What To Do After Your Car’s Windshield Is Smashed In
Things like chips and small cracks are relatively common forms of windshield damage. In many cases, this minor damage can be fixed without replacing the windshield, and if it does not obstruct your view, you might be able to drive the car to an auto glass professional.
But what do you do when your windshield gets smashed in? Some of the answers to that question depend on what you are doing when the windshield is smashed. If you are driving and a piece of debris smashes the windshield, you need to pull over right away. If you come outside to find the broken windshield, you need to consider your next move carefully.
In this post, we are going to explain what you should do when your car windshield is smashed in.
Do Not Drive
As I mentioned before, you might be able to drive with minor windshield damage. However, if your windshield is smashed in, you should not try to drive the vehicle – even if you are going straight to the shop of an auto glass professional.
A broken windshield can be a danger to you, your passengers and other drivers on the road. First, you have the obstruction of your view, but you also have to think about the small pieces of glass that might be in your vehicle. Additionally, there is also a risk that pieces of the windshield could come free when you are driving. Beyond the risk, it is against the law to drive with a smashed windshield.
Contact Your Insurer
When you see that your windshield is smashed, you should try to assess the cause and the damage. Gather whatever information you can about the cause and the damage and call your insurance provider. Depending on the cause and the scope of your auto insurance policy, the cost of replacement might be covered. Along with that, your insurer can help to walk you through some of the steps you should take to protect your safety and to get started on having your windshield replaced or repaired.
Arrange for a Windshield Replacement
Once you have finished talking to your insurer, you can start working on a plan to get your windshield replaced. Remember, we are talking about a smashed windshield, not a small crack or chip. You can’t drive your car to the shop, so you may need to arrange to have your car towed to an auto glass professional.
If you do not want to have your car towed, you could consider looking for an auto glass professional that offers mobile repair service. They are likely to charge more than if you brought it to the shop, but it might be cheaper than paying for the windshield replacement and the tow combined.
A smashed windshield is not a minor problem and it is something that needs to be fixed right away. Don’t risk driving with a smashed windshield and contact an auto glass professional as soon as possible.
