Dealing with a Cracked Windshield

If you own a motor vehicle it is inevitable that at some point you will need to deal with a damaged or cracked windshield. Whether it’s from a thrown rock on the road, large hail, a random baseball, or you accidentally cracked the windshield yourself, windshields, while strong and durable are in the end made of glass and can be damaged.

There are different types of damages to windshields that you should be aware of, including:

• Chips: A chip is a small piece of glass missing from the windshield. The area missing is called a pit.
• Bulls-eye: Larger than a chip, a bulls-eye is an area of damage that is dark-colored, circular with an impact hole
• Cracks: there are a wide variety of cracks that can occur in your windshield such as
  • Edge Crack
  • Floater Crack
  • Stress Crack
  • Long Crack

Generally speaking, some damage to your windshield can be repaired without replacing the entire windshield if it is small and not near the edge. Chip type damage can be filled if it is roughly the size of a quarter or smaller, and there is only one or two chips. If a crack does not reach the edge of the windshield, it may be possible to repair it. However, this type of damage (cracks especially) can expand and continue to get larger. A small crack will only get longer! Because of this it is important to deal with your cracked or damaged windshield sooner rather than later. When damage becomes large enough the windshield can become unsafe with the potential of hurting you while you are driving, not to mention reducing visibility when driving.

Nearly all auto body repair facilities such as Marksman Auto Body in Brunswick, Ohio can assist you with repair or replacement of your damaged auto body windshield.

Does Car Insurance Cover a Cracked Windshield

Many insurance companies include auto glass repair or replacement in their coverage. You most likely will need to have comprehensive coverage for glass damage repair as part of your policy. Give your insurance agent or company a call and discuss what your policy covers. Again, it’s important to address damage to your auto windshield before the problem gets worst and becomes a visibility and safety issue.

What To Do When Your Windshield Cracks

Inspect the damage: usually damage occurs when you are driving. Find a safe and convenient place to pull over and inspect the damage and make a determination if it is minor or severe enough to have compromised the entire windshield. The placement of the windshield crack or chip is a key factor in whether you can continue to drive your car. If the crack is long enough and impairs your visibility, it would be best to not drive the vehicle and arrange to have the vehicle towed to an auto body repair facility.

At Marksman Auto Body in Brunswick, Ohio we will inspect the damage and work with your insurance company to determine the best course of action. If the damage is minor, there is a chance the windshield can be repaired. Major damage would require the entire windshield to be replaced.

Call us today at 330-225-5560 or fill out the estimate request form on our website to learn how we can help you with repairing your cracked windshield.