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My sister had a 2007 Mini Cooper that was involved in a low speed accident yesterday. Nobody was hurt, the airbags didn't even deploy. She was exiting the highway and hit a slick spot on the road and her brakes locked up and she rear ended the car in front of her. It was a minor accident that seemed to only damage the front bumper and hood.
While she was exchanging insurance information with the other driver she smelled something burning and turned around to see smoke coming out from under her hood. Moments later flames began to appear and the car was consumed in flames. Because no emergency services were on the scene at the time the car was quickly engulfed in flames. Needless to say the car was a total loss.
I went and took pictures of what remained of the car at the local tow yard and was shocked and so was the tow driver that such a low impact accident would cause the car to simply burst into flames. This was a well cared for vehicle that was only serviced at the BMW dealership it was purchased from so there were never any aftermarket mods made or anything other than the bone stock equipment that came with the car when purchased 7 years ago.
Unfortunately since the car was paid off last year she no longer carried full coverage insurance and only had liability so she is literally S.O.L.
I do wonder, however, if there is anyone she can contact regarding this highly unusual situation. I don't think it's normal at all for a fairly new vehicle to simply burst into flames when involved in such a minor accident. Like I mentioned earlier she wasn't going that fast so the airbags didn't even deploy which is a blessing because she's 7 months pregnant and this entire accident could have ended much, much worse than it did. Thankfully no one was hurt.
So who can she contact about this? Is there any way she can pursue a legal matter towards the manufacturer or is she really just out of luck?
We have a mini cooper as well. Have never heard about anything like this happening. You might want to try the forum on MINI COOPER :: North American Motoring as that is the best forum for minis...
I guess a minor fuel leak or an oil leak caused by the impact could cause the fire. I would be pissed too, but not sure if you would be able to hold Mini liable since there is accident triggering all this.
I think most of those burned anyway. I have seen a lot of videos online of these cars going up in flames... one was even brand new and caught fire during a test drive. Apparently they are prone to fires for any little thing that happens with them. I wouldn't own one.
My sister had a 2007 Mini Cooper that was involved in a low speed accident yesterday. Nobody was hurt, the airbags didn't even deploy. She was exiting the highway and hit a slick spot on the road and her brakes locked up and she rear ended the car in front of her. It was a minor accident that seemed to only damage the front bumper and hood.
While she was exchanging insurance information with the other driver she smelled something burning and turned around to see smoke coming out from under her hood. Moments later flames began to appear and the car was consumed in flames. Because no emergency services were on the scene at the time the car was quickly engulfed in flames. Needless to say the car was a total loss.
I went and took pictures of what remained of the car at the local tow yard and was shocked and so was the tow driver that such a low impact accident would cause the car to simply burst into flames. This was a well cared for vehicle that was only serviced at the BMW dealership it was purchased from so there were never any aftermarket mods made or anything other than the bone stock equipment that came with the car when purchased 7 years ago.
Unfortunately since the car was paid off last year she no longer carried full coverage insurance and only had liability so she is literally S.O.L.
I do wonder, however, if there is anyone she can contact regarding this highly unusual situation. I don't think it's normal at all for a fairly new vehicle to simply burst into flames when involved in such a minor accident. Like I mentioned earlier she wasn't going that fast so the airbags didn't even deploy which is a blessing because she's 7 months pregnant and this entire accident could have ended much, much worse than it did. Thankfully no one was hurt.
So who can she contact about this? Is there any way she can pursue a legal matter towards the manufacturer or is she really just out of luck?
If the car is no longer under warranty there is nothing that she can do. Even a newly paid off vehicle should remain on full coverage, her premiums should have dropped a bit after paying it off, do not get cheap...otherwise your investment can literally go up in flames, and for what? To save a few bucks each month? Not worth the 30k she just paid off.
Unfortunately since the car was paid off last year she no longer carried full coverage insurance and only had liability so she is literally S.O.L.
Why would anyone not carry full coverage insurance on that new of a car??!! It makes no sense whatsoever.... Just to save what, a hundred bucks? That's just bad decision making....
Anyone who would finance a car for 6 years isn't going to be known for making good decisions.
If the car brings them joy and happiness I see nothing wrong with financing it for 6 years. You could easily pay it off faster of course.
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