WWYD? Neighbor's DD broke her leg in MY backyard!

[zachnsamsmommy]

Last night, one of our neighbor's DD (they have 4) broke her leg in my backyard while playing with my DS and another little boy. I was inside and didn't see it happen (with my younger DS), but all three agreed that she just tripped and fell near the deck. I suspect it was a rabbit hole we missed when filling them up, but not sure.

We are very close to all our neighbors...we live in a cul-de-sac. I offerred to help pay their hospital deductable, or wheelchair rental (she can't do crutches at school). They refused, and just said it was an accident, and could have happened anywhere. Their DD is very timid, and had just started playing with the boys a few months ago, even though we've been neighbors almost 3 years.

I feel awful! I want to do something, just not sure what. I'm thinking a 'goody bag' of stuff for their DD since she won't go back to school til Monday. Like I said, they refused any monetary help.

Suggestions?

 

[DisneyMom81]

Last night, one of our neighbor's DD (they have 4) broke her leg in my backyard while playing with my DS and another little boy. I was inside and didn't see it happen (with my younger DS), but all three agreed that she just tripped and fell near the deck. I suspect it was a rabbit hole we missed when filling them up, but not sure.

We are very close to all our neighbors...we live in a cul-de-sac. I offerred to help pay their hospital deductable, or wheelchair rental (she can't do crutches at school). They refused, and just said it was an accident, and could have happened anywhere. Their DD is very timid, and had just started playing with the boys a few months ago, even though we've been neighbors almost 3 years.

I feel awful! I want to do something, just not sure what. I'm thinking a 'goody bag' of stuff for their DD since she won't go back to school til Monday. Like I said, they refused any monetary help.

Suggestions?

First of all, good for them for doing the right thing - they are right, it could have happened anywhere. But anyway, if I were you, I'd feel bad too, so I would probably make the family dinner one night, and also give the little girl something she would like, like a toy, or something like that. You didn't say the age, so I can't help with that. To bad for the little girl, a broken leg is pretty stinkie!

 

[AKL_Megs]

Gosh, I hope they are truly the kind of people who believe that "accidents happen", especially with kids, and don't plan to sue you!

I think that as a good friend and neighbor, I might make a "Get Well" basket. Sharpie markers in girly colors so her friends can sign her cast at school, coloring books and crayons, a character pillow (Minnie Mouse, Hannah Montana, Tinkerbell, etc.) for her to prop her leg up on...

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

A goody bag would be nice and thoughtful.
As for monetary issues, when they file the claim with their insurance, their insurance will want to know what happened and where. When they find out it happened on your property they(the insurance not your neighbors) will probably go after your homeowners insurance to cover the claim. It is what it is and the way insurance works, I tripped in my own home and broke my ankle a few years ago, before my health insurance would pay I had to fill out a form telling them what happened and where.

 

[Becky2005]

I'm sure you feel terrible. I was on the other end. My DS broke his arm while at a friend's house.

They didn't give us any goody bag that I recall but I know they felt terrible (especially since it happened on a trampoline! YIKES! No, I didn't sue or make them pay - it was an accident).

All that is coming to my mind is if you have something like a Dairy Queen around, some ice cream coupons or something like that. Of course, I'm of the mindset that ice cream makes all injuries better.

 

[zachnsamsmommy]

OP here....just wanted to add that she is 7 1/2. She also has 3 sisters, so I would probably want to include things for the other girls as well. Maybe some cookies along with some toys/girl stuff?

 

[dizluvah]

Maybe include a movie in your goody bag - since she will be spending more time indoors while her leg heals and she will be limited on what activities she can do. Other ideas, word search book, mad libs (do they still have those??), comics, or maybe a craft item that she can work on while sitting. Depending on her age, they make those bead sets so she can make her own jewelry - sold at fabric/craft stores, and target type store.

 

[MomNeedsVacay]

I like the fami;y dinner idea... maybe a Blockbuster gift card so they can have a movie night?

 

[RitaZ.]

That's nice of you. Go to Michael's. They have a lot of different craft kits for children. They're inexpensive. I also like the movie idea. Maybe you can give her a gift card to a local movie rental store.

 

[JEmaryland]

I would maybe include a board game that she can play with her siblings.

 

[hentob]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you will be paying for this via your homeowner's

 

[DawnCt1]

Gosh, I hope they are truly the kind of people who believe that "accidents happen", especially with kids, and don't plan to sue you!

I think that as a good friend and neighbor, I might make a "Get Well" basket. Sharpie markers in girly colors so her friends can sign her cast at school, coloring books and crayons, a character pillow (Minnie Mouse, Hannah Montana, Tinkerbell, etc.) for her to prop her leg up on...

It will depend upon their health insurance and "them". Many health insurance companies attempt to determine "if someone else could be responsible". They send a letter with a questionaire; "Where did it happen"? "Could someone else be responsible"? I have gotten them twice when my kids were injured playing in someone else's yard. I told them that "it was no one's fault". 'It was an accident". "It happened in my own yard" If you say that it happened in my neighbor's yard, the insurance company may deny the claim and she will have to file with her home owner's insurance to pay the entire claim or part of it. Its called subrogation.

 

[MushyMushy]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you will be paying for this via your homeowner's

I was just going to say this. They might not intend on suing you, but it very well be that their insurance will come after your homeowner's!

I tripped over my own feet and my insurance company was insistent that they were going to get the money from the college where I fell. But I kept telling them at the hospital over and over that it was my own fault and there was nothing wrong with the sidewalk. My insurance ended up paying, but not until they gave me a lot of hassle about it.

 

[clh2]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you will be paying for this via your homeowner's

Maybe not...My niece broke something on her wrist at our house, she merely slipped on our wood floor. That was it...nothing fancy going on there, she just slipped, and used her hand to "stop" herself.

My sister was also of the opinion that accidents happen, and wouldn't even allow us to help out with out of pocket expenses.

We did, however, give my niece a nice "sorry you are in a cast for 6 weeks" present.

 

[zachnsamsmommy]

OP here again...

I realize that their medical insurance might (will?) ask where it happened, and I would expect them to say it happened in my backyard...because it did. If our homeowners insurance has to pay, well, we'll pay. No biggie. Suing would be a different issue...but I don't think that would be the case.

I feel that doing something nice for their DD is unrelated to the whole insurance issue, kwim? I feel really bad that it happened here, and I want to do something for her, even if it is a little gift basket.

 

[Rora]

That's nice of you. Go to Michael's. They have a lot of different craft kits for children. They're inexpensive. I also like the movie idea. Maybe you can give her a gift card to a local movie rental store.

This is a great idea!

 

[WhateverLolaWants]

We had this same situation (arm, not leg) in our neighborhood lately. Only, the family of the girl has no insurance (not even for the kids - and they can afford it). The girl actually had to have surgery on it at a childrens hospital. The homeowner where it happened is scared silly because she's worrying they're going to sue (and they're the type that would. Really odd people.) Thankfully your neighbors sound like good people.

 

[jenrose66]

I remember my best friend and I were roller skating when we were kids. we had been going around the block by ourselves, we were probably 7 or 8. My friend fell on the sidewalk right at the edge of my front yard and in front of my neighbors driveway.

Her mom sued my parents homeowners insurance...Really, I think she technically fell on my neighbors property and she wasn't even playing at my house at the time, we had started at her house and had just been skating. Anyway, I was young and I still remember it and it rubbed me the wrong way...

However, now I'm and adult and I work in insurance claims. If you really felt that you owe this girls parents something, report a liability claim to your homeowners insurance. Sure your rates might go up...but it's the most "right" thing to do...

Honestly though, if the parents aren't pushing it just leave it alone. It's refreshing that in our sue happy society that people are able to see an accident for an accident and let things go.

 

[hollieplus2]

I think it all depends on what the parents told the hosptial. DS was at the neighbors and he decided to jump off their deck. He landed on the ground but in a hole from their dog digging. We ended up at the ER. They asked what happened and I said "he jumped off the deck and landed on his foot wrong" and that was that. They never asked where and I didn't intentionaly leave anything out I said he jumped off the deck. No claim was made and I paid the deductable. It wasn't an accident it was my kid being stupid. She probably wasn't watching the kids but she has 3 kids to my 1. I don't expect her to watch them like a hawk, boys are boys and things happen. Nobody's insurance sued anyone else's.

 

[Tinks]

How timely. My 7 1/2 year old son broke his leg about 3 weeks ago. We got a care package from my sister that was much appreciated. It included markers, color pencils, coloring books, activity books, candy, a kids magazine (Boys Life), and a DS game. He was thrilled with the "goods". I would also suggest some kind of board game, books, puzzles and stuff like that. Maybe even a barbie? I know DS would have been happy with action figures, too. We also got some legos, and that was great. We've been spending much of our time indoors because of the break and the games and books help.