Dealing With A Collision That Breaks Auto Glass
Car accidents that involve glass create a messy situation for any vehicle owner. Here are some steps to take to protect yourself and your property when dealing with broken glass.
Take Care of Your Eyes
Contusion and abrasion of eyes are the most common glass-related injuries resulting from auto accidents. The glass and glass dust that result from a car accident may get into eyes and cause irritation or scratching. If you do need to drive the car in order to get it to a repair facility, take care to protect your eyes with protective eyewear. It's best not to drive the car at all until you can get the window fixed; this will help you avoid bodily damage to your eyes and other body parts that may be scratched by loose glass. If you do notice eye irritation, treat it with urgency; eye abrasion can lead to permanent eye damage if it continues to be a problem. See your eye doctor if a simple flushing of your eyes with saline solution doesn't completely relieve redness and irritation.
Treat the Problem Urgently
Cars with broken windows are at risk. There may be valuable parts that thieves can steal more easily with the windows rolled down. Radios and hybrid batteries are examples of targets. They may have a difficult time stealing the entire car if there is chip technology involved, but amateur thieves may make an attempt and damage your ignition in the process. So, treat this as an emergency and at least get your auto glass fixed urgently.
Consult Your Insurance Company
If you were not at fault for the accident, the other driver's insurance company should fully cover your repairs. That includes auto glass and any other auto body or mechanical problems that are turned up after the accident. If you are at fault for the accident and you have collision auto insurance, you will also be able to get your accident covered by insurance, minus your deductible. Some insurance companies have a $0 deductible for auto glass, so look at your policy carefully.
Choose Glass Carefully
When you are at the auto body shop, be sure that you look at the glass closely and make sure it will match the tint of your other windows. Also note whether the glass piece has a logo or not; that can create a watermark on your vehicle that's unsightly. Your auto glass shop will assist you in picking the right glass for your vehicle.
Consult a Lawyer
Finally, consult a personal injury lawyer if there is any significant injury or property damage. Lawyers are necessary when there is a dispute of fault, when you have lost time from work, and when your medical care providers could be partially at fault for your injuries. But lawyers are always helpful for speeding up the financial recovery process and taking stress off of you. Firms like Gelman Gelman Wiskow & McCarthy LLC can help.
