Hi, and dogs???

[liberty]

You guys are great. I read on another site that one cyclist who is also a police officer recommends using a police whistle. As far as my injuries are concerned: the accident was only three miles from my house, and about seven from my parents. So I walked back to the owner's house (he was outside, but hadn't seen the accident) and called my parents. They flipped out as I was doing an early morning ride (to avoid dogs, ha, ha) and managed to wake them up. I'm not too coherent in the morning anyway, and adding pain and shock to the mix wasn't very comforting to them. They rushed over and then called the cops. So a police report was filed. Owners have said they will take care of medical expenses. I went to Urgent Care, x-rays were taken. Nothing broken, but the doctor was worried about muscle damage. Doctor thought I'd be back on the bike within the week, but that didn't happen. When the pain persisted, I went to the chiropractor for therapy. And now things are looking tons better. Still some ache and soreness, but tons better than before. Was able to do 24 miles today on the hybrid without feeling it in the shoulder. Next test is the road bike! Anyway, I have photos of the injuries and bruises, a copy of the police report naming me as the victim, and am going to get the damage report from the bike shop this week. Really hoping and praying this all gets resolved quickly.

[emily_in_nc]

Oh good! You didn't mention any of that in your first post, so I was concerned that you were suffering without any medical care. Glad you've had things checked out and that the dog owners have agreed to pay your medical expenses. That's great. I hope they have also agreed to keep their dogs properly restrained, though -- ultimately, that's even more important, to keep you or another cyclist from being terrified and/or hurt in the future.

Emily

[mimitabby]

one more voice on not trying to outrun dogs. Stop your bike if you can before they get anywhere near you. Then stand tall BEHIND the bike and tell the dog bad dog, go home!
A big nasty looking dog challenged us on a very lonely country road. We stopped and told him to go home and he went!

[madisongrrl]

My take is that if a dog is really trying to bite you it will bite you whether you are speeding away or stopped.
I think it might be good to stop and get OFF one's bike and stand with the bike between you and the dog and command "No! Go Home!" and/or get out your spray at the same time. Most dogs want to CHASE you, that's what excites them. I don't think most of us can outspeed a full-tilt running dog- I sure can't! Take away their ability to chase you and perhaps they will change their mind. I don't think they expect one to stop and become a "normal" disapproving human on two legs.

Excellent advice...I second it.

[rheidis73]

The animal behaviorists that I know have told me that it has been their experience that pepper spray will indeed make a truly aggressive dog MORE aggressive. They have recommended direct stop citronella spray.

Thank you Madison for the extra advise...It is good to have more ideas with all the dogs that we encounter everyday!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

The animal behaviorists that I know have told me that it has been their experience that pepper spray will indeed make a truly aggressive dog MORE aggressive. They have recommended direct stop citronella spray.

Well at least the dog won't be distracted by mosquitos while it's tearing you to shreds....

(JUST KIDDING!!!)

[rheidis73]

Well at least the dog won't be distracted by mosquitos while it's tearing you to shreds....

(JUST KIDDING!!!)

You are too funny..Sounds like my sense of humor!

[TsPoet]

This thing stops almost anything in its tracks (at least temporarily)

http://www.deltacycle.com/product.php?g=1

(note, that's just a random website where they are sold, don't know anything about that company).

I've also seen it used to stop a wandering car from continuing its way into a bikes way, the driver stopped dead.
very loud.

[emily_in_nc]

This thing stops almost anything in its tracks (at least temporarily)

http://www.deltacycle.com/product.php?g=1

(note, that's just a random website where they are sold, don't know anything about that company).

I've also seen it used to stop a wandering car from continuing its way into a bikes way, the driver stopped dead.
very loud.

Yes, this is the airhorn I have now too. I have only had to use it ~4 times on dogs. All but one retreated/stopped in their tracks. One continued to chase -- I wondered if he was deaf. I got mine from Nashbar but they may not carry them anymore.

Emily

[liberty]

Guys, I need your advice/counsel. Just found out the couple who own the dogs has decided to pay out of their pocket (as opposed to insurance) and have stated they will only pay the initial $700 for urgent care and x-rays. That leaves me with $500 for bike repairs and chiropractic therapy. The choice is: drop the matter and accept their check, or take it to small claims court. The deal is that they live very close to me and for me to bike in this neighborhood I will have to go past their house every time. The last thing I want is animosity going on here... The county I live in does not have a leash law. The guy was upset that I went to urgent care instead of the emergency room, because he said it was more expensive. Mind you I didn't call for an ambulance (expensive), and my mom (who picked me up) took me to urgent care since I had been there previously...

As for the $500 bills that isn't covered: $120 for bike repairs, new helmet, mirror, and bar tape (the bike shop's service agreement covered the majority of the repairs for free, and gave me half price on the replacement items); and $320 for chiropractic therapy, which we chose instead of the MRI the urgent care doctor recommended. The chiropractor also adjusted the bill down.

The shoulder is better now. I just honestly feel like I have tried to be more than considerate in this. Don't want to take advantage of them in any way. Have any of you had dealings with this type of legal - bike issues??????? I'm not scared of small claims court. But the thought of wondering what "could" happen any time I pass their house......... FYI, I don't have medical insurance.

[Dogmama]

Reminds me of the age old saying - would you rather be right or be happy? Is it worth $500 to pursue?

[xeney]

Ugh. I hate bullies, and that is what these people are, if they are trying to intimidate you into not pursuing it. I completely understand not wanting to antagonize them, but on the other hand, you are going to have to pass that house anyway, and do you think it is going to be less scary if you have let them intimidate you into not making them pay for the damage they caused?

That's a real question, not a rhetorical one. I would not really blame you if you decided to let it go for the sake of neighborhood peace, but me, I would probably be so mad at the attempted intimidation that I would say, fine, see you in court. I mean, it's not like they have a defense, right?

[Tuckervill]

That's what they've decided, but that doesn't mean you have to agree. What is stopping you from calling their insurance company, anyway? They think they're going to get out of this without paying their whole deductible or something? I don't get it. If their deductible is $700, then what difference does it make to them if their insurance pays the rest? I'm curious to know how they came to the $700 figure.

You do have another choice besides settling or small claims court. If you know a friendly attorney, you can ask him/her to write a demand letter which basically threatens a lawsuit without actually filing one. But first I would just tell them that $700 is just not good enough. You have no obligation to save these people any money. They're getting it good just because the bike shop is helping you out.

The other thing that occurs to me is that you don't know if you're going to be completely healed or whether the effects of therapy are going to last. You have a right to all the therapy that is needed to get you back as right as possible, and you don't have an obligation to pay for it out of your pocket, since they have admitted fault.

Don't just give in. Hold out for all that you're entitled to--even if it means you have to demand more than that to get it. They should at least be coerced into filing with their insurance company.

Good luck,
Karen

[Artisan]

How comfortable are you emotionally and financially taking care of the 500 dollars yourself? Are going to feel resentment for paying it yourself and/or can you afford to take on the additional 500 debt to your budget? I wouldn't put too much into how "they" are going to feel, you have to do what is best for you.

When I had my run in with a dog, I ended up paying the 250 that my insurance didn't cover. It didn't hurt my budget very much so I wasn't so stressed over it. The owners received a very hefty fine, had they not, I would have pursued payment for my medical bills.

[eclectic]

I am with tuckervill - I wouldn't settle but then I am not in a financial position to eat $500. small claims court is pretty painless and they can go to their insurance company - yes their rates will go up for a couple of years but that is the price they pay for owning a dog that runs loose


On a related note I learned the VERY hard way to never go directly to the dogs owners to work out the problem. I was dealing w/ my next door neighbors who never had shelter for their lab even in -25 weather, the dog would sleep on the ice and snow, also it would bark all night.

As things are normally done in this neck of the woods I tried talking to the owners first (who are from out of state) on numerous occasions with no results.

I finally told them I had called the Humane Society and would be calling the police and animal control in the future. In response they filed a tresspassing notice on me and also a disorderly conduct (claimed I came barging in their house ) - they lied all the way through it and no one EVER asked my side - it finally got thrown out - after I had been arrested, posted bail, and spent $500 on a lawyer.

Luckily they have rid themselves of the dog

So moral of the story is start with the police