Insurance claims a mess after 11 cars burned in Carowinds parking lot fire

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Crews are still trying to figure out what caused a fire in the Carowinds parking lot last week.

One of the owners of the 11 destroyed cars told Channel 9 it’s an insurance nightmare.

Fire sparked from one car and quickly spread to 10 others on Friday.

“Well, we need to figure out who was at fault,” said Sherian Leonard, whose car was torched in the flames. “I'm going, I wasn’t even in my vehicle, so obviously it wasn’t me.”

PAST COVERAGE

• Rock Hill woman describes moments after finding car destroyed in massive Carowinds fire
• Fire spreads to several cars in Carowinds parking lot
• Cause undetermined after fire destroys several cars outside Carowinds

Investigators said they've figured out which car caused the blaze, but they don't know why.

It’s a critical question for drivers, including Leonard, trying to file an insurance claim and getting stuck with the bill.

“I have not heard from them yet and that was Friday evening that I did it, so I figured Monday would be the 24 hours,” Leonard said.

A local insurance agent, who has dealt with thousands of claims, said even he hasn't seen one quite like this.

Based on his experience with previous claims, he said when there is fault, the fire at Carowinds would probably fall under property damage.

The agent said he’s seen drivers carry about $100,000 max, but with most drivers at $50,000, even when there’s one driver deemed at fault, that money would still have to be split up between 11 cars.

“But even then, it could take a year and a half,” the agent said.

Leonard isn't most drivers. She had partial coverage.

“Yet, here I am with no vehicle and I just don’t know what to do.”

Cox Media Group