No one wants to wake up in the morning, ready for work, only to discover that their car windshield has been broken. Perhaps you know how it happened, or maybe it was just a stress crack that happened on its own overnight (a real possibility with the unpredictable weather in Delafield).
Regardless, you need to get it fixed as soon as possible.
The following article will explain the steps you should take to remedy this issue.
1. Assess the Damage
The first thing you’ll need to do is assess exactly what happened. If you know someone else was at fault, this is important. You’ll want to get their insurance information as soon as possible. Their property damage liability insurance may cover the repairs.
If you’re not sure how it happened or you think it was because of something that fell from a tree or a sudden pressure or temperature change in the weather, this is something you need to take up with your own insurance company.
Take the time to check out exactly how big the damage is. Is it a crack that runs the length of the windshield? Is it a small impact crack that is radiating out like a spider web? Or, is it a small chip or a series of small chips? Usually, anything larger than a dollar bill means your entire windshield will need to be replaced.
2. Contact Your Insurance Company
Talk to your insurance agent about what type of glass coverage you have in your insurance policy. If you have either Full Glass Coverage or simple Comprehensive Coverage, you should be covered.
If you are indeed covered with insurance, ask your agent about filing a glass damage claim. The process should be fairly easy and straightforward.
It’s important to remember that with Comprehensive Coverage, you’ll need to consider the associated deductible. However, with Full Glass Coverage, there’s usually no deductible or a very small one.
3. Figure Out If a Repair or Replacement is Necessary
Again, generally speaking, if the damage is larger than a dollar bill, you have to get your windshield replaced entirely. If it’s smaller than a dollar bill, a glass repair technician can usually come to your home and inject a small amount of resin into the affected area to repair it. These repairs look great when finished. You can usually hardly notice there was ever damage in the first place.
If you need to get your windshield replaced, you or your insurance company may be looking at a hefty bill if you have a newer car or a foreign car. Most of all, it matters if your original windshield had a lot of technology built into it.
Nowadays, it’s common for cars to have extra-large or uniquely-shaped windshields. Additionally, they may have technology in them that reduces sunlight exposure inside or turns on the windshield wipers automatically when there’s rain. These features can be expensive.
4. Don’t Let it Happen Again!
Having to have your windshield replaced or repaired is a big annoyance. Sometimes you can’t even drive your car until it’s fixed.
Fortunately, it’s unlikely your insurance premiums will go up as a result of glass damage.
On the other hand, wouldn’t you want to avoid this happening again? Here are some tips for avoiding windshield breakages and glass damage on your vehicle in general:
- Don’t drive on back roads
- Cover your vehicle in a garage or elsewhere during bad weather
- Don’t park beneath trees
- Avoid trailing large trucks and construction vehicles on roadways
- Avoid the shoulder
The courteous and skilled agents at Billy Brown Insurance are always here to help you navigate your auto insurance. Stop by our office today if you have questions regarding your plan or are looking for a new policy.
