My money's on there being essentially no chance of an FLA (Flooded Lead Acid) battery bursting into flames upon impact of any amount.
The shining star of battery fires is a hydrogen explosion. Remember the Hindenburg?
A spark at the right time in the right place can ignite lingering hydrogen and blow the top off a battery-voiding its warranty.
In the case of a smash there wouldn't be much, if any, hydrogen lingering about, in the first place. If sparked, it would go up in a small, uncontained little poof. We ignited small amounts of hydrogen in science class as I'm sure you did. That sample had to be collected in a test tube.
The polypropylene case, if smashed would allow the acid to drain out. Sulfuric acid isn't flammable. Buckled steel wouldn't contain any hydrogen produced were the engine and alternator to continue to run.
SOURCES: Fire Departments, Insurance Companies, Automotive Engineers, Chemists, Battery Manufacturers
SOURCES I CONTACTED: None of the above.
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