A few months ago a friend and I went out to a movie and drinks. Before we left, we'd discussed that he would be my designated driver if I got drunk (he doesn't drink anyway so he had no problem with that). At the bar, I have a few drinks, enough to push me past the point of being able to drive legally. We end up leaving and going to a different bar after awhile, and when we get there, he parks my car but parks it over the line. Not wanting to get a ticket for his bad parking, I tell him to back out and straighten himself up. He does so, but in the process he goes too fast and backs up into a lightpole behind us.
I end up getting the car fixed by a friend, all totalled the bill is about $460. I got the car fixed in mid April and haven't seen a cent since. I tried to remain respectful of the fact that he had a kid on the way so wasn't pressuring him too hard yet to pay me back. Finally, today I speak with him, and he says he'll start paying me back when he gets his next check. Then he tells me (before warning me that it's going to piss me off) that he's been "talking to some people" and that he believes, from a legal standpoint, he only owes me half of the bill since he "saved me" from getting a DUI (apparently, he believes I would have gone out without a designated driver).
I've never heard of any rule like this, but I'm not a lawyer and figured I should ask experts. I have to assume this guy is just full of crap. Is he right? Does he truly only owe half?
Secondly, we ended that conversation with harsh words (mainly coming from me). I informed him that if he truly believes he only owes half, I'll take him to court to get the full amount. Now, he's since moved away to Florida. What happens if I make a claim against him, now that he lives so far away? How would that work and what happens if he refuses to show up? Is there anything I should know before I attempt to file a claim?
Thanks in advance.
I end up getting the car fixed by a friend, all totalled the bill is about $460. I got the car fixed in mid April and haven't seen a cent since. I tried to remain respectful of the fact that he had a kid on the way so wasn't pressuring him too hard yet to pay me back. Finally, today I speak with him, and he says he'll start paying me back when he gets his next check. Then he tells me (before warning me that it's going to piss me off) that he's been "talking to some people" and that he believes, from a legal standpoint, he only owes me half of the bill since he "saved me" from getting a DUI (apparently, he believes I would have gone out without a designated driver).
I've never heard of any rule like this, but I'm not a lawyer and figured I should ask experts. I have to assume this guy is just full of crap. Is he right? Does he truly only owe half?
Secondly, we ended that conversation with harsh words (mainly coming from me). I informed him that if he truly believes he only owes half, I'll take him to court to get the full amount. Now, he's since moved away to Florida. What happens if I make a claim against him, now that he lives so far away? How would that work and what happens if he refuses to show up? Is there anything I should know before I attempt to file a claim?
Thanks in advance.