Minor damage from flying debris

[SisterBlue22]

While driving to work today in heavy traffic, a jackass in a duelly ahead of me one lane over couldn't keep his ass in his HOV lane, and drifted over half into my lane. As he did, he kicked up a softball sized piece of jagged black metal that was laying between the lanes, and of course it came right at me. I thought it was coming through my windshield and I actually ducked reflexively, but it ended up clipping the top edge of my windshield and bouncing off the roof. Worst sound ever.

It left a 2" crease/dent, and I'm not sure what to do about it. I'll need to scrub off the black streak it left to see if it went through the paint. If not, I'll probably leave it. But if it broke through the paint, I'll need to have it fixed. Any idea what this fix would cost? My insurance deductible is $500 so it's probably not worth making a claim.

I'm not happy. Here's some photos - I swear the car isn't as dirty as it looks in some of the shots. It did rain lightly this morning but it was clean before that, I promise!! I tried to get different angles but it's hard to see how deep the crease/dent is in any of the photos.

[S84kam]

bump out that dent yourself and vinyl roof it black, call it a day. It could have been worse...

[carma143]

You should fix that windshield somehow. I hear there are ways to fix scrapes and small cracks, but being that it is on the edge you might just need to buy yourself a new windshield. Your windshield could probably last a long while, but I like to play things on the safe side.

[SisterBlue22]

Originally Posted by carma143

You should fix that windshield somehow. I hear there are ways to fix scrapes and small cracks, but being that it is on the edge you might just need to buy yourself a new windshield. Your windshield could probably last a long while, but I like to play things on the safe side.

I have full glass coverage with no deductible. BUT....I bought the car on May 24th and have had two windshield replacements since then, both with cracks clear across the windshield. (Yes, I clearly have a target on me.) So I'd rather not raise any more red flags with State Farm by making a third windshield claim in less than 4 months.

[carma143]

Originally Posted by SisterBlue22

I have full glass coverage with no deductible. BUT....I bought the car on May 24th and have had two windshield replacements since then, both with cracks clear across the windshield. (Yes, I clearly have a target on me.) So I'd rather not raise any more red flags with State Farm by making a third windshield claim in less than 4 months.

Convince them to get you thicker glass? I hear the twins have thin windshields.

[MisterSheep]

Fill windshield so it doesnt crack and if it does crack then replace it. Buff out the mark as much as you can and then see if you can get paintmatched paint and try to blend it in, or go with the vinyl idea.

[SisterBlue22]

Originally Posted by carma143

Convince them to get you thicker glass? I hear the twins have thin windshields.

I drive ~100 miles/day, and with every vehicle I've ever owned, I've been a target for windshield damage and other miscellaneous flying debris.

Some of my most memorable occasions that all happened in my 2008 Scion xB...

I once took an iron pipe to the windshield... it flew off a plumbing truck and thank goddess it hit the long way instead of end-on. That left a foot long horizontal dent in the glass...barely missed coming all the way through.

I also took a tree trunk to the windshield once, off a landscaping trailer...it was maybe two feet long and about 6" in diameter, and that one did hit end-on, and punched into the glass, but also didn't quite come all the way through.

An IKEA box once flew out of a pickup truck bed in front of me and bounced off my hood in a flurry of "snow" from the styrofoam, but thankfully left no damage.

I watched a ladder come sliding off the top of the rack on top of a work truck right in front of me on my way down a freeway on-ramp, with concrete walls on both sides and nowhere to go...ended up going over it the short way. That one was in my RAV4 so thankfully I had some ground clearance.

As you can see, I'm basically a moving target, and today was no exception. Trouble just seems to find me!!!

[Tcoat]

So far I have been hit by of hundreds of rocks, pieces truck tire, a flying tail light and an airborne, direction changing lower control arm so I feel your pain.
The windshield will have to be replaces since edges can not be repaired and it will spread. the rest may not be too bad to fix.
When I had to have the damage from the LCA repaired (it cut right through the side) my insurance covered it as comprehensive not collision since it was moving and hit me, I didn't hit it. This means it was low deductible and does not go against the car's record as an "accident". You may want to check with your company and see if the same would apply for you.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by carma143

Convince them to get you thicker glass? I hear the twins have thin windshields.

The twins have DOT tested and approved glass just like every other car on the road.

[MisterSheep]

[QUOTE=Tcoat;2385942] a flying tail light and an airborne, direction changing lower control arm QUOTE]

I have never heard of any of that stuff flying off a car!

But I have seen a cheapass spoiler fly off before.

[Tcoat]

[quote=MisterSheep;2385980]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

a flying tail light and an airborne, direction changing lower control arm QUOTE]

I have never heard of any of that stuff flying off a car!

But I have seen a cheapass spoiler fly off before.

Beat up old 199X Neon with Michigan plates two cars in front of me. It is missing the back bumper cover, trunk lid it held down by a coat hanger, both mirrors are dangling from wires and the fuel door is flapping in the wind. Whole taillight housing falls out, dangles from the wires for a second, falls off, hits the highway, explodes into shrapnel, housing bounces over the car in front of me and lands right on my bumper. No where to go and I was doomed.

Passing transport and he hits a big chunk of steel on the road, steel shoots out sideways and starts across the lane in front of me. I think "shit that is a LCA glad it missed me". Steel hits the stuff in the joint between the lanes changes direction by 87.89 degrees and shoots straight at me. I got over enough it just caught the flair in front of the back wheel and tore right through the metal.

[humfrz]

hmmmm........it's a wonder the windshield didn't crack. You may consider having that windshield "chip" filled by one of those dudes that have small tents set up in shopping centers. That may not keep it from "running" but it's worth a go. It won't create a crack in the windshield until your first day out on a driving vacation....

As far as the streak, first, I'd suggest you hit it with some mild polishing compound to see if it will "buff out". If it is "dented" you may consider having a PDR dude have a go at it.


humfrz

[Elliryx]

thats a good thing it didnt go through your windshield that would have been fu*king crazy.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by humfrz

hmmmm........it's a wonder the windshield didn't crack. You may consider having that windshield "chip" filled by one of those dudes that have small tents set up in shopping centers. That may not keep it from "running" but it's worth a go. It won't create a crack in the windshield until your first day out on a driving vacation....

As far as the streak, first, I'd suggest you hit it with some mild polishing compound to see if it will "buff out". If it is "dented" you may consider having a PDR dude have a go at it.


humfrz

I have had a hit on the edge like that before (not this car yet) and there is nothing they can do to repair it.