NY State Law Hit and Run - Unaccompanied Dog Question?

Question

Person in front of me hit a dog's leg. Person behind me thought I hit the dog's leg. Police spoke to me, they checked my license, registration, and ny state inspection (stating they were fine). No papers were given to me and he left to "find out what's going on" after I gave him the car info on the car in front of me. Owner somehow got my unlisted number. Owner calls about 4-5 times a day stating "You hit my dog, call me". If no papers were given to me in ny state it is safe to say that I was not found liable? And then the owner is wrong for accusing me? I called the police station to tell them the owner keeps harrassing me and accusing me of hitting his dog. No papers given at scene in ny state=not found guilty right?

Answer 1

Irregardless of how the person got your number and you didnt do anything wrong you have 3 options:

1. Change your number and ignore the caller
2. File harrasment charges on the caller AFTER telling them to stop calling. This serves as the warning.
3. Explain to the caller you did not hit their dog. And why the hell was their dog doing in the street to begin with. Sounds like a dog ownership problem.

A dog being in the street is NOT the responsibility of the driver. The dog has no common sense to what the car can do to it, therefore is unpredictible as to what it will do. A person (a normal one) will wait or move out of the way.

Answer 2

Distinguish between civil and criminal here.

If you weren't cited, that means there are no criminal charges pending. It could happen later, but not likely. Especially not for hit and run, since you apparently stayed long enough to talk to the police.

Now, on the civil side, the owner could file a lawsuit no matter what the police say or do.

I'd return the call, tell them what you know about the car in front of you, just like you told the police, and tell them not to call again unless they want to talk to you as a witness.

Answer 3

side note, if the dog ran into the street unsupervised or supervised and a person hits the dog the owner of the car is under no civil liability, unless the owner can prove you saw the dog and had adequate time to slow down or stop a very hard burden to prove in a court of law

I have seen where a dog owner sued a driver for hitting their dog in the street public and the owner of the car counter sued for the damage caused to the car when it hit the dog and won

Answer 4

till you knew the puppy grew to become into properly worth extra desirable than $a million,000, you have not any accountability to checklist the twist of destiny, whether you probably did hit the dogs. As you say you probably did not hit the dogs, you owe not something to absolutely everyone, yet while the harassment maintains, you may checklist the harassment. additionally, I recommend which you have been heavily tramatized at seeing a candy puppy allowed off leash , working in site visitors, and getting killed with the aid of yet another driving force, and if I have been on your footwear, i could tell this jerk which you have spoken with a criminal expert (you have, online :-) and you are able to desire to sue HIM for traumatizing you thru letting that undesirable candy puppy get killed and you're so disenchanted, the criminal expert says you are able to desire to sue him for a million money, so sod off and get a existence. that would desire to circulate away him so confuddled that he leaves you on my own. And if it does not paintings, it's time to document a police checklist on him. The police do not "locate" absolutely everyone responsible. They make comments and that they make arrests and if neither of those issues have got here approximately, then the guy is shaking you down. If the threat of a fit does not produce the needed result, then each touch you have with this jerk could be reported to the police as an incident of harassment.

Answer 5

Unless you were driving on the sidewalk when the dog was hit, don't worry about it. Call the owner, and explain what happened, and tell him that if he continues to call, you will file a report in regards to telephone harassment.

Answer 6

They don't have to give you anything "on scene".
If the dog owner is buggin you, then go down to your local police station and tell them you want to fill out a "voluntary statement" [ they may be busy and try to get you not to do it- but its your right, sp insist]..List the calls , and then you have something on record in case you have to sue this person in small claims court. and change your number..or leave a recorder on at all times...

Answer 7

Was this dog on a leash? Were you driving in their yard? They have to control their dog. If your car was damaged, it was their fault and they owe you. You need to turn this matter over to the police because you are being harassed. Unless you ran over the dog in their own yard, it's their fault, not yours.