There was no insurance!?

Question

There was no insurance!

Last Thursday morning around 1 am a drunk driver crashed into our house. Our church set up a fund for us because we lost everything in the living room all our furniture and a chair, a stereo, a homemade shelf, a number of framed photos and a collection of antique glassware my great grandparents brought from Germany in the 1920s. We had no response from the fund and all our bills are backed up because my mom had to take almost a week off of work. We are out about 5,000..... I want to write to business around here for donations but im only a 15 year old girl and i have no clue where to even start...... ANY ADVICE

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2007/ju...

Heres the link to our paper so you dont think im just making this up.

Answer 1

Bad news that there wasn't any insurance. Another suggestion is to see whether your city has a victim's fund. Ours does, when someone is a victim of a crime and incurrs expenses that they cannot afford, the Victim's Crime Fund in our city will award cash to help out. Our local Red Cross does, too. You may want to contact the Red Cross for assistance.

If you want to ask for donations from local businessess, make a list of likely businesses and write a simple letter including a copy of the newspaper article. Something like:

My family respectfully requests your assistance in any manner as an uninsured drunk driver hit our home on 6/15. Although we lost many items, we have been financially devastated as a result. My mother works two jobs to support our family and was not able to work for almost a week while damage to our home was being repaired. We appreciate anything you can do to help us. Thank you in advance, sign your name with age

Answer 2

Well, I notice this is the second posting for this....

Here are a couple of things for you to consider...
Even though you folks did not have renter's insurance, you should be able to go after the auto insurance of the driver, if he had any. And, whether he had insurance or not, your mom should consider getting a lawyer to handle this for you two. Even if the driver had no insurance, the lawyer can suit to confiscate the driver's assets, to help recover some of your costs.

I know first hand, that even with insurance, there are costs that pile up quick, hehehe...

Here are my suggestions - write a letter to that newspaper reporter, and ask if there is anything the paper can do to spread the word...
Then, start with your bank, WalMart, etc. (WalMart, for all the bad press they get about opening new stores, actually does give a lot to the communities they are in) Stores that do this type of giving on a regular basis, will most likely have a form for you to fill out, too. Ask for gift cards to/from local businesses -- a business is more likely to give a gift card to their services or store, than to simply fork over cash. Giving a gift card allows many businesses to track how the money was spent, and it leverages their donation. Publicize that bank account that was set up -- talk to the church --....
Look at it this way... all they can do is say no... and if you don't ask, you'll never know if they would have donated anything to help. It's been my experience, as a non-profit fundraiser, that while many will not give (especially after katrina), there are many who will, if they know about the need.

Good Luck

Answer 3

Link does not work!!!

Thankfully no one was hurt.

Did your mom have a mortgage on the house? If she did, then she is required to carry insurance (It is a stipulation from the lender that the borrower is required to carry insurance and the banks are notified if the insurance is dropped). If she owns the home out right/ no loan, then you are better off then most of the people in the U.S. who have two or three mortgages.

For the antiques, cry and move on. Nothing can bring your antiques back. For your bills, talk to each person you owe money. Typically the people you owe money will help you work out a plan to pay them back.

But remember one thing. This is a hard lesson to learn: If you can't afford to replace it or insure it, you are taking a gambling chance on losing it.

Answer 4

I am so sorry for your loss!!! Call the city.. You can ask for " Cash Assistance" for bills like rent or mortage, food, lights and other utilities.. The items you lost, you may never get back, but you should be able to get some help.. Did your parents have home owners ins or renters Ins? If so then they need to make a list asap of all that was lost.. pictures would help too. You can also call the Chamber of Comerce for your town they may help, Local Churches.. ALL OF THEM.. not just yours or those that are of your faith.. They can all help!

Oh and also.... Make sure you go after the driver .. and if there not on earth anymore.. there ins. company, family and the STATE!!

GOOD LUCK & GOD BLESS!!!

Answer 5

Why would you expect some business to help you with your own church was unable to collect any funds? I have some sympathy for your loss, but I think your family needs to find a way to fix this themselves. Others should not be made to feel guilty because your house was not insured.

Answer 6

If the driver didn't have insurance, don't you have homeowner's insurance? The damages should be covered by that.

Answer 7

most cities have service clubs Lions Rotary etc . look them up