Parked BMW on highway catches fire; consumer court orders insurer to pay Rs 70 lakh
The Maharashtra state consumer commission ordered United India Insurance Company to pay Rs 70 lakh (plus interest and damages) to a BMW owner whose car caught fire after being parked on a highway due to a late-night puncture. The insurer had rejected the claim, citing a breach of policy conditions for leaving the car unattended, but the commission sided with the owner.
Why it matters
This ruling sets a precedent for insurance claims involving unattended vehicles and unforeseen incidents, potentially influencing how insurance companies handle similar cases and how consumers understand their policy obligations.
NEW DELHI: The Maharashtra state consumer commission has directed United India Insurance Company to pay Rs 70 lakh to a BMW owner whose car was destroyed by fire after it was parked on the roadside following a late-night tyre puncture. The commission also awarded 7 percent annual interest from the date the claim was rejected, Rs 50,000 for mental agony and harassment, and Rs 25,000 towards litigation costs. The order was passed on September 16, 2026.Why did the BMW owner approach the commission?According to the commission order, Ravikant S Patil had insured his BMW car with United India Insurance Company under a policy valid from December 22, 2011 to December 21, 2012. The car had an Insured Declared Value (IDV) of Rs 70 lakh and Patil had paid a premium of Rs 1,65,996.On the night of March 8, 2012, the BMW suffered a tyre puncture on a highway.
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