. Which I feel terrible about since I am a dog owner and lover.

You can get a lawyer and sue them. That will get it kicked in. Also, like another poster said, go through your own insurance and then they will go after the homeowner in subrogation. Good luck!

 

[Gaith]

It's amazing how negligent some pet owners are. I mean, I can almost understand shitty parents because hey, some people have kids as accidents. But it seems like you actually have to make the decision to acquire a pet.

I don't think we've heard anything to establish that the owners were grossly negligent. Maybe the dog was inside, a door wasn't fully closed, and it heard a cat outside, decided to run after it, and that's how it all went down? Maybe the owners are lousily irresponsible, but maybe it was an innocent accident that could happen to just about anyone.