A WOMAN has been left in a dire situation after her car was severely damaged by fire in a freak accident.
Alena Slapak from Los Angeles, California, shared a video on TikTok explaining how she returned to her parked Mercedes to find it surrounded by firefighters and badly burnt.
Alena, who sells handmade bikinis and vintage clothing at a flea market, has been left in a dire situation after her car was badly damaged in a fire[/caption]
She returned to her Mercedes, which also had her work supplies stored inside, severely damaged[/caption]
In the clip, which has over 915,000 views on the social media site, Alena shows how the vehicle’s back end is badly burned – including the gas tank.
Alena said: “I was on my way to work today. I was on the way to the car, and then I saw the firefighters.
“I was like, ‘What’s going on? Why are the firefighters out?’”
She added that the firefighters approached her to confirm if the damaged vehicle belonged to her and they explained the extent of the damage.
She added: “I went to my car and this is what it looked like. It’s completely burned. I had all my work supplies inside.
“I’m out of work now. I don’t know how to fix this car.”
As a small business owner who sells handmade bikinis and vintage clothing at a flea market, Alena relies on the car.
And not only has she lost her vehicle, but also her work supplies which were stored inside.
Worse still, her insurance will not cover the damage, leaving her in a dire situation.
She added: “A mechanic told me it would cost more to fix than to get a new car.
“But this is my only car. It’s how I get to work. And without it, I can’t work or earn any income.”
She has since launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for either repairs or a replacement vehicle.
FIRE, FIRE
Firefighters often warn about the potential for cars to suddenly combust or even reignite after fires.
This is especially true for electric vehicles due to risks like “thermal runaway” in lithium-ion batteries, where heat-damaged cells may reignite hours or even days later.
State Farm Insurance, the largest provider of both auto and home insurance in the US, also claims that most vehicle fires are the result of faulty electrical wiring, fuel system issues, or unattended cigarettes.
In some cases, it can also be caused by a blown fuse, spilled oil or another fluid, a missing oil cap, or an overheating engine.
Arson, of course, is also a possible cause.
Either way, in the case of a vehicle fire, State Farm recommends owners reach out to your insurance provider as soon as the fire is out.
They also suggest consulting with firefighters to find out when it’s safe to remove personal items from the vehicle, before it’s towed to an auto shop for an inspection.
From here, depending on the car’s value and the extent of the damage, the insurance company will make a decision on whether to fix the vehicle or declare it a total loss.
In Alena’s case, she followed up on her original video to reveal a nearby homeless encampment burning – resulting in her car being scorched.
She also said her insurance would not be covering the repairs.
Car insurance tips
Here are some ways to lower monthly car insurance rates:
- Increase the deductible – this may increase the amount drivers must pay in an accident
- Ask insurance carriers for discounts
- Slow down on the road
- Keep off the cell phone behind the wheel
- Improve credit scores (in some states)
- Bundle insurance policies
Source: Liberty Mutual
