Am I Wrong to Send My Son's Stepdad a Christmas Card with Medical Bill Inside?

Having a child with an ex-partner can sometimes be challenging, especially when they marry someone else. In this story, a social media user found himself stuck with a medical bill after their child's stepfather injured them accidentally.

Sometimes accidents happen but the question is who pays when injuries occur. That's the dilemma one male Reddit user found himself in when his ex called him one day to inform him about an injury their son had experienced.

The woman revealed that she and the man's eight-year-old son, Ben, had broken his left leg and was in the emergency room (ER). The original poster (OP) responded by driving to the hospital, where he discovered that Ben was in surgery.

While waiting for the child, the boy's stepfather, Zack, confessed that the boy got hurt while they were playfully wrestling. Sadly, Zack slipped on a plastic bag at one point and landed painfully on the boy's leg, breaking it.

The OP only contemplated the costs of the hospital visit once they asked him for his insurance. The final bill was a shocking $7,000, with the bulk of it - $5,000 - being his deductible, but he unfortunately didn't qualify for it. The OP contacted his ex, hoping they both could handle the bill.

How Did the OP Try to Mitigate His Son's Hospital Bill?

The Reddit user called his ex and asked her if they couldn't split the hospital bill, but she refused and told him he was responsible for Ben's healthcare costs. The OP tried arguing that his ex's husband was the one who broke the child's leg, but she refused to discuss the matter.

Ben's father felt her decision was unfair and decided to call her husband to tell him it was his fault that the child's leg was broken. Zack confessed that he felt awful, but he was playing his part already by helping Ben dress up when he was around.

He also assisted the boy in the bath and even carried him during long distances, among other things. The OP thought all of that was good and well but still felt Zack should help in paying the bill, with him stating:

"You have the money, and you were reckless."

The Redditor complained about Zack choosing to wrestle Ben in the dark and failing to ensure the area was clear of anything that could cause harm. Zack vowed to talk to his wife but tried to brush it off by claiming, "Kids break bones all the time."

The OP wasn't having it and retorted that he'd never broken a bone in his entire life. The call ended with Ben's father anticipating to hear back from Zack about what would happen next, but the stepfather tried to avoid him instead. Reddit users also shared their outlook on the matter.

What Did the OP Do When Zack Ghosted Him, and How Did Redditors React to the Story?

The OP tried to be patient, but when two weeks passed without him hearing from Zack, he knew his son's stepfather was avoiding him. In retaliation, the Redditor put Ben's hospital bill in a Christmas card and sent it with the boy when he visited his mother's house.

Zack and the OP's ex were livid when they got the bill and insisted he should've paid for it. The Redditor's response to them was to ask if they would pay their hospital bills if someone else ran over them. He questioned if they would be okay with being given "thoughts and prayers" instead.

However, when the reader learns that the OP is responsible for his son's medical bills, he calls him the wrong person in this situation.

Reddit users responded to OP's story, sharing if they thought he was in the wrong in the matter or not. One person felt Zack should be paying the whole bill and didn't blame him for passing it on through a card, saying:

"How else were you supposed to pass it on if he is consciously avoiding you?"

The reader revealed they initially thought he was in the wrong because of the card but now felt Zack was the bad guy for breaking Ben's leg and refusing to take responsibility. The person felt the stepfather was helping the boy with daily tasks out of guilt. Someone who agreed with the previous reader wrote:

"NTA. Hmm, accident in their house. I am not a lawyer, but I strongly suspect that you can sue them to have their insurance cover it."

A third person thought the OP couldn't hold Ben's injury against the boy's stepfather as it was an accident. However, the reader also believed that the OP and his ex were supposed to split the cost, adding:

"It says something about the level of care she has for your son that she doesn't want to pay part of it. That's weird to me."

However, when the reader learns that the OP is responsible for his son's medical bills, he calls him the wrong person. Someone else shared that Ben's father had to get a lawyer and not allow them to walk all over him and felt being "petty with no resolution is not enough," while another reader said:

"If you want them to pay the bill, send a proper demand letter and, if needed, follow up with a lawsuit. Slipped inside a Xmas card is an [expletive] move."

Another Reddit user also thought the OP had to get attornies involved and thought the incident could be covered under homeowner's insurance. They also urged Ben's father to get him therapy to ensure the incident was a playful one and not something else.

If you enjoyed that story, you'll be thrilled by this one about a woman who had in-laws who expected her and her husband to foot the bill whenever they went out.