Windshield Cracked By Bouncing Object On Freeway

[No.11]

Last night I was driving on the 91 freeway, and all of a sudden something came out of the back of a pickup truck, bounced a few times, I swerved to my right, but it still hit the top passenger side corner of the windshield and roof. To my horror, I looked over and saw THIS!

I called the cops, they weren't of any help without the guy's plates, which I couldn't see because he had a small trailer. I got the guy to pull over, found that it was a tatted up guy and 3 other guys in the truck. I wasn't in the mood to get my ass kicked, so when he refused to admit that none of ALL THE JUNK in the back of his pickup and the trailer was missing, I had to let it go. So now I have this cracked windshield. I guess it was due for a replacement anyhow. It was cracked to begin with on the bottom of the driver side.

It also hit the roof which is actually dented around those areas with the black smudges. I guess this is actually a good thing, because if it had only hit the glass, I am sure it would have come inside the car completely and possibly knocked me out and caused me to crash and die.

Anyone have any idea how much a quality replacement will run me? Labor and everything. Thanks!

 

[StreetsideStig]

You didn't get his plates once you'd pulled over?

 

[No.11]

You didn't get his plates once you'd pulled over?

Oh yeah about that, when I stopped him, one of his friends came out and stood behind the truck right in front of the plates. It was clear that they weren't going to let me get the number, and the cops weren't coming. I had to let it go. Plus, they looked like the kinds of dudes who don't even have insurance or anything.

PLUS, even if I had gotten them, I would have made a police report, they would never have done anything about it because the dudes could easily claim that nothing came out of their truck and hit my car. And then, it would just be taken out of my insurance, my rates would go up... nah...I'll just pay it myself. Now, if insurance can do all the body work my car needs, in addition to fixing the dented roof and cracked windshield, then hell yeah insurance company gimme some love! but I only have liability. That doesn't cover damage done to my own car does it?

 

[RacEoHolic330]

I paid out of pocket for a Volvo windshield last year. Full remove and install was around $375. That was with a quality windshield (Pilkington), and not some Safelite crap. I can't comment about the roof repair. That probably will not be cheap.

 

[StreetsideStig]

What a bunch of tools. Bummer.

 

[Riverart]

Look up glass replacement in Pomona. I had my F150 windshield replaced out there and it was reasonable. I can't remember the name of the place but there are a few around.

 

[VibrantRedGT]

We had 2 windshields replaced by Charlie's Auto Glass (local glass shop), both were $229 installed. Safelite was the same price.

 

[David Pepiton]

all i can say is stay away from safe light auto glass i have found that it is always a few mm thinner then oem quality glass and is designed to break so they can come out and do it again (I think its fraud) as stated before Pilkington is one of the top aftermarket manufacturers of glass out there i still have carlite glass up front but i have a chip in it that cant be fixed so ill be replacing mine soon as well and im going with plik glass. if i remember a buddy of mine that has a glass company says depending on buying power a mustang window is around $60 his cost.

 

[fiveohwblow]

You can avoid getting something you dont want by asking for OEM glass. If they dont have it then you can go on to the next.

 

[RacEoHolic330]

The guy who did my Volvo said that in order for Safelite to avoid infringing on the patents of the OEM glass manufacturers, they have to make their glass at least 20% out of spec compared to the OEM glass. I'm not sure what kind of spec he was referring to, but he made it clear that the Safelite glass is inferior. Pilkington makes windshields for a handful of car companies.