I've got a buddy that was a mechanic by trade (smart, certified, and quite good) but out of work for awhile so he took a job doing detailing and car washing to pay the bills. He's working on some truck with huge ass tires with lifts or something and manages to slip and fall down, wrenching his back something bad. He's feels fine so he keeps working the night then goes home, takes some advil or whatever and wakes up in middle of the night in INCREDIBLE PAIN.
Turns out he fucked up his spine somehow (disc or something), he's got no healthcare, no job at that point, and can't get a job as a mechanic since he can barely move without incredible pain they give him a nice prescription for some pain killer. So he starts doing work on the side in his garage when he can, but is still driving around while using narcotics, and despite the fact he does have a legitimate prescription he gets pulled over and the cops arrest him and take away his license.
Now he can't drive, but starts becoming addicted to the narcotics, and his surgery date is scheduled waaaay out since he's now on Medicaid or whatever. Essentially he's stuck at home with nothing to do but drink (great idea with narcotics) and get into trouble with guys that drive him around. He manages to get stabbed at a gas station one night which puts him BACK in the hospital with another issue and another great setup for more painkillers.
This does have a happier ending at least (after a couple years) in that he managed to get himself off the drugs after getting his back taken care of but is now working in a shitty retail job. He's hooked up with a girl we knew from high school and is now engaged to her. But everything started with that night he was washing some dudes truck and got hurt.
^
