Early in the morning (7/22), a large tree branch crashed down onto my 2016 Toyota Corolla while it was parked outside my apartment. The sound woke me up at 5:30 AM, and I rushed to the window, hoping it wasn’t my car. Unfortunately, it was. The branch also hit two of my neighbors’ cars, but luckily their insurance should cover repairs. For me, unfortunately not.

This car is my only way to get to work every day. I have a 30-minute commute each way, and rideshares are just not affordable for that distance. The car isn’t paid off yet, so losing it would be a huge setback. I also take my boyfriend to and from work frequently as he is currently carless as well. When I bought the car a year ago, I only had basic insurance and was planning to upgrade to full coverage soon. I’m only 20 and still learning about insurance, so I wanted to make the right choice. Unfortunately, without comprehensive and collision coverage, my insurance won’t help with these repairs.

The damage is extensive: both windshields are shattered, there’s a large dent in the roof, and now the car won’t start. I’m not sure why it won’t start, but I’ll know more once a mechanic can take a look. The tree company took a day to remove the branch, and seeing the full extent of the damage was overwhelming. I’m reaching out for help because this car is vital to my daily life and my ability to work. Any support will go directly toward repairs and getting me back on the road. Anything helps, including sharing my link! Thank you so much.