Whether your windshield develops a small chip while you’re driving down the road or it incurs considerable damage during a collision, you may wonder, “Should I use insurance to replace windshield damage?” While it depends on several unique factors, in most cases the answer is yes, you should use insurance to pay for windshield replacement or repair.

It is important to fix your windshield as soon as possible, as small chips can spiderweb over time, and larger cracks can compromise the integrity of your vehicle and pose a danger to you and your passengers. For these reasons, insurance companies often require the insured to seek windshield repair or replacement right away.

Insurance Can Save You Hundreds of Dollars on Windshield Replacement

The rule of thumb dictates that you should file an insurance claim for any covered vehicle repair if the cost of the repair is lower than your deductible and if doing so would not trigger a rate increase. If the deductible is more than the cost of repair or replacement, your insurer would not have a legal obligation to pay anything.

Typically, windshield repair and replacement are covered by your comprehensive coverage. The average deductible on a comprehensive policy is between $100 and $500, with some policies offering deductibles as low as $50.

The average windshield chip repair cost is between $130 and $200, and the average cost to replace a windshield is between $200 and $401. Given these figures, it may make sense for vehicle owners to file a claim against their comprehensive policies for windshield repairs or replacement, if they carry a lower deductible.

If you live in one of the handful of states that have “zero deductible” glass replacement laws, your insurer must legally waive your deductible for repairs and/or replacement, which means you would not pay a dime for the work. Many major insurance companies also waive deductibles on windshield repair and/or replacement for chips and cracks smaller than a certain size.

What To Do If Your Windshield Is Damaged in a Collision

If your windshield sustains damage during a collision, you should report both the incident and the damages to your insurer right away and ask does insurance cover windshield replacement. If yes, the agent will inquire about the date and time of the incident and the extent of the damage. If your insurer utilizes a photo inspection system, you may need to send photos to your insurance company along with your claim.

Once you file your claim, your insurer will either allow you to go to a repair shop of your choosing or let you select one from a list of approved shops. You or your insurer will schedule the repairs and, once complete, you would pay the deductible — if applicable — directly to the shop. The shop will bill your insurer for the remainder of the amount.

What if your insurer does not cover windshield damage, or you have no insurance? Because driving around with a damaged windshield is dangerous, you should get it repaired or replaced regardless. Moreover, many states have laws against driving with a cracked windshield, so you may get a ticket for doing so, which can end up costing more than the repair itself.

Alternatively, you may be able to file a windshield claim against the other driver’s insurance policy. This may be an option if the other driver caused the accident and if you live in an at-fault car accident state.

How To Choose the Right Auto Insurance Company for Glass Coverage

Selecting the right auto insurance company is difficult, as it’s almost impossible to anticipate what kind of coverage you will need until it comes time to use it. When shopping for car insurance, consider your lifestyle and risk factors and look for a company that offers coverage that caters to each. For instance, if you frequently travel on dirt roads, it may be worthwhile to invest in a policy that waives deductibles on windshield repair or replacement. Consider other coverage types and add-ons, such as comprehensive coverage, collision coverage, and classic car insurance as well.

Additionally, attempt to understand your policy, and pay attention to terms such as “deductible,” “claims,” “exclusions,” “covered loss,” and “non-covered loss.” These can tell you a lot about how helpful a policy will be when it comes time to use it.  

Finally, pay attention to company reviews. Customer reviews can provide real insight into how an insurance company operates and handles claims.

Five Reasons It’s Better To Use Insurance for Replacing Your Windshield

If you’re wondering “Should I use insurance to replace my windshield?” here are several reasons why you should.

1 — You May Pay Less Out of Pocket

If you have a low deductible, letting your insurance company foot the bill for windshield replacement may be the best choice. In filing a claim, you stand to save anywhere from $100 to several hundred dollars on the cost of repairs or replacement.

2 — You May Not Pay Anything At All

If you live in a state that has zero-deductible auto glass laws, you may not have to pay anything for windshield repairs or replacement. In this case, it only makes sense to not utilize your auto policy.

3 — Your Rates Likely Won’t Increase

Many insurers will not raise a policyholder’s rates for filing an auto glass claim. If the fear of increased rates is holding you back, simply talk to an agent regarding your concerns.

4 — It’s Convenient

If you go through your insurer, there is a good chance the company will handle the whole repair process for you, from scheduling to billing. This makes seeking repairs more convenient, encouraging you to get them done sooner rather than later.

5 — The Work Is Guaranteed

One of the best reasons to go through insurance for windshield repair and replacement, cost aside, is that your auto insurance often guarantees the work. If the work from an insurance-approved repair shop is faulty, you have peace of mind that your insurer will cover the cost of additional work.

For many people, the question isn’t, “Does insurance cover a cracked windshield?” but rather, “Should I use insurance to replace my windshield?” While, in most cases, it is best to go through your insurance for windshield repair and replacement, the only way to know for sure if doing so makes sense for you is to work directly with your insurer during the decision process.

If you’ve been in an accident, is it a bad idea to send photos of car accidents to your insurance company? Are there any car and safety laws or other reasons you shouldn’t send pictures to your insurance company?

The short answer is no because sending pictures of your car accident to your car insurance company will help support the veracity of any claims you file.

Read this article for more on taking pictures for insurance claims and whether or not it’s a good idea, tips for taking the most useful photos, and more.

Before we dive into the importance of taking photos at the scene of an accident, enter your ZIP code below to get free car insurance quotes from local companies right now.

Should you take and send photos of your car accident to your insurance company?

You should take pictures after an accident and send them to your insurance company as soon as possible. Taking and sending accident photos is a critical step in ensuring you have a valid claim.

Why are accident photos so important? Taking photos ensures you have visual proof of what occurred, rather than relying on memory or the honesty and integrity of other drivers involved in the incident.

Becker Law notes that car accident photos are an important piece of evidence during negotiations with insurance adjusters.

It’s also important to note that insurance companies don’t typically use the accident photos you send in the car insurance photo inspection.

Insurance companies will send their adjusters to take pictures of your vehicle after the claims process has been initiated as a part of the damage assessment. Adjusters use these photos to help determine the cost of damages.

What happens if you aren’t able to take car accident photos?

If you’re injured or otherwise unable to take accident photos or the scene is too dangerous for you to walk around and photograph, don’t take unnecessary risks.

Your safety is more important than taking pictures. If your inability to take photos results from injuries, see if someone else can take pictures for you (a passenger or witness, for example).

If you’re filing and settling a car insurance claim for an accident in which you forgot or were unable to take photos, don’t worry.

While accident photos can be beneficial, not having them doesn’t mean the insurance company will deny your claim, though you may receive less compensation without photographic evidence.

If you’re concerned about the outcome of your claim, you can consider speaking with a lawyer (whether you have photos or not).

What are some tips for taking useful car accident photos?

If you’re wondering how to take pictures for car insurance, we have some suggestions for you to consider after you’ve called emergency services and the police and determined that you can safely move around the crash site.

When you’re gathering photographic evidence of a car accident, be sure to do the following:

While you’re taking photos, it’s essential to move quickly and take as many as possible. You won’t have much time to capture the accident scene, so work efficiently. You should also ensure all photos/videos are time-stamped and that you have a mix of close-ups and wide-angle shots.

Is it bad to send photos of car accidents to your insurance company?

No, it’s a good idea to take and send photos of a car accident to your insurance company. It’s an essential part of filing your claim and provides hard evidence of what occurred during the incident.

When photographing the scene, take as many photos as possible but don’t take any unnecessary risks.

If you were recently in an accident and need to find affordable car insurance, take a minute to enter your ZIP code in our tool below to compare car insurance rates from multiple companies for free.

One of the areas where insurance can get a little complicated is when a wreck is caused by debris on the road, more specifically when a motorcycle wrecks on debris in the road.

No matter how vigilant or careful you ride, some road debris accidents are  unavoidable. Even with all of the modern motorcycle safety features, accidents still occur. So if you hit debris in the road and wreck your motorcycle, who pays? Let’s take a look at four scenarios and see what type of insurance coverage will likely be footing the bill.

Part of the challenge is finding out who is responsible. Even when you do, proving it may be another hurdle. Let’s jump straight into the first scenario!

What if a truck litters the highway with debris road hazards?

With all of the trash being hauled up and down the roads each day, it’s no surprise that sometimes it falls into the road. Whether it’s construction debris, limbs from a downed tree, or trash being transported, these objects can pose risks to unsuspecting motorcyclists. Sometimes, large trucks even lose parts while driving, and they don’t necessarily realize it until they stop somewhere down the road.

The Scenario– Here’s the scenario. You are riding your motorcycle behind a truck hauling debris that isn’t properly covered. While you are behind the truck in question, some debris falls out of the truck and causes you to wreck your motorcycle.

Who Pays? According to Personal Injury Law, if the debris was not secured properly, the road debris damage would be covered under the truck driver‘s auto insurance policy. Alternatively, if it was a work or construction vehicle, their business auto insurance may cover the incident.

In either scenario, whether the offending driver is distracted, or simply doesn’t notice what happened behind them, it is unlikely they will stop. So you will want to collect any information you can immediately, which may be difficult if there are no witnesses. If you don’t have a way to identify the truck responsible, you might not have any recourse. Then it would come down to your comprehensive coverage. What kind of insurance coverage did you pay for?

But what if you don’t know where the debris came from? Then you will have to check out scenario two.

What if the debris is left by an unknown source?

Debris on the roadway can be caused by a lot of things. Trees drop their leaves in the fall. Branches break in a storm and fall into the road. Of course, as with the previous scenario, a truck’s uncovered litter or unsecured parts can fly out. The list truly goes on and on. Of course, leaving debris such as grass on the road is illegal, but unfortunately, that doesn’t stop it from happening.

The Scenario – You are riding down the road on your motorcycle. As you round a turn, you strike debris in the road, causing you to lose traction and wreck. Unlike the first scenario, you don’t know who left the debris, or whether it was a natural occurrence. Either way, there is no responsible party to be found.

Who Pays? If you strike debris on the roadway, and can’t determine the source or the source is natural, you will have to turn to your own auto insurance. If you believe it was due to neglect or carelessness, you can file a police report. As many car drivers find out when trying to claim damages with construction companies.

What if a company leaves debris on the road?

In the previous two scenarios, we looked at incidents where a vehicle left debris on the road. What if a company deposits debris into the road, but this time it’s not dropped from a vehicle? What type of insurance will foot the bill then? Let’s take a look.

The Scenario – This scenario can occur in several ways. Perhaps it’s lawn clippings blown into the road by a landscaping company. Or maybe a construction company puts trash on the road or curb for pick up. Either way, the debris causes you to wreck your motorcycle.

Who Pays? In this scenario, if negligence is proven, a claim would go against the company’s liability. If not, it would be paid under your comprehensive coverage. Depending on the exact nature, uninsured motorist coverage may come into play. The biggest problem many run into is proving the source.

What if a homeowner leaves debris on the road?

This one is quick, but the insurance is very specific, and it’s worth mentioning. This is assuming the homeowner is known and can be identified. Let’s look at a slight variation of scenario three.

The Scenario – In this scenario, debris is left on the road again as in scenario three. However, this time the debris is left in the road by the resident of the home itself.

Who Pays? In this instance, it could be the resident’s renter’s or homeowner’s insurance covering the cost.

What’s the bottom line?

Even the most avid motorcycle collectors can be easily overwhelmed by all of the nuances posed by insurance coverage. Hopefully, these four scenarios will simplify the situation a bit.

It should be noted that anytime you wreck your bike on debris in the road you can turn to your own insurance for coverage. Additionally, negligence will also have to be proven to determine the fault of an offending party. But that is a different article entirely!

However, you should always try avoiding an insurance claim and potentially raising your rates. It only makes sense to do so. If you have any more questions about a motorcycle or car insurance, be sure to search for other topics on this website.

Author Bio: Douglas Dedrick is a landscaper with over a decade of experience and a writer on several topics including lawn care, landscaping, and law. Connect with him or read more at Healing Law.

Scenario A: You Run Into A Parked Car

• The “Victim” Car: Your Liability coverage (at least $10,000 is required as minimum coverage in all 50 states) will pay for the “victim” vehicle. If the amount of Liability coverage on your policy won’t cover the damages,
• The At-Fault Car: If you have Collision coverage, you would utilize that to pay for your own car’s damages. If you have no Collision coverage, then you can expect to pay for your own vehicle’s damages out of pocket.
• Your Rates: The rate to insure the at-fault driver would likely increase, but rates on the other drivers in the family would not increase, since they were not directly involved.

Scenario B: A Crash On The Road

• The “Victim” Car: Property damage will be handled the same way as in Scenario A, however if any passengers are injured, your Liability coverage for Bodily Injury Liability will pay for their medical treatment.
• The At-Fault Car: Again, property damage will be handled with Collision coverage. If the driver or any passengers sustain injuries, their medical treatment would be paid using Personal Injury Protection (PIP). If you don’t elect to have PIP coverage on your policy, you can expect to pay out of pocket for your injuries, or else open a claim on your health insurance.
• Your Rates: The rates of the at-fault driver will most likely increase, and if the “victim” car’s driver is found to be partially at-fault (perhaps for swerving dangerously and contributing to the cause of the two-car crash), then their rates will likely increase, too. If everyone is on the same page about what happened, it may be best to put the blame solely on one driver to avoid multiple rate increases on different drivers.

Scenario C: If Your Insurer Underpays or Denies the Claim

• The “Victim” Car: If you’ve caused an accident on the road where the victims have sustained serious injuries, and your insurance company simply isn’t agreeing to pay for all the repairs to the car, or pay for full medical treatment, or is telling them that they won’t get a settlement for pain and suffering, they may have no option but to take legal action. In this case, the victims of the accident would file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver. This could mean a husband suing a wife, child suing a parent, or sister suing a brother, and so on.
  Too often, though, people get nervous about the stigma surrounding a lawsuit and don’t want to sue their relatives. This can be a big win for the insurance company and a big loss for the injured family member. Keep in mind that the legal action against them can be viewed as a technicality to get the at-fault driver’s insurance company to pay. If the at-fault driver’s policy provides for $50,000 in potential payments for Bodily Injury Liability for each injured victim, and the insurer is trying to only pay $12,000, or $30,000, or even $49,990 for a victim’s claim, the victim may have no other option than suing the at-fault driver in order to recover a full payment. As always, consult with a lawyer for legal advice on what to do in this scenario.
• The At-Fault Car: If you have Collision or PIP coverage and your insurer is paying for your damages and/or injuries, you may have recourse options against them if they fail to fully pay your accident claim. You’ll have to read your policy to see if it contains clauses for binding arbitration or mediation, or if it stipulates that you would have to sue your insurer for reimbursement if they choose to deny or underpay parts of your claim. Your policy also may limit the time frame in which you have to file a lawsuit. Again, consult with an accident lawyer for any legal advice in this scenario.
• Your Rates: Pursuing legal action or arbitration should not affect your insurance rates, as it has nothing to do with the risk you pose behind the wheel of a vehicle.