Ask Me Help Desk - Broken Car Wind Shield

I had an incident that include 3 kids by the age of 13, 11, 9, they parents agreed to pay the damage that was caused by the broken wind shield of my car. The Police was involved and the children were taking to their parents were they said they were going to pay to fix the wind shield. When I came to the meet with their parents of the children they back up and said they didn't want to pay... I have a police Report and I have the statement of the coast of my broken wind shield should I take them to court for this my window repair came out to $450.00 and I had to miss a day of work do to the incident. ( this is a little more on the situation the kids were on top of the bridge and were trowing objects from the bridge when one the objects hit my car and broken my back wind shield) I need help on what to do can any tell me if I'm right or wrong or what should I do

There is what's right and what is your least cost option.

Comprehensive on your insurance should cover the damage often with no deductible. It can't affect your driving record. You wn't miss a day's work, the windshield company comes out to your work to replace it usually. Windshiled repairs are usually covered at 100%.

I fought a parking ticket in a state about 24 minutes away once. Was it worth it. Probably not. Time offfrom work, pay for parking, went up again to take photos, git letter from a city official, wait nearly all day in an unairconditioned room.

Examiner basically said no one usually gets out of parking tickets. She did her thing. I handed her the letter. I guess you just did.

To explain a bit further, the parking tickets were handled by what I'll call examiners. You were called into their office and they recited a script. If I could have gotten a word in edgewise and given her the letter, I would not have had to listen to her script. Both of us would have been done a lot earlier.

My letter was from a city official that admitted that the signs were confusing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rosa625

I had an incident that include 3 kids by the age of 13, 11, 9, they parents agreed to pay the damage that was caused by the broken wind shield of my car. The Police was involved and the children were taking to their parents were they said they were going to pay to fix the wind shield. When I came to the meet with their parents of the children they back up and said they didnt want to pay.... I have a police Report and i have the statement of the coast of my broken wind shield should I take them to court for this my window repair came out to $450.00 and i had to miss a day of work do to the incident. ( this is a little more on the situation the kids were on top of the bridge and were trowing objects from the bridge when one the objects hit my car and broken my back wind shield) I need help on what to do can any tell me if im right or wrong or what should I do

If you do not have comprehensive on your auto to pay for the new windshield your only alternative is to pay to have your windshield repaired and take the little darlings parents to court. Most people do not have a clue that windshields cost that much to replace. If you have the police report and they refuse to pay have them explain it to the judge why they shouldn't have to and the judge will set them straight in a hurry.

First not sure where the one poster is from, but here in the US almost everyone has deductable on their comp coverage, 250 to 500 is actually the norm.
I have a no deduct policy personally but my agent told me I was the only customer they have with it. ( and have tried to get me to change from it many times)

If they still have to go to court, you can follow up with the Juv court or the DA to see if during court the judge can order them to pay.
Or you can sue in small claims court, but if you win and they still say no they won't pay, what do you do then

I agree with Twinkie here that the OP should cover the cost first (whether using insurance or paying out of pocket) because she needs the glass fixed right away. With the police report, it will probably be an easy case to win in small claims to recoup the out-of-pocket expenses.

Depending on where the OP lives will have some bearing on the specific Comprehensive coverage available. Some states allow a separate deductible (or no deductible) for glass breakage so she may have little or no out of pocket expenses.

Although Comp claims don't "count against" you on your driving record, having too many can cause your insurance company to drop the coverage. OP, check with your agent to see what you have on your policy.

FYI- Comprehensive covers things that are "outside of your control" like hail damage, glass breakage, a wild animal running out in front of you, theft, vandalism, a tree falling on your car etc... this incident would be covered because it's considered vandalism. So use your policy and take the parents to small claims for repayment of your deductible.

Usually comprehensive coverage can be in addition to the mandatory coverage you must carry on a car. You don't need to have collision in order to have comprehensive coverage. The cost of comprehensive coverage is rather inexpensive as well. Mine only cost me less than $50 a year and I have zero deductible as well with my policy. I don't have collision - just good UM and high dollar liability coverage. I've had my windshield replaced 3X in my Jeep since I've owned it at zero cost to me.

If the crack or breakage in your windshield is in the driver's line of sight area - you must have that windshield replaced or you will get a ticket.