Q: Should I pay the medical insurance out of pocket for the injury in a leisure soccer game or I would get sued?
We group of peoples play soccer for fun at weekend. Back to September 2023, we played as usually. I dribbled the ball facing the defender. At one moment, I lost the control on ball, and I tried to kick the ball away. The defender also tried to get the ball. His foot kicked on my leg, and he fell down with palm touching ground first. Unfortunately, he got bone fracture on his forearm. I sent him to the ER, and he went through surgery in the following week. Now he sent me a message saying he paid $8000 as the out of pocket max of his medical insurance for the surgery, rehab, and asked me to paid this money to him saying, " you made me fell down, and caused the injury. without the injury, I would not have to pay the money". what I should answer him? if I don't pay or only partial, could he file a lawsuit against me and ask for more money? I really did not make him fall down intentionally, and we had this kind of fall all the time during the game. Your advice will be highly appreciated.
A:
A person who voluntarily participates in a sport or athletic activity, whether competitively or for recreation, generally assumes the risk of any injuries they may foreseeably sustain from such participation. Even a flagrant foul which causes a foreseeable injury falls within this concept called "assumption of risk."
While he could file a lawsuit against you, I think his chances of succeeding are very low based on your description.
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