I need some unbiased opinions. I eat at a small family owned diner almost everyday and have a good relationship with the staff. Yesterday, while I was eating and talking to the owner and 2 waitresses I bit into a sausage and broke my tooth on a small piece of bone. They were all aware that it happened. I went to the dentist the same day and had to have a crown which cost over $900. My insurance will only cover about 1/3 of the bill. I feel the resturant should submit the remainder of the bill to their insurance. I haven't spoken to the owner of the diner about this yet. Knowning him and his family pretty well, altho they are basically good people, I know they care about money more than anything else and will not want to submit the bill. I'm sure they would rather have me pay all that money out of my pocket than submit a claim to their insurance. I'm sure my asking them to help pay this bill and their sure refusal, will cause hard feelings. What should I do? I do not want to sue.
2007-09-12 03:30:33 · 9 answers · asked by figment_of_yor_imagination 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
Ask them politely.
2007-09-12 03:34:00 · answer #1 · answered by kent_shakespear 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The question is, "Who is the legitimate defendant to any suit you might file?" Sure, you can blame the restaurant, but did they make the sausage? Or, are you going to sue the distributor for providing the restaurant the sausage? Or, are you going to sue the sausage manufacturer(which, in point of fact, would be the most responsible party for making the defective sausage.)? Here's a bigger question: can you, because this will be thrown at you in court, prove that you didn't already have a defective tooth that was on its way to breaking no matter what? Can you prove, as you will also be asked this, that the "bone in the sausage" was not, in fact, a piece of said defective tooth that broke off and fell into the sausage? Court can be rough, so you'd better be ready for a grilling.
Perhaps if you lived in one of the civilized nations that actually has universal health care, your tooth could be fixed without any additional expense or suffering on your part. The government, by taxing the wealthy elites of our society, would be able to cover the additional expense of your dental work that your own insurance does not cover. But, no such luck. Here in the U.S., the rich get huge tax breaks, while several million children starve in our nation every single day.
2007-09-12 11:35:52 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
A piece of bone can easily chip a healthy tooth. Not only that , it could cause intestinal problems. So, you are well within in your rights to approach them. However, by doing so, you know it will change the relationship with the owners of a place you ejioy very much. I would hope the owner would make some effort at compensation though. Free meals for a week or some other good will effort seems to be in order here.
2007-09-12 10:41:39 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Pay the bill yourself and forget it... Thats why insurance rates are so high in this country... Everyone wants to file charges or sue someone because of something they have no control over. Its not the restaurant owners fault that there was bone in the sausage unless he makes it daily.
2007-09-12 10:40:05 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you don't want to cause them any trouble then don't. You can't have it both ways. Besides perfectly healthy teeth don't break eating sausage. The tooth was mostly likely already cracked or unhealthy.
If you care more about the money then just be a grown up and ask them for the money.
This does not sound like a very difficult thing.
2007-09-12 10:36:40 · answer #5 · answered by howie r 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Pay your food. It is an evidence that you eat there. Kept the food that cause the trouble.
Let them reimburse and let them pay the damage
- your dental expenses
- your lost time at work
- if your miss any date with your sweetheart or any appointment.
- if your going to the movie or any event and you missed them.
If you decide not to sue them, let them at least pay the crown. Or if you have enough money in your account, why not just shoulder the expenses and go peacefully.
Or if you missed the church services because of that incident let them pray for you and you pray, and forgive them.
2007-09-12 11:13:26 · answer #6 · answered by oregonboy 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Good Lord man! Drop the charges! It sounds like you have already convicted them. Little pieces of bone come from the meat manufacturer, not the restaurant. Give them a giant flipping break! It sucks when people always have the attitude; "some body's gonna pay for that". Don't be one of those people. Try being gracious for a change. It is said: By the rule with which you measure others, you yourself will be measured.
2007-09-12 10:35:57 · answer #7 · answered by papaz71 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Of course they would rather forget about it.I would submit the bill to them since I am sure they have insurance. I know you are friends with them but if they really are nice people, they would want to do the right thing by you. They can take it up with whoever supply's them their meat.
You may want to find another place to eat if they are not willing to help you.
2007-09-12 15:57:34 · answer #8 · answered by Marilyn T 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Get over it. Things happen. Should they sue you if you spill coffee on their floor and someone slips in it? You say you don't want to sue, but it sure sounds like you want someone other than yourself to pay your way for things. You don't even consider that perhaps some dental problem you've already had may have played a part in this.
2007-09-12 10:37:12 · answer #9 · answered by Blue Oyster Kel 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋