What To Do When Your Windows Are Damaged

You’ve discovered that your car has been vandalized. Or there’s been an accident in which your windows were broken or cracked. What should you do now?

Step 1. Create Documentation

Take pictures. Make a personal statement. Locate witnesses. Write down the time and place. Find as much information as possible, and keep it handy. You may need this later. If anything was removed from your vehicle, find receipts for the items taken, if you still have them. You should have as much proof as possible that these items were in your possession.

Step 2. File a Police Report

Contact the police within 24 hours, or as close to that time frame as possible. This creates an official record of the incident, and may be needed to resolve your claim. You should do this no matter how minor you think the damage is, even if nothing was stolen, as it creates a paper trail. Have your license, registration and insurance information ready at the time you make the report.

Step 3. File an Insurance Claim

Check your policy to know what’s covered. Note that you will probably have to report your claim as soon as you can to meet the rules set by your insurance company. Get your documentation ready, to help resolve your claim more quickly. Your insurance representative should be able to guide you through the next part of the process.

Step 4. Protect Your Vehicle Once the Claims Adjuster Has Assessed Damage

Cover your windows to make sure no more damage occurs. Keep your car inside or under shelter if that’s possible. Your insurance may help pay for some of this maintenance, but it will not cover damage to your interior if you fail to protect your car after your windows were broken. Do what you can to diminish the appearance of the damage.

Step 5. Have Your Vehicle Fixed as Soon as Possible

You do not need to go to the car repair shop that the insurance company recommends. Instead, do your research and visit a business that you trust. Ask questions, look for certifications, and make sure you are comfortable with the service. Have an auto glass repair company do the work, and be done with it. Having your car repaired quickly is safer and lets you return to your regular routine in a timely manner.

It’s always stressful to find that your vehicle has broken windows, but if you take the steps outlined, you can increase your chances of of making the process smoother and easier as you undergo the repair of your vehicle.

How to Avoid Aftermarket Body Parts

Following a collision, your car may need replacement parts in order to be restored by an auto body shop to working order. If your car is relatively new, you'll want OEM (original equipment manufacturer) parts. This is because OEM parts, made by the original manufacturer or a subcontractor, are designed to work in your vehicle. They will work exactly as well as the part being replaced, and are often warrantied. Aftermarket parts are not made by the car's manufacturer or its subcontractors, so quality is variable at best. But how can you make sure you get the OEM parts?

Don't Go By Price Alone 

When choosing the auto body shop to repair damage to your vehicle, you may be tempted to simply choose the company that can fix your car for the least amount of money. However, don't make this your only criteria. The cheapest estimates are sometimes so cheap because shops don't use quality parts or they have ways of getting around the regular expenses of buying OEM parts. In choosing an auto body shop, going with company that you can trust - one that has good word-of-mouth and that has been in service for a long time - can be infinitely better than depending on the projected amount of the bill. See how D&I autobody shop makes sure to quote you fair, competitve rates to assure you are satisfied with their services.

Ask Questions About Your Estimate 

In most states, repair facilities are required by law to disclose in their estimates that they will use aftermarket parts. If that is not true of your state, you should ask questions and make sure you are satisfied with the answers. Find out exactly what parts will be used, if they are new or used, and if the parts have been previously repaired. Also, be alert for the terminology that the body shop uses. For example, aftermarket parts can also be "imitation," "third party," or "white box" brands.

 

Advocate For Yourself 

Most importantly, make sure to use your own judgment and don't get sidetracked by a body shop's promises that you'll pay reduced rates, get guaranteed insurance coverage, or save your deductible. This usually means that they have other ways of cutting costs. Don't stick to auto body shops "preferred" by your insurance company, because these two often work out deals that result in corner-cutting for consumers. Use the same strategies you would use in choosing any business over another, and don't let your lack of knowledge make you easily manipulated. You may not always need OEM parts, but the ones provided by the manufacturer or a licensed agent may be the most dependable and long-lasting regardless of the age and condition of the vehicle. Protect yourself and make sure you know how to get what you want. D&I Auto Body has a variety of services ranging from paint touch-ups to full body repair. Check out their services and rest assured that they will ethically take care of all your restorative needs.


More about D&I Body Shop, Inc.
1779 Marietta Blvd NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 885-9575
www.dandibodyshopandglass.com

Do gravel truck companies have to pay for your chipped windshield?


If you’re driving down the road and your windshield gets damaged by a rock flying off a gravel truck, you may very well wonder who is going to pay to repair of your car.

The short answer is that gravel truck companies are normally not obligated to pay for unintentional damage.



Who Is Responsible?


This type of incident is usually considered an unintentional road hazard, or collateral damage, especially if it occurs inside a construction zone. It isn’t normally classified as an accident, as with a hit-and-run.

Therefore, the other party is not responsible for damage to your car or other property unless you can prove some type of negligence or malicious purpose on the part of the company or the driver. For example, if you can show that the gravel was not tied down properly, that would imply that someone was responsible.



Insurance Issues


You should check first with your insurance company. If you have comprehensive coverage on your vehicle, your windshield repair may very well be covered already. This sort of damage would not be paid for under liability coverage because no one is considered to be at fault. If you have a deductible, however, you may have to pay that first.Your agent may actually advise you against taking any action against the gravel truck company, and just go ahead and file a claim with your insurance company.

Whether or not this raises your rate often depends on the conditions of your insurance contract, but some companies do not penalize you for this type of damage. If it does, you may want to pay for it yourself out-of-pocket to avoid additional fees.



To Pursue A Claim


If you do have proof that the gravel truck company or its driver was negligent, like a phone image of a load that wasn’t well secured, you should contact the company first. Its representatives may know of existing issues and be prepared to pay. You’ll need to know the identity, such as a license plate number, of the vehicle in question.

Also, having a police report in hand helps. If the company does not express a willingness to settle, you may be forced to take your issue to small claims court if you want relief. Unfortunately, there’s no guarantee that this route will give you the result you desire.



So, in general, gravel truck companies are not liable for your windshield repair. It probably is not worth the trouble, money, and time to pursue a claim unless you have the means to prove there was recklessness or malice intended.

More about D&I Body Shop, Inc.

1779 Marietta Blvd NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 885-9575
www.dandibodyshopandglass.com

The Dangers of Auto Insurance DRP’s

So your car has been in an accident and it needs repairs. You’ve filed a claim with your insurance provider and followed all the correct steps. Your insurance provider offered you a Direct Repair Program or DRP body shop who they will deal with directly. It seems like a good choice right?

Not always. DRP body shops have often been known to cut corners when repairing your vehicle. This spares them expenses and time of your repair.

Direct Repair Program

DRP programs were developed by insurance providers to shrink their costs of collision and body repair. To make sure that a steady flow of work from referrals comes in, the shop usually accepts lower labor rates and shorter procedures and quality checks. As an example, they might agree to use lesser parts in order to make sure that the insurance company pays less for a repair. Additionally, other typical repair procedures may be left out by the shop so that the job can be completed faster and in a more inexpensive manner.

Going with a Repair shop that doesn’t cut corners

When you are deciding which body shop to go to based on estimates, think about this: Insurance DRP estimates are generally lower because they take shortcuts like not blending adjacent panels for a color match or using non manufacturer parts for all parts of the repair. Go with a shop that uses tried and true methods like fully color matching repaired auto body panels and using the highest quality auto parts available for repair. The estimate might be higher but the repair will be safe and help your vehicle last longer.

A good auto body repair shop is not focused on the “quicker is better” mantra. For example, to save time a DRP shop will often tape of moldings and emblems instead of taking them off the vehicle. This is faster but it can result in a raised paint line running over the length of the molding or handle. This is not the correct way to handle that repair. Insurance companies should want to reduce costs but not at the expense of your vehicles value and long-term life.

D&I Body Shop, your trusted source for high quality repairs

At D&I Auto Body, we will never compromise the value of your vehicle with inferior or dangerous repairs. By the time you turn your lease in or trade in your car, the dealer will recognize the difference between a good and bad repair. The price they offer you for your car will be reflected in it. So don’t accept inferior repairs and come to D&I body shop.

More about D&I Body Shop, Inc.

1779 Marietta Blvd NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 885-9575
www.dandibodyshopandglass.com

Auto Glass: The Manufacturing Process

Have you ever wondered how the glass in your car is different from the glass that’s fitted to the windows of your home? How do they make it so sturdy? While getting chips and knicks every once in awhile may lead you to believe that auto glass isn’t very strong at all, it’s actually designed to withstand all sorts of weights and pressures as you drive. From that pothole you didn’t see all the way to that mega-bug that flies into your screen at 60 miles per hour, auto glass is a wonder to behold. But how do they do it?

The Two Types of Glass

There are generally two types of glass that are used when car manufacturers are creating the safe surroundings of your car. Both of these types of glass are referred to as “safety glass,” as they break into smaller pieces rather than the large, dangerous shards that the windows in your house might break into. The first type of glass is called laminated glass, which is predominantly used for windshields. The second type of glass is called tempered glass, which is used for the other areas of the car.

How’s It Done?

Windshield glass, or laminated glass, is created by squeezing a layer of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) between two pieces of glass, which is then sealed through heat and pressure. This causes a strong chemical bond in the glass, allowing the glass resistance to breakage during impact. Incidentally, it also blocks up to 95% of ultraviolet rays from the sun. Tempered glass also receives a heating treatment, but is then rapidly cooled, which stresses the glass into having approximately 10 times the strength of normal glass for your automobile's windshield.

The Safety Factor

You might not think about your automobile glass very much, but it’s actually part of the safety equipment in your vehicle. Without reinforced glass, every time you shut your car door or even hit a speed bump, you’d be faced with yet another crack or break. By not allowing the windows to shatter into large shards, it also protects the vehicle occupants from additional cuts. However, failing to get a knick or chip in your auto glass repaired, particularly in the windshield area, can cause a destabilization factor, which can lead to a less safe ride. If you notice something, it’s better to get it fixed right away than to wait for a major crack to form.

More about D&I Body Shop, Inc.
1779 Marietta Blvd NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 885-9575
www.dandibodyshopandglass.com

Watch That Crack! The Importance Of Quick Auto Glass Repair

There’s nothing worse than hearing that tell-tale crack while you’re on the road. The next thing you know, your windshield has a small chip or a crack. No big deal, right? Wrong. Failing to fix your chipped or cracked auto glass can only result in a future expensive repair. Sure, you may get away with it for a little while. However, there are many factors that could easily leave you dealing with a much bigger mess, or even a dangerous driving situation, should you continue to ignore it.

Cracks & Chips Hate The Cold

Getting a chipped windshield in the winter isn't hard. There’s grit and salt all over the roads which can easily get kicked up by bigger vehicles and thrown onto your windshield. However, as the weather drops to freezing temperatures, the glass in your windshield can expand and contract, causing even the smallest crack to become a huge problem in a matter of minutes. While it’s easy to dismiss a small scratch as “no big deal,” ignoring it can easily lead to a shattered windshield at the slightest touch.

Potholes: Your New Enemy

It’s only a small crack, right? Big deal. However, small chips and cracks in your windshield are a destabilizing factor in the structure of your auto glass. Whether you live in a small town or a big city, potholes on the road are a common fact of life. If you hit one of these at speed, it can easily cause your windshield to “give way” while you’re driving, leaving you with a massive repair or a lap-full of glass. Fixing a small chip or crack is easy and can take less than 30 minutes, ensuring you don’t wind up in a tragic situation down the road.

Yet Another Driver Distraction

Believe it or not, your eyes are drawn to objects on your windshield, particularly when driving long distances or sitting in traffic. This can mean stickers and even cracks can become a dangerous distraction, which can lead to a possible accident or minor fender bender. What’s worse is that minor bump can also crack the rest of your windshield, making putting off getting it repaired a truly terrible idea. Keep yourself safe by dealing with the problem before it becomes a bigger one.

If you’re like most drivers, you might occasionally put off those seemingly “non-essential” repairs due to possible cost or hassle. Getting your auto glass repaired before it becomes a huge problem is actually covered by many auto insurance policies, and can take less than 30 minutes in some circumstances. Check with both your insurance company and auto glass professional for further details. Remember: the longer you put it off, the worse it can become.

More about D&I Body Shop
1779 Marietta Blvd NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 885-9575
www.dandibodyshopandglass.com

3 Things that Break Windshields and Auto Glass

Needing to replace or repair the windshield on your car can be a major hassle. Not only does a crack or a break in your windshield provide a major eye sore for your vehicle, it could also lead to you getting a police ticket if you do not replace it.


Cracks and breaks in your windshield could cause your view to be obstructed while driving which could endanger your life as well as others. So what are some things you need to avoid in order to maintain a chip and crack free windshield? Below are 3 enemies to your auto glass.

Rocks or Gravel – It is well known that rocks or gravel can chip or break your windshield, so when you are on the freeway and driving behind a semi-truck or on a gravel road, slow down or move around the gravel truck. The faster you drive in those elements, the likely it is that your car will be struck with rocks or gravel, thus causing a chip or break in your windshield.

Bird Poop – Yes, frozen bird poop has recently been one of the reasons for cracked windshields. If a bird releases its nasty package high enough in the air in a cold temperature, then it is a good chance that it may crack your windshield. Be sure to park your car in areas where birds usually steer clear of. This will help you avoid the situation. Wired.com did a study on bird poop breaking windshields. Be sure to check it out.

Hot Water – Hot water is also known to break windshields during the cold winter months. Main offenders of the hot water breakages are people who are running late for work or in a hurry to get the ice off of their vehicle during the cold season and choose to pour hot water on the windshield for a quick fix. The problem with that, though, is the quick change in temperature from the hot water on the auto glass can cause a crack in your windshield. So if you are warming your car up in the winter season, be sure to plan ahead and warm up your car ahead of time.

More about D&I Body Shop
1779 Marietta Blvd NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 885-9575
www.dandibodyshopandglass.com

How Windshields Are Made

The windshield has a lone and very rich history, which stems from 1905 when it was discovered that glass can be heat tempered. Heat tempering is a treatment widely used back then to make glass resistant to shattering. Heat tempered glass became the windshield material of choice up until the middle of the 20th century, when lamination proved to be a better alternative to heat tempering.

Laminated glass consists of one plastic layer bounded by two sheets of glass. Laminated glass can bend upon impact, instead of shattering and breaking. This feature made laminated glass the dominant trend in most countries. In fact, many states in the United States requires auto manufacturers to install windshields made of laminated glass because they pose less risks to passengers compared to heat tempered windshields.

Windshields have very complex material structure. Raw materials needed to make windshield glass include silica, sodium oxide, and calcium oxide. These chemicals are often derived from sand, soda ash and lime. Other materials needed for auto glass and windshield manufacturing are magnesium oxide, feldspar, and potassium oxide. In some instances, cullet (broken waste glass) is included in the mix.

 

How are Windshields Made?: The Manufacturing Process

1. The raw materials mentioned above are weighed carefully and are prepared in appropriate amounts. Once this is done, the materials are mixed together with a small amount of water to prevent segregation.
2. After the batch is made, it is then placed in a large tank where it is melted. This is called the float process. In this phase, the glass material is melted at 1,835 degrees Fahrenheit (1,000 degrees Celsius). After which, it is placed onto a bath of melted tin. Once the glass floats, it then rolls out from the flat chamber to the oven. Otherwise known as the annealing lehr.
3. In the lehr or furnace, the glass is significantly cooled to about 395 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius). Once the glass comes out of the furnace, it is significantly stronger and clean of impurities. At this point, the glass is ready to be polished into an auto windshield.
4. Once the design and dimensions are finalized using a diamond scribe, the glass is then cut. Modern glass cutting technologies have made this process faster and easier. Once the glass is cut, it is then bent and fitted into a mold. The mold is heated, which makes the glass to sag according to the shape of the mold.
5. After the shaping phase, the glass material will be tempered in a furnace to about 1,565 degrees Fahrenheit (850 degrees Celsius). After which, the glass is cooled with blasts of cool air. This cooling process, also known as quenching, toughens the glass and makes it durable even during collisions and impacts.
6. Once the glass is tempered and cleaned, it is then laminated. The lamination process involves bonding two sheet of glass with a layer of plastic and takes place in a furnace where the materials are heated and pressed to form a single unit that is highly resistant to shattering.
7. Plastic moldings are then attached to the glass, which makes it ready for car installation. Any other modifications, such as glazing, are usually done by the automobile manufacturer.

About D&I Body Shop

1779 Marietta Blvd NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 885-9575
www.dandibodyshopandglass.com

The History of the Automobile Windshield

At D&I Body Shop and Glass, we're passionate about the history of the automotive industry. In this, the first post on our brand new blog, we dive into the history of the automobile windshield - an important safety component that people often don't think about until it's time to get the windshield replaced or repaired.

A Brief History Overview

Back in the early 19th century, early forms of windshields were made of ordinary glass and were mostly fitted in horseless carriages to protect the driver from the elements. However, it offered little protection from debris and instead posed a threat to the occupants.

Shards of broken glass could easily cause serious injuries to both driver and passenger. Getting bumped from behind could send the motorists flying headfirst through the glass and may result to grave complications and even death.

In the early 20th century, two scientists revolutionized the structure of the automobile windshield. French scientist Edouard Benedictus discovered a way to make glass shatter-resistant. According to automobile historians, Benedictus dropped a flask containing dried collodion film. He then saw that although the film cracked, it retained its original shape.

British scientist John C. Wood was also working on similar project and developed a way to laminate the windshield. After successful tests, he began producing the product under the brand Triplex. By 1927, Henry Ford, founder of Ford Motors, began incorporating Triplex windshields in their automobiles. One obvious downside of laminated windshields back then was that the celluloid layer in the middle discolors due to exposure to the elements.

By 1950s, windshield technology took another step forward. Most automobiles manufactured by this time were fitted with tempered glass for windshields and windows. Its main quality was its toughness and durability. Windshields made of tempered glass can withstand tremendous force and will shatter into smooth beads rather than large shards when broken.

The strength of tempered glass lies in the process of its production. During its manufacturing process, materials undergo a thermal “toughening” phase which further increases the strength of the glass.

During the course of time, technological innovations were introduced to maximize windshield protection and performance.  In the 1980s, Ford cars adapted a windshield technology used on airplanes to prevent ice from building up on the window and impede the pilot’s vision. This innovation was branded “Quickclear”, which enabled electric current to run throughout the glass via a conducting layer of tin (IV) oxide to generate heat to prevent ice and frost build up.

Other car manufacturers followed suit, installing a grid of micro-thin wires to conduct the heat throughout the windshield. Notable manufacturers that employed this technology were Jaguar and Porsche.

While the windshield is ultimately designed for driver and passenger safety, it wasn’t until the 1960s that standards were created to define the safety parameters in windshield construction and installation.

In 1970, the US government formed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the enforcing agency of traffic safety laws and policies in the country. NHTSA has made several provisions on windshield standards, including retention strength, transparency, and shatter-resistance among others.

If you're in metro Atlanta and you need your windshield replaced or repaired, give the experts at D&I a call for a quotation.