It's actually not that hard to break a jaw depending on the point of impact and angle, so perhaps realize the other kid's punch back isn't necessarily any more violent than OP's sons slaps to the kid's head. Kids that age slap box and do stupid things like that often.

OP, you need to fly out there. I have a son who is 1000 miles away in school, and when he was injured I was on the next plane out there. They need support, and he doesn't need your focus on the actual incident but on his recoverey.

Get an Airbnb with a blender.

You write of your son that "he touched another kid's head, then did it again.

Are you thinking of these "touches" as soft, welcome little caresses of the other guy's locks? Come on. I am fairly certain he knew what he was doing was unwelcome, and he kept doing it anyway.

I'm also fairly certain the other guy didn't intend to break his jaw, but sometimes a punch lands just the wrong way. Regardless, it was not unprovoked, and it was likely unintentional. The law treats that action differently than someone who is intentional in choosing to keep touching someone else when they know the touch is unwelcomed.

Anonymous wrote:WAs the other kid horsing around too, or did he punch your son in anger?

How does your son want to handle it? Does he feel this kid is a threat to him? You need more info. But a lunch that isviokent enough to break a jaw is serious. I’d think the perpetrator is a loose cannon and would not want my kid anywhere near him. School authorities should probably be made aware, at the very least.

Yeah, where are the school administrators in all this?

Stop being lazy, get on a plane. Go there. Stop blaming the other guy and get out there.

I’m surprised he doesn’t need surgery,

**^^ a punch that is violent enough to break a jaw

WAs the other kid horsing around too, or did he punch your son in anger?

How does your son want to handle it? Does he feel this kid is a threat to him? You need more info. But a lunch that isviokent enough to break a jaw is serious. I’d think the perpetrator is a loose cannon and would not want my kid anywhere near him. School authorities should probably be made aware, at the very least.

You need to go out there because he needs real medical care and the process with insurance is overwhelming to manage for adults, let alone college kids.

Also you need to tell your child to keep his hands to himself. Does he have ADHD or some other condition that has poor impulse control? He has learned this lesson the hard way - read the signs of what is happening, don't grab people thinking you are being funny or for your own amusement, because people can react unpredictably.

Be glad this happened at a dorm and only his jaw was broken and he wasn't shot.

I'm sorry this happened to your child. I hope you can go there, because you really should.

Anonymous wrote:Sorry that happened.

Thank you

Sorry that happened.

Broken jaw is serious. You need to take care of that first. 6 weeks wired shut. And it needs to be set correctly. You need to be there.
RN

Anonymous wrote:Shit happens.

18 year old males do a lot of stupid stuff. Who knows what game they were playing or what they were doing.


Is your son;s jaw actually broken or is it dislocated / hairline fracture

OP here; totally agree. Yes it is broken.

Shit happens.

18 year old males do a lot of stupid stuff. Who knows what game they were playing or what they were doing.


Is your son;s jaw actually broken or is it dislocated / hairline fracture

Sounds like a good time to teach your adult son to keep his hands to himself.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. I'd be upset too but presumably you have health insurance so you're just on the hook for co-pays. It's not worth suing that kid or his family for co-pays. Forget the money. Get it fixed with the best medical attention and advise your son to stay away from this guy.

This is likely the route we will take. I appreciate the real advice. Not really thinking of suing but just upset. My son is 1000 miles away and I feel helpless.

Get on a plane and go see him and take him to the doctors appointments or start driving. I don't get parents who do not go to their kids in a medical crisis.