News Press Releases

Local Association and Insurance Companies Encourages Motorists with Damaged Windshields to Seek Advice of Auto Glass Technician



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PRLog (Press Release)– Aug 18, 2010 – (August 18, 2010) – When consumers commonly think of safety in a new car or truck, safety belts, air bags, and anti-lock brakes will quickly come to mind. Fact is: a vehicle's windshield also plays a pivotal role in overall automobile safety.

According to AAA, windshields not only support the roof of your vehicle during an accident, but they also keep drivers and their passengers from being ejected during collisions, help to keep the passenger compartment from crushing during roll-overs and to keep all passengers inside the car during vehicle crashes, especially when combined with use of seat belts.

"Driving with a damaged or cracked windshield can hinder a motorist's visibility and also compromise the structural integrity of the automobile during a roll-over incident," said Program Development Manager of the Auto Club's Approved Auto Repair Program Dave Skaien. "Properly installed windshields stay in place for passenger side airbags to function properly in a crash as well," he added.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration suggests that over 40,000 Americans are killed and more than 5 million injured every year in highway crashes. Thirty percent of the passenger vehicle occupant fatalities stem from an occupant being ejected or injured in a roll-over. "This suggests windshield integrity may be a crucial factor in crash survivability," Skaien said.

The Interinsurance Exchange of the Automobile Club receives approximately 400 calls a month from its insureds seeking repair or replacement of damaged windshields on vehicles.

The Auto Club is encouraging all motorists with cracked or damaged windshields to immediately seek the advice of an auto glass technician that is certified by the National Glass Association (NGA) or similar certification organization, such as the NWRA or locally, the SDWRA.

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Dec 03, 2007 16:26 ET

National Statistics Show 8 out of 10 Windshield Replacements Fail to be Installed Properly - Making Windshield Chip Repair the Safest Alternative

Santa Clara, CA - (December 3, 2007) - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration classifies a car's windshield as one of the primary components of a vehicle's safety restraint system - yet recent national statistics show nearly 8 out of 10 auto glass replacements fail to be installed properly and safely. Improperly installed replacement windshields can be deadly for both drivers and passengers and auto glass repair should be the first choice for a windshield rock chip that is the size of a coin such as a quarter - or smaller.

"Windshield repair is much safer than windshield replacement because your factory seal on your auto, truck, or recreational vehicle is kept intact and is air/water tight and never removed," said Mark Carpenter, Owner of a windshield repair company. "In addition, a repair is inexpensive and frequently covered and reimbursed by most comprehensive insurance plans. Oftentimes a repair can be done by a mobile service provider in only 30 minutes. Windshield repair is also the eco-friendly choice because it is impossible to recycle windshields," concluded Carpenter.

By retaining the original factory seal, the driver also will prevent possible wind noise, air and water leakage causing mildew and odor to the auto's interior while preserving the electronics that may be installed in the glass in today's technologically advanced cars.

"The incidence of windshield damage continues to increase exponentially," continued Carpenter. "Flying road debris and trucks piled high with improperly secured loads are a fact of life here, contributing - thanks to the laws of physics - to an estimated 140,000 cubic yards of road debris a year. That is enough to fill 8,750 garbage trucks, which would extend for 45 miles." Carpenter concluded.

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PRLog (Press Release) – Aug 30, 2009 – Reginald McClain , a windshield repair technician, said, "People are not aware that most insurance companies will waive the deductible for windshield repair. It is cheaper for them to pay for the repairs than to replace the entire windshield. Also, they allow up to three repairs, three times per year, and considers it no fault."

According to McClain, all you have to do is:

1. Choose a windshield repair shop: There are many windshield repairs shops online or in the local Yellow Pages. Look for a shop with some years of experience and guarantee on their work.

2. Report the claim: This is done in the shop. It is not necessary to contact the insurance company or agent before going to the repair shop. All is needed is the proof of insurance card. The windshield repair tech will get the insurance company on the phone and assist in getting the auto glass repair claim setup. This process generally takes about five minutes to complete and the insurance company will give a claim number to the auto glass repair shop, which they will use for billing. The insurance company asks a few questions like; how, when, and where the windshield chip happened. They also inform the insured that their deductible is waived for the repair and will only be collected if the auto glass has to be taken out and replaced.

3. The windshield repair process: It should take anywhere from ten to twenty minutes to complete. Some rock chips may take a little longer depending on the difficulty of the chip or crack. The air is vacuumed out of the windshield crack and replaced with synthetic glass which is hardened with ultraviolet light. Once hardened the windshield is then cleaned and the work is done.

4. Final process: Sign invoice approving the satisfactory of the repair and approval for the insurance company to pay the windshield repair shop for the job. Therefore, the windshield chip repair is free because the consumer pays nothing out of pocket.

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