Broken Windshield - What Should I Do?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 6, 2002 | 01:55 PM
  #1  
optimus prime's Avatar
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 170
Likes: 4
From: San Ramon, CA.
Broken Windshield - What Should I Do?

Picture this:

Wednesday, 8:24 AM; 680 South outside of Pleasanton. Left lane.

Piece of cr@p IS300 starts to veer into the shoulder, kicks up a rock. I am right behind him. I notice that this may happen again, so I look to my right to change lanes. Can't, car right there. Start to slow down. Before I can change lanes, piece of cr@p goes back into the shoulder. Kicks up a big one. Hits the windshield. Creates 2 breaks, one like a starburst, one like a chip. Both the size of a dime and .5 inches away from each other. The cracks from the starburst have now penetrated the other break creating a connected break.

Floor the car, start yelling at him to pull over and that he had broken my windshield. Guess what he was on. A cellphone.

He avoided me and got away (got traped by traffic). I have his license plate. Now what?

Should I get a new windshield or get that repair that the insurance company loves. Placement of the crack is in the middle of the windshield but not in driver's or passenger's view. Is there anything I can do about him. I think there isn't but I'm not sure.
Reply
Old Dec 6, 2002 | 02:20 PM
  #2  
dean078's Avatar
Instructor
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
From: Pennsylvania
It's one of those accidents that the other guy will never admit to being at fault, 'cuz honestly, how many times have you kicked up a rock or stone at someone and knew about it?

Unless the guy is super super nice and he'll admit that he was at fault to his insurance company.

But I doubt it.

Get your insurance to pay for it or pay out of pocket. It's the best you can do.
Reply
Old Dec 6, 2002 | 02:35 PM
  #3  
NSXNEXT's Avatar
Senior Moderator
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 27,921
Likes: 1,080
From: where the weather suits my clothes
Well you cannot repair a crack.

Talk to your insurance company. Most have exceptions for rocks chips, etc and you might not have to pay your deductible.
Reply
Old Dec 6, 2002 | 02:46 PM
  #4  
TLover8888's Avatar
Three Wheelin'
 
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,865
Likes: 0
you should get a police report right there and then on the road where it happened. this way, you can claim property damage against the state and have them pay for a new windshield.
Reply
Old Dec 6, 2002 | 03:08 PM
  #5  
randomwalk101's Avatar
Three Wheelin'
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,348
Likes: 0
From: houston,tx
TLover8888, do you really think they will pay? Dream on...
Reply
Old Dec 6, 2002 | 03:24 PM
  #6  
this is me's Avatar
Safety Car
 
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,991
Likes: 1
From: MA
U got his plate number rite??
Find out where he lives and smash his windshield
Reply
Old Dec 6, 2002 | 04:02 PM
  #7  
dean078's Avatar
Instructor
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
From: Pennsylvania
Yeah, but htat would suck if the car belonged to the guy's grandma and he was borrowing it.

remember what mr. wong said when mrs. wong had a white baby?

"2 wongs don't make a white!"

Originally posted by this is me
U got his plate number rite??
Find out where he lives and smash his windshield
Reply
Old Dec 6, 2002 | 04:32 PM
  #8  
Raheel's Avatar
Race Director
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 11,001
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento, CA
Originally posted by this is me
U got his plate number rite??
Find out where he lives and smash his windshield
How u do that? Its not like the DMV will give u car INFO and ETC
Reply
Old Dec 6, 2002 | 04:47 PM
  #9  
BlackShadow's Avatar
O.G.
 
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,744
Likes: 1
From: East Hanover, NJ
Originally posted by dean078
remember what mr. wong said when mrs. wong had a white baby?

"2 wongs don't make a white!"

LOL!
Reply
Old Dec 6, 2002 | 06:25 PM
  #10  
ArN 2000 TL's Avatar
Moderator Alumnus
 
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 2
From: Nassau County, NY
Suck it up and pay for it....you can go through insurance if you have glass coverage without paying a deductible and your rate will not go up. Its not the guys fault his tire threw up a rock. I knew he swerved onto the shoulder but there is still nothing that can be done...police will laugh at you and if you could get the town to pay for it you would be THE MAN, because they will probably hang up on you when you call.

This is what you write that insurance check every month for Now you have a chance to use it!
Reply
Old Dec 6, 2002 | 09:39 PM
  #11  
NsX Pilot's Avatar
Three Wheelin'
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,765
Likes: 0
Originally posted by 2004TL


How u do that? Its not like the DMV will give u car INFO and ETC
When u got friends that work in the right places ..... anything is possible.
Reply
Old Dec 6, 2002 | 10:03 PM
  #12  
69tl's Avatar
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 891
Likes: 0
From: raincity, WA
sorry to hear about your windshield but I believe that's nothing you can do to that IS300 guy.
Reply
Old Dec 7, 2002 | 03:29 PM
  #13  
optimus prime's Avatar
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 170
Likes: 4
From: San Ramon, CA.
I guess the only question left is whether to replace the windshield or to get that crack repair in which they fill it to repair it.

Does anybody have any experience with that?

Thanks in advance.

Oh, BTW, the IS300 driver was about 50 years old so I KNOW it was his own car. Although, it could have been a loaner.
Reply
Old Dec 7, 2002 | 04:58 PM
  #14  
nameeri's Avatar
Pro
 
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 587
Likes: 0
From: Ontario, CA
Originally posted by 2004TL


How u do that? Its not like the DMV will give u car INFO and ETC
No, but some people can
Reply
Old Dec 7, 2002 | 06:14 PM
  #15  
Hercules's Avatar
Racer
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey
You cannot report somebody else for kicking up a rock onto your car. It's a road hazard.

Honestly you can do it and not even know it t somebody else, and you need to look at it from that perspective. That's why even if you report him, he will just laugh it off.
Reply
Old Dec 9, 2002 | 11:43 PM
  #16  
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 936
Likes: 0
From: Long Island, New York
Originally posted by this is me
U got his plate number rite??
Find out where he lives and smash his windshield
Most definitely. All you need is somone you know who's a cop to look up the plate for you. It's not a "legal" thing - but I've had my police officer friend look up a few for me. I haven't had the ballz to actually go through with doing anything to the a$$holes who don't know how to drive, but it is definitely possible!!
Reply
Old Dec 10, 2002 | 12:19 AM
  #17  
Hercules's Avatar
Racer
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey
Originally posted by this is me
U got his plate number rite??
Find out where he lives and smash his windshield
That's a stupid idea. He goes and breaks somebody's winshield because they kicked up gravel on the ground onto his car?

It's called a road hazard, and you might have done it to somebody else and not even known it. I don't think this IS300 was looking around the road for rocks to kick up.

These things happen, suck it up and pay for it.
Reply
Old Dec 10, 2002 | 01:29 AM
  #18  
Darkshear's Avatar
l33t
20 Year Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,628
Likes: 1
From: Tampa, FL
Here in Florida, if you have a crack in the windshield, and its in the drivers view, the insurance company HAS to replace it without a rate increase and without paying your deductable. Its state law here. Check to see if you have a similar one. I had a crack in the upper left corner on my '92 Accord, so i just made it a little "bigger" with a hammer and a towel. Funny how that works...

-Shear
Reply
Old Dec 10, 2002 | 09:44 AM
  #19  
this is me's Avatar
Safety Car
 
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,991
Likes: 1
From: MA
Originally posted by Hercules
That's a stupid idea. He goes and breaks somebody's winshield because they kicked up gravel on the ground onto his car?

It's called a road hazard, and you might have done it to somebody else and not even known it. I don't think this IS300 was looking around the road for rocks to kick up.

These things happen, suck it up and pay for it.
I didnt say its a good idea and its not. But it sounds like he's very pissed at the guy. Of course things like this happen and we cant do nothing about.
Reply
Old Dec 10, 2002 | 02:05 PM
  #20  
69tl's Avatar
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 891
Likes: 0
From: raincity, WA
most of the time ppl tend to cool down after a day or two, so whatever they say at the time it doesn't mean that's what they going to do.
Reply
Old Dec 10, 2002 | 05:38 PM
  #21  
optimus prime's Avatar
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 170
Likes: 4
From: San Ramon, CA.
Guys,

Let's get something straight here. I am a 33 year old engineer. I am NOT about to go and break somebody's windshield. Nor am I going to pull in favors from friends in law enforcement. I have enough money to pay for another TL-S let alone a windshield. This is NOT ABOUT THE MONEY. IT IS ABOUT THE REPAIR. We have already established that I am SOL on collecting from him, so lets move on.

Now for the important question (for the third time). Should I get the repair in which they fill the break with a repair material (some kind of clear polymer or glass-like material?) or should I get another windshield??? It is not in my line-of-sight but I am wondering about structural integrity of the window with the fill-in repair and also whether the repair is noticeable.

Darkshear, thanks for the advice. I will check on your comment with the state and my insurance company.
Reply
Old Jan 15, 2003 | 05:46 PM
  #22  
2002 TL-S NAVI
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Santa Clara, CA
Question

Well, I have the same problem with my TL-S as well. My question is:
Should I go for a after-market windshield or is there any place where I can get genuine ACURA windshield? That is if something like that exists!
Reply
Old Jan 15, 2003 | 10:46 PM
  #23  
AndySara's Avatar
Racer
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 396
Likes: 0
From: Palm Beach, FL
Should I get the repair in which they fill the break with a repair material

Depends on how long you want to keep your car. I had an Accord once (Should be the same Honda glass). Had the crack professionally filled in with that "stuff". Lasted about three years before the crack went all the way through the glass and had to have the entire windshield replaced.
I lived in San Joaquin Valley so we sometime had frost in the winter and it reaches almost 100 degress in summer. That might have contributed to it.

optimus prime I would suggest checking with your insurance company first before doing anything. You might have glass coverage as part of your policy (perhaps $50 deductible for windshield). You do not sound like the type of person that carries bare minimum coverage.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
TheMuffinMan
4G TL (2009-2014)
27
Jun 2, 2022 07:11 AM
bluetl04
Non-Automotive & Motorcycle Sales
12
Aug 16, 2016 02:49 PM
dainmezron
4G TL (2009-2014)
16
Oct 16, 2015 06:56 PM
juanrl
2G RL (2005-2012)
9
Sep 29, 2015 03:25 AM
rhdune16
Car Parts for Sale
0
Sep 28, 2015 11:31 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:07 PM.