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My friend broke my leg and cost me $13,000. What should I do?

A few weeks ago, 5 close friends and I went on a fishing trip in Canada. We are all in our late 20's and due to our hectic schedules and different locations, we don't get to see each other all that often. So this is our trip to sort of break away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life back home in the States. So we finally got to our remote camp in the middle of the Canadian wilderness and of course, tipped back on some booze and beer around the campfire. We were all kind of horsing around and just having a good time, when all of the sudden my best friend (we'll say his name is John) decides to tackle me from behind as a joke. By doing so, I fell to the ground and his body fell on my leg and broke it. It was horrible. I screamed bloody murder as they eventually carried me into the cabin and laid me down on a cot. The next morning I woke up in intense pain as John was looking at my leg. He said we needed to get to a hospital asap. So he drove me to the nearest hospital, which was 2 hours away. The took xrays and confirmed that my fibula was in fact split above my ankle and that I had severe sprains to the other side of the ankle. They told me that I should get back to the states as soon as I could to see a specialist. So they rigged me up with a temporary splint and some pain pills to hold me over for a few days. I didn't want to cancel the trip for the rest of the crew though, so I toughed it out at camp with the guys for the remaining 7 days of the vacation.. The cost for that brief hospital visit here was $560.00. John put it on his credit card because I didn't have any money on me at the moment. It was one of those do or die situations anyway. A few days later, he told me that he would give me 10 months to pay him back for that $560.00 bill. I didn't think anything of it at the time because the whole situation was sort of a blur and an accident.. So I agreed. As the week went on though, I realized that the trip would soon be over and reality would sink back in for everyone when all got back home. The way it always does.. Except for me, my reality was dealing with my leg when I got back home. Everyone else would go back to their normal every day life. The 15 hour ride back to states was incredibly painful though as I was stuck in an awkward position in the back seat. The nearest place I could get medical attention was in Wisconsin, which is where my mother lives. The 5 guys dropped me off there and all went back down to Chicago, where they live. I actually live in Tennessee. So I decided it would best to stay with her Wisconsin so she could drive me to and from the hospital, as it was my right leg that was broken and I was unable to drive. So we got to the hospital the next day and the Orthopedic doctor examined my leg and immediately scheduled me for an open reduction surgery. There was no question about it. It was much worse than we thought with severe ligament damage as well. Here's the real kicker. I am a single aspiring photographer and at the moment, I don't have health insurance. So as soon as I heard that I needed surgery, I told John that he had to pay for that $560.00 bill in Canada. Jokingly over email I said "You are paying for that, I don't care what you say hahaha".. He got a little upset with me for being so direct, but he agreed to pay for that bill. Oh yeah, John is married with a newborn and makes $70k/year. Over the course of the week, I sent him a few emails that stated how much misery I was in and how screwed I am because of all this.. That I have to move back to Wisconsin for 3 months, go through surgery, find out how to pay for it, etc..etc..I think at one point I even compared it to a car accident. That drunk or sober, he was still responsible for it.. Which is in fact true if you think about it.. Simple cause and effect. Cause he was drunk and tackled me, my leg broke and I am in this horrible situation.. Much of it was somewhat joking, but he is a close friend and I thought he would understand my misery.. Instead, John got really frustrated with me and told me to stop making him feel so guilty for this.. Anyway, I went through with the surgery two weeks ago. It was the worst experience ever. My leg was cut wide open to insert a metal plate and 7 screws into my fibula.. I am unable to walk until August (2-3 months). Here is the worst part of all.. My medical bills arrived and have totaled $13,000.00.. All of which I do NOT have. Hell I don't even have $100 in my checking account after the vacation. My work market (photography) is down in Nashville and I am stuck in Wisconsin, where there are no musicians to take photos of! So I am unable to work for the entire summer, unable to walk for the entire summer and I am stiffed with $13,000 in medical bills. John has completely avoided contacting me after he heard how much the medical bills were. He is solely responsible for this, but there is no way I am going to sue my best friend. I would think he would hav In response to "Wickedd". Yes I agree, I should have had insurance. But due to the tight economy (I know, I hate to use that as an excuse), but I have had no luck landing a full time gig with benefits. I'm super talented with a stacked resume, but no one seems to be biting at the moment. I had an agent/headhunter that I was working with and we were getting near to closing in on a deal before I left.. But I had to tell them the bad news when I got back that I could not do anything full time until August. It was just incredibly bad timing for this to happen to me.. It's not like it was by laziness or choice that I didn't have insurance.

Public Comments

1. Sue him for the money. You shouldn't have to pay for something he caused. He's your friend, but you're the one facing all this hurt and financial trouble because of what he did.
2. Find a new friend.
3. Hmmm I think you should ask him to pay half. You were both fooling around, as friends do, he didn't mean to hurt you obviously but $13,000 is a lot of money, $6500 each would be a lot worse of a blow
4. Get other friends with more brains and ensure that one of them is a lawyer, so you can sue "John" . By law your are responsible for your actions, drunk or not. Pain, suffering and loss of income and it can be quite a hefty sum. And the longer he avoids you, the more you add onto the bill. Peace.
5. Ahh that's pretty terrible and a tight situation you're in! I can understand why he would stop contacting you but it really was his fault. He shouldn't have tackled you even if it was just playing around. He is in fact responsible for this. He may be your best friend but you have to get over friendship and think about your life. I can realize why he may be scared but maybe you guys should split the bill. Half on his credit half on yours.. since it's a little bit of your own fault for not having insurance, I don't believe he should have to pay the whole bill. But it's still his fault. If he doesn't agree to these terms; sue him. Maybe one day he can forgive you but you're the one with the permanent leg damage, the financial troubles, and the stopping of your life.. I can defiantly understand and emphasize with you on how hard this will be especially if he, doesn't agree, but you are the one with the troubles now. It's your life; not his. You must deal with these day to day troubles and although he is your friend, he is only that; a friend. However bleak it seems friends really do come and go.. and friendship may not be worth the troubles you're about to be dealing with. (and even if so is it really worth it.? He stopped contacting you when things got rough..would a real friend do that? It was HIS fault after all and he needs to take responsibility..)