Car Maintenance: How to Deal with a Smashed Car Window
A car is a precious machine because it can comfortably get a person from one place to another. For this reason, car owners go above and beyond to take care of their cars. However, certain parts of a car are considered fragile and may break at times, intentionally or unintentionally. One perfect example of this is a car's windows.
A smashed car window is not only a visual irritant, but it can also affect the vehicle's functionality. A window ensures the safety of the car and its occupants if it's intact and undamaged. This can also be affected by a smashed car window, especially with the driver being exposed to the elements.
Seeing your car's window in a smashed state is undoubtedly a horrifying sight, but there are ways to address the matter at hand. These include:
#1 - Drop Whatever You’re Doing
If you notice that your car's window is smashed, you'd better drop whatever you're doing and get down to business. It might seem like a simple task, but there are essential steps to follow to help you solve the problem. As such, you shouldn't waste any time.
#2 - Document the Scene
Before you start work on replacing your car's window, you have to make sure that you have documented the entire scene. Be sure to take pictures of the damaged car windows and the vehicle itself. This will act as evidence, so this step is crucial and shouldn't be overlooked.
#3 - Determine If Your Personal Belongings Are Missing
After you have taken photos of the scene, you should go through the inside of your car and make sure that everything is still in its rightful place. If you notice that items have been taken from your vehicle, you must report them to the police department.
#4 - File a Police Report
Regardless of whether or not you're unsure if your car was broken into, you should file a police report because the authorities will be able to investigate the matter. At this point, you should also present your findings, such as photos of the scene and any missing valuables. This way, the police department will know what to do.
#5 - Protect Your Personal Information
Since you have just had your window smashed, you have been exposed to the elements. For this reason, you should take action to protect your personal information, especially in your car. You have to notify the credit bureaus and your bank immediately. The quicker you do this, the better.
#6 - File an Insurance Claim
Once you have contacted the authorities and the police department, you must file your insurance claim. This will allow you to replace the broken glass on your car's window. Furthermore, filing an insurance claim will let you be reimbursed for any personal belongings that have been stolen from you.
Installing a Temporary Patch
Once you've filed an insurance claim, you'll have to wait a while before your car can be fixed. Of course, you can't drive around with a broken window, so it's best to patch it up for the time being. You'll need the following supplies:
Gloves
Masking tape
Packing tape
Razor or box cutter
Portable vacuum cleaner
First, you'll want to vacuum the area where the window is broken. After that, you have to spray some cleaning solution onto the window's surface. Be sure to wipe the window's surface down with a cloth.
Once the surface is clean and dry, you have to apply some masking tape to the window. The tape should be placed in the same manner as masking tape. When you're done with this step, you have to put on some gloves and carefully cover the tape with the packing tape.
As the packing tape is being applied, you need to do it carefully and slowly so that you don't end up ripping it. When you're done, you should test the tape to ensure that it's strong enough. An optional measure is to insert a small piece of cardboard between the tape and the actual window to reinforce the surface, which helps flatten it and make the tape stick to it more firmly.
Conclusion
A smashed car window is one of those things that can happen to anybody. Sometimes the police must investigate your vehicle to see if it was indeed broken into, but other times it can just result from negligence. Whatever the case may be, you'll want to get a new window as soon as possible.
Save Auto Glass provides top-quality services for auto glass replacement in Denver. Our team of professional glass specialists will ensure that your car’s broken glass is replaced with high-quality glass, all for affordable prices. Reach out today to get a quote!
