Mom should turn it in to her insurance; the company has experience and resources you don't, and will know if the claimant is out of line. If your company does pay out, your rates may go up, but trying to nahdle those "little" claims yourself can often lead to problems.
Hopefully the owner of the broken vehicle got a police report. I believe the photo may be able to be evidence enough. Has the other person reported it to your insurance company?
If yes, they will likely call you and want your take of the accident, they'll want the picture too. If the owner didn't get a police report, and didn't report to insurance and they are trying to get $700 out of your mother on goodwill, tell them the f*ck off, you'll pay the $30 for paint and nothing else. If they want more than that then you'll see them in court.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.