my dog was run over by a friend of my neighbors who was speeding

[Tumbulu]

I have a farm. It is 1/2 mile off of a paved road. There is a dirt road that runs to my house and barn and beyond to my only neighbor on the road. My neighbor has the right to use my road through an easement granted prior to my purchase of the farm. He always drives slowly past my house and barn and his visitors generally do as well. He has been a good neighbor, but lately there has been a burst of new people driving up to his place and some have been driving faster than others.

I have sheep and I had a sheepdog in training. She was very highly driven and chased anything that moved. I had to put up lots of fences as she chased and killed chickens and would have chased cars if allowed to. But I kept her on a leash when not inside the fenced yard or the fenced pastures. At around 2 years old she calmed down considerably. I could take her outside of the fenced area and let her off leash and she would come when I called and if a car was coming I would call her and she would come and I would hold on to her until it passed.

But not two weeks ago. We had walked outside of the yard to go to the ram's pasture ( 200 ft walk) when a truck came speeding- maybe 35 mph on a one lane dirt road- from my neighbors. It raced towards us and my dog just took off towards the truck. I screamed and yelled for the guy to stop. She circled from behind and ran up alongside the truck and then trying to stop it ran in front and he killed her instantly.

The first week I just cried and blamed myself. Why had I stopped keeping her on a leash, etc.

Now I am thinking, why was the guy speeding and when he saw a dog running towards him why didn't he stop or slow down. By the way he said "I don't stop for dogs".

Not only did I lose our beloved family dog. I lost my helper with the sheep. I had paid a lot of money to train her (let alone all my time).

I am asking you if you think I should find out who the driver was and ask for compensation for the loss of my working dog. The breeder of my dog said that a UPS truck had run over a friend of her's dog and they paid for it.

It is a bit delicate as I am not so interested in getting in a fight with my neighbor.

Since the death I have purchased signs stating 5 mph and Slow children playing, etc.

Any advice would be appreciated.