Most insurance companies offer quick and convenient processes for making glass claims. If your windshield breaks because someone hit a fly ball into it or if you get a crack in your window when you’re driving too fast on a dirt road, you can simply make a claim through your auto insurance plan.
If you don’t have Full Class Coverage through your plan (which covers the full cost of the windshield replacement, usually without a deductible), Comprehensive Coverage will generally cover it after your deductible is paid.
But why exactly do most windshield breakages? Let’s go over some top reasons why you might have a cracked, chipped, or smashed windshield to deal with in the first place.
Key Reasons Why Windshields Break
- Pressure/Temperature Changes
A crack that appears along your windshield because of a severe or sudden pressure or temperature change may also be known as a “stress crack.” Folks in the Waukesha area may be acutely aware of stress cracks as they are a common occurrence in places that get extremely cold during the winter. Similarly, even the extremely hot temperatures in summer can cause stress cracks.
- Debris on the Road
Driving behind a construction vehicle, too close to a semi-truck, or in another highly trafficked area can cause debris from the road to be split up into your windshield at high speeds.
- Hail
As a Waukesha area resident, you know that your region may experience severe weather, especially throughout the rainy and winter seasons. Sometimes, this weather involves hail. If you’re on the road when it begins to hail, be sure to pull off as soon as possible and go into a parking garage or beneath a shelter. If you have to stay on the road, drive at a slower pace.
- Gravel Roads
Whether you are headed out into the country or near Lake Michigan, you know that sometimes, driving on gravel roads is unavoidable. When this is the case, just be sure to drive at a slow pace, and stay far back from any vehicles in front of you.
- Falling Objects (Usually From Trees)
Lastly, believe it or not, falling objects such as branches and sticks or nuts can also cause a lot of windshield damage. This is why you should avoid parking under or too close to a tree during a storm.
Are New Windshields Expensive?
This depends. In certain situations, you may end up paying a bundle for a full windshield replacement. This can happen if you have a foreign car with a windshield that’s hard to locate or costs a lot to ship in. It can also happen with newer cars that have special technology within them. This may include features such as:
- Rain sensors
- Special antenna attachments
- “Smart Glass,” which limits sunlight to increase visibility
- Heated windshields to help defrost and defog
Regardless of the overall replacement cost, keep in mind that most insurance policies will not raise your premiums just for a glass claim. Most will, however, attempt to provide repairs for the damage first, before resorting to a full replacement. This is simply a matter of an expert filling the chip or broken area with resin.
How to Report Glass Damage to Your Insurance Company
If you need to file a class damage claim with your insurance company, you can generally file your claim online, or you can call your insurance agent directly. You’ll want to double-check your policy to make sure that the damages are covered in your specific plan.
G&L Insurance would be happy to help you make your glass damage claim or look into a new auto insurance policy if you’re on the hunt for one. Stop into our office today, or give us a call at your convenience.
