A delivery driver who jumped onto a Porsche Cayenne after being startled by dogs will not be required to pay for the resulting damage, a Munich court ruled on Monday.
According to a statement from the Munich District Court, the unnamed driver reacted instinctively during a September 2024 delivery in Freising, north of Munich, when two Dalmatians and a crossbreed emerged from the front door of a house he was visiting.
Startled by the dogs, the man climbed onto the bonnet of a parked Porsche Cayenne to protect himself, leading to scratches and dents reportedly costing more than 2,700 euros (about $3,170), according to the vehicle owner.
The case was brought before the court after both the delivery driver and his employer refused to cover the repair costs.
However, the court ruled in favour of the driver, stating that it was not clearly proven that he caused the damage. It also noted that the photographs presented as evidence appeared to have been taken several months after the incident.
The court further held that the dog owner should have properly controlled the animals and anticipated the arrival of a delivery driver.
While the dogs were said to be about three to four metres away and not physically aggressive, the court noted that barking and running toward the driver was enough to trigger a natural flight response.
The ruling concluded that the pet owner still had a duty of care to control the animals.
Elijah Adeyemi
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