My Horse Hit By A Car (Possibly)

TheresaW

TheresaW

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On the 2nd February, the boys managed to escape from the field. My friend was there and was getting ready to go down and get them all in when she heard them coming. They made their way up the track from the field to the back gate into the yard. Because the back gate was shut, Mac and Brenin went out of the yard, down the road to the front gate and were munching on the grass verge when the YO came out to look for them. My friend called her as she was getting the other 2 into their stables.

YO took Mac and Brenin into their stables and gave them both a quick check over. Both seemed fine. I arrived 20 minutes or so later and checked them both thoroughly. Mac is mine, I look after Bren for another friend.

Anyway, today, YO has had the police on the phone today, saying someone has reported hitting one of the horses, has sustained damage to their car, and wants to take further action. I am not sure what to make of this. It has been 10 days since the incident. I know if I hit a horse (or any other animal for that matter) I would have stopped to make sure it was ok. Also, we have no idea which horse, if either, was hit.

Anyone any idea of what will happen next? Have told YO to of course give all our details to the police, but not sure what else we can do.
 
If the impact of the horse has damaged the car, it would of damaged the horse as well. Has either horse shown any discomfort? Any marks on them? Any stiffness? You know the kind of thing. I didnt realise Charlie was hit, but was told he had dark welt like marks on his side where the car struck him, (but he was a grey so could see more marks)
 
Neither horse has shown any signs at all. No swellings, lameness, cuts or grazes. Mac can be pretty stiff behind first thing because of arthritis, but he has been no worse than normal. Mac had a lesson on Thursday, Brenin on friday and both were sound. Both are chestnuts so some marks would be visible.
 
How very strange. I cant imagine anyone hitting a large animal such as a horse, and just driving off? it must have been some impact to damage the car?
Something doesnt sound right her - maybe they have since damaged their car and are trying to find someone to pay?

I am also not too sure what your insurance would say as surely in the event of your horse causing damage, you would have to notify them straight away.... i can see your insurance company trying to wiggle out of it all TBH.

I would maybe ask the police for all of the drivers details if they havent given you them and tell them you are going to have to claim against the driver for damages to your horse, vets fees etc (they wont know if you have or havent had the vet etc) and if you get to contact them, say that it wont be in their favour that they hit something and drove off, failed to report loose livestock that were causing a hazard, and that its taken them so long to report it.... and hopefully they will realise you are not a scape goat!
 
Hmm, well my initial thought is, dont worry too much. If neither horse has shown any kind of injury, the driver would have to prove the damage to her car was due to the horses being on the road, and why has she left it 10 days to report? Sounds like someone is trying it on!
 
Thanks guys. My YO is absolutely livid that it has taken 10 days to come to light. She thinks nothing will come of it either as it would now be impossible to prove, plus no way of knowing which horse it was.
 
Sounds decidedly sus to me! Maybe someone has damaged their car otherwise and has heard that nowadays a horse owner is liable for any damage it causes? I would make sure that neither horse is hurt in any way and even get a vet to document that - a car could not possibly be damaged and the horse it hit, not!!

Be very careful and admit nothing!!! ;)
 
a couple of years ago someone let the horses out of their field by cutting the fence.Several cars were damaged by the horses but yet none of the horses showed any sign of injury. The police were involved but as the horses had been let out of their field by someone cutting the fence and no horses were injured they couldn't prove any sort of liability. Nobody ended up having to pay for the damage to the vehicles. We assume the insurance companies just sorted it out themselves,though in this case there were quite a few horses out and all with different owners which probably would have proved an insurance nightmare. TBH I agree with Benson 21 that someone is trying it on.
 
We had a similar thing a few years ago. My dog got loose out on a walk with my dad after seeing a cat. He took off along the trail we were on and followed the cat out onto the road. He was hit my a car but it just glanced him and we took him straight to the vet who discharged him with no major injury. A week later my parents received an insurance claim from the woman driver for damage to front headlights, driver's door, rear lights, rear bumper etc etc....a totally crazy amount of damage to have been done by one dog - especially considering he was alive and uninjured! We just took the claim and the vets reports to a lawyer who dealt with it and we heard nothing more.

As some others have said, they cannot prove it was your horses, who are obviously uninjured, and they should have stopped to check that at the time anyway!
 
Having seen a car that was kicked by a horse there was a significant amount of damage but the horse wasn't injured.
It may have only just come to light at your yard as the police have to conduct a search to try and establish where the horses may have come from... please check you have puclic liability insurance as the claim may end up costing quite a lot especially if the driver has suffered from injury whilst trying to avoid the horses.
 
Anyone with half a brain or half a sense of humanity would have gone up the drive and said "your horses are loose and one just sat on the bonnet of my car, you need to come get them before they try sitting on an arctic lorry, and give me your number because my car is damaged".

She's either lying or completely stupid. Not constructive I know, but hopefully your horses are well and the police gave her what for.
 
A recent court case demontarted that the owner of horse is resposible for any damage caused by their horses even if it is not the owners fault.
You need to ensure that you have third party public liability insurance in place to no less than £10,000,000 (Ten Million Pounds). Not all insurance companies provide cover to this level. As a Gold member of the BHS you do get this level of cover with your membership.
 
Hi, sorry, been to work.

They definitely did get out onto the road, my friend saw them go as she went out to round them all up. She got the 2 that were still hanging around into the stables whilst phoning the YO and myself. She said the whole time, she was listening for a bang with her heart in her mouth. YO came out of her house, and they were right opposite her door on the grass verge. They wouldn't have been out for more than 5 minutes.

Mac is insured, and his insurance covers public liability. I have no idea about Brenin.
 
Tell them to go and do one!

So they weren't bothered if they hit an animal at the time?

No police report? No witnesses? No injuries to your horses so could argue them being linked to the damage to their car.

Would get laughed out of court.
 
Odd to wait so long before reporting it.

However, the problem is not yours - but the YO's whose fencing or gate the horses presumably got out of.
 
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