First and foremost, don't drink and drive...

Monday night I was hit from behind by a drunk driver. The ******** was in a Benz, and all I heard was acceleration as my car slid against oncoming traffic into a ditch. My three year old and nine month old were in the car with me. The guy they arrested was also arrested back in Dec for DUI. Witnesses say he was speeding and weaving around cars.

We are all safe. It's certainly the worst feeling to look back to check on your kids when an event like this occurs. Luckily we didn't hit another car head on. In picture 2, that is the entrance to my neighborhood, so I was less than 100 feet from being home.

 

Horrible, glad you guys ended up okay. I have a huge disdain for drunk drivers it is something we, as an 'advanced' society shouldn't tolerate. It seems most bad accidents on the news are caused by drunk drivers who have multiple arrests or accidents.

No airbag deployment?

 

I'm happy to hear you and your children will be OK!!
My condolences for your car!! :(

I hope the SOB finally gets locked up for a long time!!!!!

 

First and foremost I'm glad the babies and you are fine. Hope your up and motoring soon keep us posted. I can't imagine the anxiety of looking into that back seat.

 

So grateful that you nor your loved ones were injured. This driver needs to be taken off the road before the third DUI results in death and sorrow to others. Also condolences about your brand new MINI. Thank it for protecting you and I hope that either it is fixed and you are also compensated for the diminished value it takes on from having been in an accident like this or that it is totaled and you can get another one even more to your liking.

 

No airbags deployed. Must not have hit the sensors that trigger them?

Still waiting to hear back whether or not it totaled. I hope it is, so I not have the diminished value of a wrecked car on my Carfax. If I do build another one, I have the benefit from lessons learned on options!

 

Very glad to see you and your kids are ok. I couldn't imagin looking back and checking on my son if that happens to me. I would be sick.

On a side note...make sure you get your mirror caps to put on the next one.

 

Thanks for sharing, and reminding us that drunks are just as likely to be out during the daytime as at night, that they don't always drive heaps, and that no matter how much you look out for them, they can still get you from behind.

Amazed your hands weren't shaking as you took those wrenching photos.

 

I am extremely glad that you and your little ones are okay. Don't know what I'd do if that happened to me with my kids in the back.
Then again I deal with those DUI boneheads all the time in my line of work and they never think they've done anything wrong. Especially when they're on their multiple DUI's.

Good luck to you and your family. And from one Sooner to another: "Boomer Sooner"!

 

First, I am glad you and yours are well.

Your car looks fairly close to what mine looked like on June 21st. We t-bone a lady who was trying to cross stopped lanes of traffic only our lane was moving. Our air bags were deployed, all of them. We too had one of our front wheels crumpled and broke. I never did find out if it damaged the All4 system or not. Our car was totaled and we had no rear end damage as you do.

I have spent the time since June recuperating from 11 broken bones and perusing the configurator on what I would like our new Mini to look like.
I must confess that I have also looked at the Audi A3 and Volvo C30. The both have a bit in common with the Countryman, mostly size. We no longer want a big vehicle even living in SUV/pickup country.
Bruce

 

Sorry to hear, glad you and the children are safe. Sad about the Mini. Good luck.

 

Ouch, glad to hear you all are ok

 

Glad all of you are well.

Doesn't look like any impact would have caused airbags deployment. Looks like initial impact to passenger side rear corner, caused you to lose control, you hit that pole with your driver side front corner. No direct front or side impacts or sudden deceleration.

Also does not look like a total loss to me. Estimate probably about 12,000 bucks and the value if the car is still well above $20,000.

If they do repair it, be sure to talk to the insurance company about filing a diminished value claim.

BTW... if you have a lien... always wise to carry gap insurance on a new car.

 

Glad all of you are ok.
Your CMS was just a baby. How many miles did it have?

 

That looks awful, but at least no one was injured. I don't know if you're going to sue the guy, but when he shows up in traffic court, make sure you're there with pics of your kids and the accident. That @$$40!# needs to lose his license.

 

I predict that it will be totalled.

 

Every state has a different ratio of damaged value that has to be satisfied for it to be totalled. For example, in NV I think it's 65 or 75% of the value and they don't count airbags or paint in the calculation. I think that he or she will likely be under OK's ratio given that a 2012 AWD is worth so much - unless it is damage that can't be fixed properly at any price, like some sort of frame or suspension issue that would render it unfit to operate. I really hope he can collect diminished value from someone if they fix it.

 

When the "go parts" (FWD) get tweaked, things start getting expensive quickly. My R56 took a smack on the left front (intersection accident, not my fault). First estimate was a $2000 repair. Three months and $14,000(!) later, the car was repaired.
Allstate (my insurer) said they would have "totaled" it had they known the repairs were going to go that high.
Justin - make certain whomever writes the estimate actually takes the front end damage APART first.
Like I said, those busted "go parts" are pricey.
Having said all that, when my MINI Cooper S was finally fixed, it was as good as new. I put another 9000 miles on it in a year before swapping it for the Countryman S.

 

Thanks for the note Leader.

The car only had 6400 miles on it, so I would rather them total it than have the "car's been wrecked" stigma on a Carfax.

 

Justin, As I posted on FB, glad everyone came out OK, especially with little ones in the car.

Now about your car. The airbags did not deploy so it may be repairable. You have front and rear damage which will add to the bill, but I could not really see the rear damage well enough to judge. If airbags had deployed it probably would be totalled, but it could be repairable.

If it comes back as repairable, please take it to a European specialist even if you have to pay for the second tow out of pocket. The insurance company will try to take it to one of their network shops. That is OK if they specialize in BMW /MINI or other European cars, but I would not take this extensive sort of damage to a generalist. Some carriers are more aggressive about the network shop programs than others. At the end of the day, you have the right to pick the repair facility of your choice.

I have 19 years of experience in auto property and casualty field. PM me if you have questions.

 

Glad you were all alright. and yeah you really don't want that car back in you driveway. i had a truck that was parked in the street while i was a sleep, and a drunk ran into it at 40+ mph at 4:00am, had it towed to a body shop where a buddy of mine works. I had him make sure the insurance guy totaled it... damage was like 500 bucks shy of being totaled but my buddy persuaded the insurance guy for me

 

What a shock that must have been! I can't imagine how you must have felt, though the most important parts - your kids and yourself are all safe and sound, thank goodness!

 

Like everyone, I'm so relieved everyone was alright! You must still be shaking after looking at these pics! But secondly, thanks for posting because so many members offered up information that was really educational - about repairing the MINI and about insurance claims. This advice could be really helpful if others found themselves in a similar plight and also showed how well the MINI held up in a crash. I hope that guy who hit you has his license revoked permanently...

Good luck and hopefully you'll keep us updated.

 

[QUOTE=detours;3563011 That @$$40!# needs to lose his license.[/QUOTE]

Won't matter, when did the lack of a paper license ever stop a drunk from getting in his car and heading to the bar?

The only thing that keeps them off the road is to lock them up, but they don't seem to do that till they kill someone, and even then it's not for very long.

I'm glad you and the kids are OK, you can always get another car.

 

Damn drunk drivers!!!! Glad you and family are OK, I hope they total the car for you as well.