Do you have a crack in your windshield? Did you know that you can get a ticket for that? A cracked or dinged windshield is dangerous. It should be taken care of as soon as possible because it can spread and spider out into a bigger problem than it originally was. It also weakens the windshield so it could be a big safety hazard.
It is recommended by the National Glass Association for you to fix windshield damage immediately. Dings or chips can technically be repaired if they are not obstructing your view and are smaller than the size of a silver dollar. Cracks however, can spread more quickly even if they are small. They need to be taken care of as soon as possible.
Insurance companies are more susceptible to cover the windshield if it is on the driver’s side or if it is a more intense crack because it is more important to get it done in that case. They do not want any obstructions of view in the line of vision for the driver.
The windshield was designed to protect you. The dings and cracks may have come from something that could fly toward you and hit you. It protects you from outside intruders and it helps in the event of a car accident. It is actually designed as the number one safety restraint system in your vehicle. It actually provides up to 60 percent roof-crush-protection in the event that there is an accident where your car flips over. Also, it takes care of backstop support for the passenger side airbag in a front-end accident. This means that the airbag stays in place as a passenger hits it using the windshield to hold it there. So you are protected from being crushed or thrown from the vehicle with the windshield.
The length of time it will take for your windshield to be replaced is going to depend on the type of vehicle you own. Some vehicles are more complex than others so it can take up to three hours. Regular vehicles only take about an hour or so to install a windshield.
Make sure you find a good company with an exceptional reputation to fix your windshield. They should not take short-cuts or use low grade glass to cut corners. That can be dangerous for you and a lawsuit for them. They should leave most of the old sealant in place and then clean and prime the new windshield before installation. Then he should use suction cups and disposable gloves while installing it to ensure the adhesive surface doesn’t become contaminated. Each of these steps are equally important and they have to happen for proper installation.
