Blameless mom devastated after car with just 1 payment destroyed – weird law means insurance will only cover ‘fraction’

A MOTHER was left with a thousand-dollar bill after a devastating natural disaster destroyed the garage, generational trinkets, and her nearly paid-off SUV.

Her Illinois family hopes to put some financial pieces back together after the unlikely scenario left the 2018 Honda CR-V uncovered by the auto insurance .

Fox 32

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Fox 32

Christine Austin was sleeping during a torrential downpour when she received a call from her neighbors, according to Illinois-based Fox affiliate WPWR-TV .

Austin, a single mother of two adult children and a waitress at a local restaurant , was a single car payment from clearing the loan on her SUV .

But the neighbor said the detached garage was struck by lightning.

Within moments, everything went up in flames.

The separate garage held troves of family trinkets, including passed-down home decorations for fall and Christmas , gardening supplies, and the vehicle.

Most of the objects inside the garage were declared a total loss after the flames dissipated.

“We got the quote from the car insurance. It’ll cover a fraction, but not the whole cost of the car,” Austin’s daughter, Maria Austin, told the station.

“And we’re still waiting to hear back about the infrastructure.”

Christine likely paid thousands of dollars for the SUV.

Honda sold the 2018 mid-size vehicle at prices ranging from mid-$20,000 to high-$30,000.

However, the vehicle likely depreciated since the car was taken off the lot.

That model year’s CR-V is typically worth around $18,000 in good condition, according to Kelley Blue Book .

Christine is also running against a state-wide insurance policy.

In the state, storm damage is not automatically covered by car insurance, according to the state’s Independent Insurance Agency .

Homes are automatically covered from storm damage across the state.

Car insurance tips

Here are some ways to lower monthly car insurance rates:

• Increase the deductible – this may increase the amount drivers must pay in an accident
• Ask insurance carriers for discounts
• Slow down on the road
• Keep off the cell phone behind the wheel
• Improve credit scores ( in some states )
• Bundle insurance policies

Source: Liberty Mutual

However, drivers must add a separate policy to insure their cars from similar damage, according to Illinois law.

Austin’s daughter said her mother is working through financial trouble.

“She is just incredible, and she continues to work hard,” she said.

The family also set up a GoFundMe to help with the thousand-dollar expenses after the fire.

More than 50 people have donated. The family hopes to make up $10,000 worth of expenses after the fire.