He is liable. Get some estimates and get it fixed. Then try to reclaim the money is small claims court.
If you consult your own insurer (they are not liable) but they could advise you how to make a claim with his insurer. He may want to keep it off the books, which is okay.
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.