My daughter and her family were driving down the interstate today on their way to the beach when suddenly a rock shattered her windshield. It scared her as she thought someone had run into her. Turns out it was a mower cutting grass in the medium that caused it. Thankfully it only shattered the windshield and didn't come through it.
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Wow. That is scary. I am glad no one was hurt.David
The chief cause of failure in this life is giving up what you want most for what you want at the moment. -
Happened to me about a week ago. Following an 18-wheeler gravel/dump truck... one of the ones hauling construction debris from the rebuidling of I-10 here in Houston - he was empty going to the pick-up site. Didn't see it fall from the bed but saw it ricoshet off the pavement directly behind him and up to the windshield. really loud "CRAAAACK!"
Got 8" crack in the windshield just to the left of the driver center.
Got his tag no and the construction co. name. Called the co. and talked to their safety guy filed a complaint and sent them the estimate.
He (his letter showed a title of General Consul which means he was a lawyer?) said they investigated and said they were not negligent and my loss was an "unfortunate hazard of the road".
Guess its my word vs. theirs.
Paid $235 to replace it today. I thought that was cheap for a Dodge Caravan which has a pretty big windshield. (so big the 27" wiper blades are not even carried by most auto stores).Last edited by LCHIEN; 05-01-2007, 09:04 PM.
Loring in Katy, TX USA
If your only tool is a hammer, you tend to treat all problems as if they were nails.
BT3 FAQ - https://www.sawdustzone.org/forum/di...sked-questionsComment
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Glad she wasn't hurt. That kind of thing causes some people to freeze or flinch. Both bad when driving down the road at any speed.
I used to think windshields were around $500 plus labor.
Some are I know, but I recently had guys come to my place and install a new windshield in my 87 Silverado. $170 including labor. The years I drove it with a sand pitted windshield at night was taking a risk that could have been fixed much cheaper than I had thought. Painless too, because they used their gas to get here.
If anything is impairing your vision, make a call and get an estimate. It may be cheaper than you think.
Also if you already have a crack or a pit, it may not stop an errant rock the next time. It may come on through easily. Windshields are also part of the vehicles strength and structure in some cases. Got damage? Get er fixed.Last edited by Stytooner; 05-02-2007, 05:32 AM.LeeComment
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I've had rocks fall off gravel trucks and strike my windshield as well. Other times I've actually seen that the rock came from the road. I've worked with construction companies and truckers most of my life, some are road cowboys that couldn't care less if they create a road hazard. Others do their best to make sure their truck's are clean and swept before they enter the highway. Unfortunately, I've heard many stories from them about people who call complaining about a damaged windshield on a particular day, when the company didn't have a truck on the road on that day. Because some people try to get a free ride, legitimate claims get the brush off. Of course, that doesn't take any of the sting out of paying for a new windshield. LOML van's windshield looks like a spider web right now.
Sometimes there's no doubt as to what caused the problem. We had a shocking story in Jackson, MS three or four years ago. A highway mowing crew had a blade sling off one of their mowers and go through the windshield of a vehicle, instantly killing the driver and causing the vehicle to crash. Those blades have to weigh 10 or 15 pounds. I believe another passenger was killed in the crash and the drivers two children were injured.
I drive about 3,000 miles a month for my job, so I try to stay pretty vigilant while I'm on the road, especially in construction areas and around highway mowers.- Chris.Comment
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That's a scary thing. Glad everyone is O.K. It always amazes me to know most trucks aren't required to be covered (like the ones hauling gravel).Do you know about kickback? Ray has a good writeup here... https://www.sawdustzone.org/articles...mare-explained
For a kickback demonstration video http://www.metacafe.com/watch/910584...demonstration/Comment
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A very scary thing, glad everyone's OK. I had a chunk of ice hit my windshield (on a month old car
) on my way to the airport for my trip to Europe this winter. LOML was driving and handled it pretty well. I was in the passenger's seat, and it was heading right for me. She didn't see it coming, I did. Good thing that the windshield stopped it. My in-laws (who were going along and drove the car back) had it fixed before we got back from the trip. Worst injury was that some small pieces of glass made it into my coat pocket, and I cut a finger. Which is why I keep a small first aid kit in my carry on bag.
It turns out that this winter in the Philly area, there were lots of problems with ice falling off trucks and hitting windshields.
Of course, when the trip starts like that, it's all better from there
JimComment
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Next time, call 911 from your cell and follow the guy (at a safe distance) until they can pull him over.
Reason: The cop will be your witness that there are rocks still in the truck that could cause a road hazard. It already happened to you, it could happen to someone else and be worse (they panic an have an accident).Mike
Lakota's Dad
If at first you don't succeed, deny you were trying in the first place.Comment
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Loring,
I drive that section of road almost every week and had a similar thing happen. My cop friend suggested getting the plate (trailer and truck) and any other info I could (camera phone pics, date/time, mile marker) and call them and if they give the run around ask for their insurance so you can file a claim...90% of the time they will pay right then.Comment
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Ken I am glad the Family is okay, those kind of things scare Me too.
On the cost of windshields, I raised My deductable to $500.00 because if You tell the people at the install place, That You are not using insurance to pay for it You can buy it cheaper. Bill5 OUT OF 4 PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND FRACTIONS.Comment
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Sometimes free advice from cops is worthwhile, sometimes not. What the cop should have said is that it is basically your word against theirs on where the rock came from. All Law enforcement can do after the fact is inspect the load/ vehicle and cite for current violations. Without witnesses there is no way of verifiying whre the rock came from.
We get claims every winter from motorists claiming rock damage caused by our trucks. We have no control over what the State allows to remain on the road and as long as we have the required mud flaps, etc. we are not liable.
All that said I once had a tie rod end get flipped up in front of me while on a bridge (two lanes travel in my direction, which punctured the windsheild in front of my face showering me with glass. The only thing that saved me and my eyes was that I bowed my head and my Resistol hat caught the glass. I not only lost a windshield but also had a crease in my roof that needed body work prior to replacing the glass.Donate to my Tour de Cure
marK in WA and Ryobi Fanatic Association State President ©
Head servant of the forum
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Recently, a cop driving on the freeway out here was hit in the face by a tow hitch that had come loose from a vehicle in front of him. He thought he'd been shot, but the cop who soon came to his assistance saw the hitch lying on the floor of his car. Lost most of his teeth, narrowly escaped with his life. Good reason to double check that your hitch is securely fastened even when nothing is attached!- David
“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” -- Oscar WildeComment
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Never had a stone hit me but I did have an interesting experience. I was travelling down the hwy and pulled out to pass chicken truck when suddenly I had a loose chicken flying at my windshield! It must have managed to get out of the cage.Fortunately the wind flow managed to push the chicken over the car instead of through it.From the "deep south" part of Canada
Richard in Smithville
http://richardspensandthings.blogspot.com/Comment
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Check with your insurance agent. In Florida windshields are covered under the comprehensive, no deductible.Comment
LCHIEN
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