[SDP]

In a freak coincidence yesterday, three cars burnt down yesterday on Western Express Highway in Mumbai.
As per a local newspaper, first one was a Logan at Jogeshwari. Second was a Omni at BKC. Third one was a BMW at Malad.

[ad3952n]

Originally Posted by rohanjf

1. If the full force of impact is taken only by the A-pillars, airbags can do little to save a life
2. Re-engineering the car for crash worthiness of Indian conditions does not make economic sense for car manufacturers.
3. More the number of sensors, more possibility of unnecessary deployment of airbags, which increases the cost of maintenance for the car owners. It could also lead to unwanted bodily harm due to wrong deployment
4. Finally, no matter how safe a car is made, all it takes is one idiot driver to invent a new method of causing a crash and killing another (innocent) driver

Dear Rohan, I do agree to your certain ideas with regards to the images of a driver. On your other views i shall like elucidate that it should be made imperative for automotive brands to provide a more pro-active deployment point for the sensors so that irrespective of crash parameters the passanger and drivers are safe.

It is to be put-forward basically among indian brands to make the cars keeping in mind the indian driver's sensibilities and the traffic scenario and they surely can provide a robust alternate to make vehicles safer.

I agree that increasing the number of sensors is not the remedy so it is also to be thought in the prespective of the driver's ideologies which are very much contrary to the rules of logic in india. But to minimize the expense on maintenance the safety should not be by-passed or curtailed.

On your final point, I agree, They never understand the concept of sane and safe driving as they majorily depend on structural rigidity of the car.

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[SPEEDY_RACER]

This happened at my apartment(last sunday due to rains) a compound wall has collapsed in the parking lot.

Damage: 8 cars(6 total loss, 2 damaged)

1. Ford Fiesta(2010)
2. Maruthi Ritz(2012)
3. Santro Xing(2005 or later)
4. Maruthi Ritz(2012)
5. Wagon R(2010 or later)
6. Polo(2013, 3 months old)

[mannubhai]

Major accident reported near Perinthalmanna, Kerala.

13 people dead after a mini bus toppled. More than 25 injured.

Accident seems to have happened as the bus was overtaking in a curve and lost control.

http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bi...RIAL&BV_ID=@@@

[tharian]

Another bad accident in Kerala. A town to town bus hit a tree,lost control and rolled down the hill side this afternoon in Mallapuram district .
13 dead till now including driver and many in serious state.
Regards

[ankan.m.blr]

Originally Posted by SPEEDY_RACER

This happened at my apartment(last sunday due to rains) a compound wall has collapsed in the parking lot.

Damage: 8 cars(6 total loss, 2 damaged)

1. Ford Fiesta(2010)
2. Maruthi Ritz(2012)
3. Santro Xing(2005 or later)
4. Maruthi Ritz(2012)
5. Wagon R(2010 or later)
6. Polo(2013, 3 months old)

Oh my god! this is really bad. Which area in Blr did this happen? Can insurance be claimed in such cases? Its very difficult to pinpoint who to blame? whether the rains OR the quality of materials used while building the wall ?

[saket77]

Originally Posted by SPEEDY_RACER

This happened at my apartment(last sunday due to rains) a compound wall has collapsed in the parking lot.

Damage: 8 cars(6 total loss, 2 damaged)

1. Ford Fiesta(2010)
2. Maruthi Ritz(2012)
3. Santro Xing(2005 or later)
4. Maruthi Ritz(2012)
5. Wagon R(2010 or later)
6. Polo(2013, 3 months old)

SHOCKING! My goodness. All cars look like total loss to me. There is no car in the picture which can be repaired and run without stability issues. Poor owners of the cars. Difficult to think that it was just any wall. Must be the entire structure or building that came down on those poor cars. Really sad for the cars & owners. I think the owners will be paid through the insurance.

[ninjatalli]

Originally Posted by ankan.m.blr

Can insurance be claimed in such cases? Its very difficult to pinpoint who to blame?

Originally Posted by saket77

I think the owners will be paid through the insurance.

Depends on how the insurance companies view it. IMO they might consider it under the force majeure clause and wash their hands off it. Technically this was due to natural causes which was out of their (anybody's) control.

[ad3952n]

Originally Posted by ankan.m.blr

Can insurance be claimed in such cases? Its very difficult to pinpoint who to blame? whether the rains OR the quality of materials used while building the wall ?

I believe natural disasters are not covered in insurance. If you remember the famous take on this insurance for natural calamity (destruction by god's will) in a bollywood movie. Its very difficult to claim here and as far as the construction of goes, the builder will refuse on it because he too can sight the same issue. But its a nightmare for the owners as their hard-earned money is turned into a pile of junk.

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[msdivy]

Originally Posted by ankan.m.blr

Which area in Blr did this happen?

Most likely this - Apartment compound wall crashes; crushes cars

Originally Posted by ninjatalli

Technically this was due to natural causes which was out of their (anybody's) control.

Not really. Wall created by man crashed. It was not in a natural calamity, but normal rain. Probably due to poor building plan/construction.

[saket77]

That is a bigger shock. So even if the owner has taken a comprehensive insurance and paid all his premiums, still he will not get a penny for this damage? By the way, is it a natural calamity? I think not. It is just a wall that collapsed. Natural calamities would be more like earthquakes, Tsunami, etc. What if the wall had not collapsed due to rain?

I think GTOs older VTec was also destroyed in the same way and the insurer paid up as total loss. Probably the unfortunate even happened after he had sold his Honda City to a forum member.

Regards,
Saket

[sinharishi]

If I am NOT wrong HDFC and ICICI do offer insurance which covers natural clamaties.

Those pics are indeed shocking!

Looks like more than a compound wall to me.

Poor cars.

[ad3952n]

Originally Posted by saket77

That is a bigger shock. So even if the owner has taken a comprehensive insurance and paid all his premiums, still he will not get a penny for this damage? By the way, is it a natural calamity? I think not. It is just a wall that collapsed. Natural calamities would be more like earthquakes, Tsunami, etc. What if the wall had not collapsed due to rain?

Dear saket, Indeed its a real shock and harsh irony. See, occurance of rain is a natural phenomena and no insurance provider covers the commodities for it as its unpredictable. In case the wall had collapsed due to other reasons then the concerned construction company would have been liable for damages. But i dont think, the builders go for insuring the boundary wall etc either.

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[ankan.m.blr]

By the look of it , only this one can be salvaged

[mannubhai]

That is no natural calamity. Thats absolute shabby construction. That apartment had enough controversies right from the occupancy certificate to possession. Now this.

There is enough and more for the insurance company to wash off their hands in this case.

Feel bad for the car owners.