Litigate, litigate, litigate. Bog down a system with trifle and become penniless while others profit from your ordeal...*sounds about right
My two cents, you should have talked with the man and discussed a workable solution. You now have to deal with aspects beyond your control and carry a heavy conscious with a nice dose of paranoia. That talk doesn't seem so bad in retrospect and you can still ease the situation, get a hold of the man and admit fault. At least you can save face, you can always make more money.
*There is a woman in Canada who is now suing the families of the boys she ran over in her car {killing one of them}, claiming mental anguish do to the nightmares and anxiety she has from the accident... amongst other charges.
Reality, what a concept!!