theCATALYST

Have there been any documented fatalities in accidents involving RX8's?
If there have been, accept my appologies, Im not trying to step on toes here, just curious.

MTCD01

http://www.car-accidents.com/pages/a.../11-30-04.html - That's funny. Looks like a base Auto.

I have heard of 1 but the driver of the 8 was fine. Accident occured in Philly IIRC when the 8 became airborne and hit a Volvo killing the driver and leaving the passenger in crit. cond.

Paul_in_DC

The only thing I found was that the RX-8 had the best (non) rollover characteristics of any vehicle tested: :D

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - The Mazda RX-8 was the only car to get the top rating in a new government test for the risk of a rollover accident, but six of 16 light trucks tested tipped up on two wheels.

http://money.cnn.com/2004/06/07/pf/autos/rollovers/

rx8wannahave

I don't know either but I know the RX8 is one of the safest cars out there. It's crash rateing, roll over, etc is very good.

But, in any car depending on the accident...anyone can die. Well, as you all know...

theCATALYST

Thanks for the info everyone....the 8 is still looking good in every department, far as Im concerned.

fredw1

I was rear-ended a week ago by Tacoma at about 10 mph. Traffic had stopped, I had stopped, but the Tacoma did not. There was very little visible damage, but enough of an impact to keep my wife in physical therapy for her neck for several weeks. The seam where the bumper meets the rear grille had cracked and the were were imprints from the raised letters on his license-plate holder in the plastic. I took my 8 to the body shop and the preliminary estimate is $700. They are not sure if there is hidden damage (and won't be until they remove the bumper), but they don't think its likely based upon how the seams with the fenders are fine, with no differences between right and left. I suspect that if this had happened to any other car, the damage would have been far worse.

theCATALYST

I am glad you are both ok. Is your wife doing better?

fredw1

It just happened a week ago, but she's not doing real well so far. Thanks for asking.

murix

You can roll an 8. Trust me.

theCATALYST

Keep us posted on her condtion, and that of the car.

Aratinga

I was rear-ended much harder than you were.
http://homepage.mac.com/jeribrav/Mis...toAlbum32.html
I ended up with two ruptured cervical disks. GET AN ATTORNEY. You won't have to pay legal fees unless and until you collect damages.

Gomez

It also has the best braking performance of any production car ever to come out of Japan.

MikeKats

ouch aratinga, thats sucks big time. hope u feel better.

capitolgator

Aratinga- hate to break the news to ya- but you probably had those bulging discs before the accident- most of us do- the accident may have exacerbated the situation a bit is all... but go try to get your share- it is the American way!

after your lawyer takes his cut and the doctors take theirs, you may be whistling a different tune... oh and by the way, when your car insurance rates go up, you shouldn't spend too much time wondering why; sigh.

scottmhr1

Lol, Beat me to it Capitol, every time a accident happens clowns want a lawyer involved. Only use a lawyer if the insurance company offers a poor settlement, lawyers prey on the ignorant to get their cut of anything. Capitol is right that about 75% of us have bulging disk and similar natural problems. No reason for a lawyer unless you get a low offer or think you have a chance to get rich for nothing. Best thing America could do is go back to the days of no lawyer TV ads. It is a joke.

Aratinga

Gentlemen, before you get on my case, read the story here, and the aftermath here.

You'd get an attorney too if you were getting screwed by a city. Stop assuming we're all out to screw insurance companies! In my case, there IS no insurance company for the at-fault party (the city of Pasadena) -- they're "self-insured", which under the law basically says they can tell me to go away and leave them alone despite the legitimacy of my claim.

If anything, letting the city get away with this is what's causing rates to skyrocket... my OWN insurance company has had to pay for all my car's repairs and my medical treatment because Pasadena, who is totally at fault, is just shrugging and saying "So what?"

And as for my already having the ruptured discs... I never had neck problems or nerve impingement issues before the accident. Do you think you could take a totally unexpected hit from a pickup at 40MPH (the driver's own admitted speed according to the police report) and NOT have a neck injury? Sheesh.

theCATALYST

Damn Aratinga, that looks awful. I feel bad for you. Is it just Pasadena vehicles that are uninsured, or do most cities practice this? Sounds pretty screwed up to me. I hope your pockets get fat if they are thinking they owe you nothing. FAT!
And ahem....I could use an MS spoiler when they pay up. J/K
How is your back, I didn't see when it happened.

Aratinga

Apparently (at least in California) most cities, counties, and other government entities are "self-insured"... meaning that they are financially able on their own to pay for damages they are responsible for, without having to carry liability insurance. However, because cities are often targets for frivolous lawsuits from people wanting to "get rich quick", they have become extremely stingy and difficult to work with even when you do have a perfectly legitimate claim.

Also, California has laws on the books to force insurance companies to deal with claimants "in good faith"... meaning that they're not supposed to jack you around and are supposed to pay legitimate claims promptly. Self-insured entities are exempt from these laws, so their tactic seems to be to ignore, delay, and deny for as long as possible. This puts hardship on the claimant who is paying all expenses out of pocket, and thus makes the claimant more willing to accept any offer the city finally might make.

I doubt I'll make any $$ at all on the claim when all is said and done. Although my own insurance company paid for my car repair and medical treatment, my policy states that I must repay them for all medical expenses if I eventually collect on my claim against the city. By the way, my insurance company (USAA) would NOT file that claim on my behalf; I had to handle that myself. USAA has declared the city of Pasadena to be "an uninsured motorist" (how absurd is THAT?) and is now pursuing subrogation with an attorney of their own. So unless I got my own attorney, I was going to be completely left out in the cold.

theCATALYST

Sounds like you got dealt a bad hand. Good luck with it, I hope it works out for you, and leaves a little change leftover after all is paid. Should be a new law against destorying RX8's that way......compensation baby, compensation.

Ike

One of the first accidents that was posted on the forum involved a fatality or maybe two, it was a news story in Philly if I recall correctly. It doesn't matter how safe a car is, if you do stupid things, or get involved in a bad enough accident people can die. All early reports seem to indicate the RX-8 is a pretty safe car though.

fredw1

Not that I haven't done a few stupid things myself, I'm more concerned with other people's stupidity (driving while shaving, reading, talking on the phone, eating, drinking [alcohol and soft drinks both], looking for street signs, swerving left to turn right, making right turns from the left lane, running red lights).

I agree with Ike. Even a Hummer or a Titan cannot protect against these things if the driver is in an eighteen wheeler.

theCATALYST

Yup, I agree with you both Ike and Fred. I have owned my 8 a year now, and was just wondering about RX8 fatalities in general. I have noticed the curse of the sunlight silver and other minor accidents, just didnt know if anyone lost their lives in the 8 yet. If it hasnt already happened, I am sure it will, because like you said, doesnt matter if it is a hummer or something else, stupidity causes accidents, no I take that back, human error and misjudgement. (to remain politically correct )