Ever had your windshield broken by a rock falling off a truck?

[BlueSideUp]

Apparently my wife's drive to a meeting today was punctuated by a large rock falling off of a dump truck on Ortega Highway. From what I understood the rock caused a dime to quarter size star in the windshield on our Mini Cooper.

She called the number on the truck but got an answering machine. Have you guys had any luck getting the windshield fixed after something like this?

[Sapporo Guy]

you should be able to report it to the police.
Then talk with the insurance company, they might be helpful.

I got screwed last year .. about 10 rocks came flying ... chipped the front windshield.
J cops just said that the driver didn't do it on purpose so you'll be hard pressed, they did get me in touch with company. Too much pain to bother.

pisser was that the truck was speeding and carried a load just a tad too much.

About 6 months later, a taxi ran straight into the driver door, damage bent the frame ... totaled the car. I did get my money's worth

Hopefully you'll do better!

[peppy]

I do not think they are liable for windshields unless it is something foreign to the road that hit your car. Normal size rocks are a hazard, and the following distance for big trucks is 500ft.

I have done that too, but I also busted my radiator.

[Danny_Ocean]

Happens here all the time. I had a truck drop a rock and crack the windshield. I delayed in getting it repaired. Two weeks later, it happened again (to the already damaged windshield)! Here in FLA, the insurance companies replace your windshield for free. There are so many careless truck drivers it would take an entire division of an insurance company to pursue each of them...so it's probably cheaper for them just to replace the windshield.

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by peppy

...and the following distance for big trucks is 500ft.

That's written into your state's Vehicle Code?

[peppy]

Danny no, but that is what I was taught. I think that you have to prove that the rock came off of the truck and not one that they ran over.

[1fastredsc]

I've had that happen a few times, just pay to have the little crack fixed before it starts to propagate into a large one, because then you need to replace the whole thing.

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by peppy

Danny no, but that is what I was taught. I think that you have to prove that the rock came off of the truck and not one that they ran over.

Heck, if everyone here attempted to stay back 500' from a truck, you wouldn't be able to get on the highway!

[peppy]

Danny I agree.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Yes, about 4 months ago I was driving home from San Diego (in-laws were in town) and had the displeasure of having my Mercedes windshield busted by a rock or piece of concrete or something kicked up by a semi. Filed an insurance claim, they would only replace with an aftermarket windshield in order to keep the total repair cost below my deductable, basically meaning I'd be paying 100% of it. So I said "screw it", found a special being done by Safelite, got the O.E. glass put in and that was that. It still meant that I had to pay about $400 out of pocket, but at least I got what I wanted (OE replacement).

Comes with the territory. One of the reasons I generally try to stick to the left/non-trucking lanes.

[Seahawk]

At least five.

[Capt. Carrera]

Rocks breaking windscreens? Yeah. About 6 times.

More interesting is the stuff that fell off trucks while I was living in S. Fl. Some of it I missed. Some I didn't.

• Paint can
• Rebar
• Mattress
• Muffler
• Brick
• Toilet
• Rocks.

Yeah, I miss the weather, but not the traffic.

[BlueSideUp]

Hmm well I will look at it when I get home. I think it's only dime size which would mean it could be filled. I'm guessing a new windshield for a Mini Cooper isn't cheap.

I'll have to ask a lawyer if the trucking company is liable for stuff falling off of their trucks. I'm pretty sure here in CA they are required to cover loads on a dump body.

[jwhcars]

I had the same thing happen to my MCS on the way to the dealership for a warranty issue.
They had a OEM windsheild in stock and they called a glass company to install it.I think it cost me around $300.00 to $400,00 in 2003 when this happened.My insurance did pay most of the bill but where unhappy because I did not call them so they could use After market for less money.

[porsche930dude]

Isnt only like 20 buks a year extra for glass insurance? I know i have it. I get alot of chips. I dont replace them until they turn into a big crack and can no longer can pass inspection. I beleive its 6 inches in the wiper path here in NY

[JCF]

Yup - it scks but with me it was a rock that must have been pinched by the trucks tire and sent it into my winshield - hardly the fault of the driver of the truck.

[HardDrive]

I had a big piece of metal fly off a work truck, bounce off the road, and crack my windshield. I saw it coming. Scared the hell out me.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Only 4-5 times. It was far worse when I lived in central KS, two lane roads with lots of semis are hell on windshields. Good luck getting it replaced, I've always been told it's considered a hazard of the road. Even if it fell off of the truck, good luck proving that.

Our insurance automatically pays for free glass repair, I think if it's under a quarter in size you're ok. Once they fill and seal the chip is normally invisible, and won't crack later. Do it quickly though, otherwise it will spread. I've had great luck with Safelite, and they will come to your home or workplace to do the repair.

[notfarnow]

I was behind a truck in a construction area, and as it started to pull away I noticed a baseball sized rocks stuck between its rear dual tires.

Just as I realized how dangerous that could be, it FLEW out, over my car ad smashed the windsheild of the truck behind me. Scary!

[gr8fl4porsche]

I've had broken windshields from trucks in every car I have owned.