advice needed

LegacyUser

This is starting really eat me..so I would like advice please on what-if you were me-you would do.
have a best friend for last 8 years or so. we met at 'rainbows' which is a course to help kids get through divorce/seperation. we were both getting over broken marriages at the time.
anyway, we are close-our kids are still in touch mainly through facebook etc.
six months ago, i was dropping her child home to her and myself and my child(who is 10) and we stopped in for a coffee. within five minutes, her dog, a jack russell,jumped up and bit my daughter above the eye, dragging her to the ground. we had to prize the dog off and i took her to the emergency doctor where she had three stitches to sew the flap of skin back on, and a booster tetanus. I was just so relived as it could have been so so much more horrific, losing an eye perhaps.
she was bruised, and sore for a few days and my friend felt awful,and she had the dog put down just in case it happened again.apparently the dog had been snappy and growling for a few days before that.
at the time, she rang me at the doctors and she said she had pet insurance and not to worry about getting the medical bills paid etc-(obviously i didnt know then what level of injury was involved) and that was the least of my worries! My friend is very wealthy, as her ex husband is a business man /property developer. I, have a normal job and constantly struggle to make ends meet on a basic wage.But, thats how it is for the majority of us now.
The thing is, since the bite, my young one will not go up the stairs alone, sleep in her own bed, go anywhere if there is a dog. I'm exhausted with the whole thing. I asked the doctor who said she may need counselling, and hoped the small scar over her eye wont affect her confidence etc etc and i should take her to a child psychologist. I dont really want to go down that route but it has got really bad over the weekend. my ex has three dogs, and for ten years it wasnt a problem but now she refuses to visit him.this has caused huge tension and he thinks i should have claimed from her insurance. i was shy about asking at the time, even though she has no excess . the counsellor etc will cost and neither me or the ex have it.
plus, she just bought a 12 mercedes( which i say to the ex is none of his or my business) but he is fuming that I had to pay 220 for doctors at the time.and there has been no mention of paying me back..
i want to do right by my child,( my ex said i'm letting her down by not getting her the best care) but dont want to ask my friend about the pet insurance,or how to claim-im embarrassed that she will think im just trying to get money, as the difference in our incomes is massive, but it never bothered me.. maybe im a wimp:(

Big Bag of Chips

Please remember this is a Personal Issue for the OP, not a legal one. Please do not offer any legal advice.

Regards,
Big Bag of Chips

AnonoBoy

Just send her a friendly email saying - "I can believe I forgot to get those insurance details off you - can you send them on to me?"

Make it seem nonchalant. If she's decent (and I'm sure she is) she'll have no trouble providing you with them to cover the costs incurred.

It's not like you're asking her for the money personally.

Gooner111

Your child comes first before any friendship etc. I was attacked by a dog early age and still fear them now (am 32 years old!). Your daughter might get over it naturally in time as lots do but there are lots who never get over the fear of dogs.

Your friend is well off so mightn't really understand that you are struggling and can't afford all the bills that came from this - you have to talk to her. First off google what pet insurance does cover etc so that your informed on the subject. Ask your friend for the policy number. If she doesn't want to work with you then she isn't a real friend and I'd be looking at solicitors next.