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South Hill Gallery victim of drunk driver

Mike Labbe

Mike Labbe

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Framer's Corner sends warm wishes to PPFA treasurer Mike Drury, MCPF and Letha Drury from South Hill Gallery in Lexington, KY.

Their shop was victim of a hit-and-run drunk driver overnight, which caused considerable damage to their building.

News Station Video:
http://www.lex18.com/news/police-searching-for-driver-who-crashed-car-into-building/

Fortunately, no one was in the building at the time. They are insured, and the car that caused the damage was left behind (with an injured dog inside). Police are searching for the driver.

Hopefully, the recovery/rebuilding process is quick. I imagine they have a busy day ahead to meet with insurance adjusters, construction companies, and to secure the contents.

Mike
 
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Wow, that's not how you wanted to start your week, was it? Thankfully, nobody was hurt. You will have to lose some days or maybe weeks of business, but maybe the press exposure will bring in new potential customers and promotional opportunities that could offset or exceed the losses.

Have you scheduled your "Grand Reopening" yet?
:thumb:
 
Mike,

I heard that your computer(s) and wide format printer were destroyed in the event.

If this was the case, and you need help setting everything (computer, network settings, printers, Lifesaver) back up again;at the temporary location, let me know. I can do most of this from remote, providing you have internet access.

Mike
 
Mike, I have a 40" Epson 9800. If I can print anything for you to keep you going, just let me know. I am only a couple of hours away and 1 day UPS Ground. We should be able to get the files by email or using Dropbox.
 
Mike and Letha,

So sorry to hear of your troubles, but glad to know that no one appears to be hurt.

To help you get back on your feet I'd like to offer you any chops at length price, with free Hoffmann dovetail wedge service for the next three months.

On a different note, I wonder how vehicle liability insurance handles business interruption? And if it doesn't, would yours (if you have the coverage)?
 
First and foremost, thank you all for the kind words, thoughts and prayers. If you have seen the photo of our bldg. you might know we were shocked to say the least when we arrived on the scene last night. A lot has happened in the last 16 hours and many thanks to the construction guys for securing and shoring up the front of the shop. We will hopefully have electric back on in the rear of the shop and clean up can begin. The whole front of the bldg. has to be replaced and that will take a while. Hope to be helping customers with framing by Friday and it will be a few weeks before our Photo Therapy business is ready to go. Again, thank you all, letha and I are blessed in so many ways. Mike
 
Mike and Letha we LOVE you guys and I noticed there was a nice long pause shot of the signage! Hate the way you are getting TV coverage and I hope you get the reporter to come back for the BIG grand re-opening! Maybe you should have a pet adoption group come then too! The puppy is BIG news!

If I can come up on a weekend and help with the cleaning crew please just tell me when!
 
I've been through something similar...the drunk son of the vehicle's owner crashed into my front yard a couple years back. He was passed out driving home from the bar and jumped over the median, went through some signage at the neighboring business, and managed to graze three palm trees as his car flipped into my front yard at the shop. He did manage to miss my building though. He lived, but an inch either way in his path and he would have had a very sudden stop.

What experience has told me is be prepared to fight. In my instance the insurance had a limit of liability of $10K, and the sign he hit took most of that. I had some landscape damage, and some irrigation damage, and was only able to collect about 80% of what I spent to make the repairs. I did not get compensated for any of the 8 hours of clean up my employee and I did (and you won't either unless you pay someone to do it). The only way I was ever going to break even would have been to sue the family for the rest of the money. It wasn't a lot, maybe a couple hundred dollars so well below my insurance's deductible, but it still was frustrating.

You are still going to be on the hook for your insurance's deductible after all is said and done, so you might as well contract out as much of the repairs and clean up as possible. Unless the driver's family had high limits of liability, your insurance is going to come into play.

One thing you might look into once the perp is caught. The establisment where they were drinking may be on the hook for some of the liability.
 
It happened to us a couple years ago, also, but nothing as severe as yours! We were only closed a few hours before the building inspector deemed the building structurally sound and allowed us to re-open. It was an elderly woman who was visiting the hair salon in the next unit, and she hit the wrong pedal. (and kept it at full throttle for about 30 seconds after, until my brother went outside and asked her to turn off the engine) No one was hurt, and she no longer drives.

In our case, it was suggested that we let the auto insurance pay for everything - instead of our own business insurance. They paid replacement value, and there was no deduct. (which there would have been if done through our insurance) They replaced some signage, rebuilt part of the front wall, glass, frames and gift items that were broken (reimbursed at our original cost, not retail value), a security camera, and the hardwood floor.

This is the sign we put up, which got a LOT of laughs:

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Upon reading his profile, this sherriff does have some good ideas, but overall I disagree with him.
I remember watching the program Sledge Hammer in the 80's with a police-officer named Sledge. That was hilarious.

Still, when the crook is caught he can be made to sweep Mike's pavement every morning and clean his windows for a month as punishment.
 
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