I had about 2k miles on my truck, pulling the 5th wheel in Utah. I passed three large dump trucks pulling rollers on trailers going in the opposite direction; they were leaving their road construction site at the end of the day. All three trucks peppered me with gravel. Of course, one piece hit on the edge of the windshield and immediately started cracking. I have it all on dash cam, but can’t read the names on the sides of the trucks.

I’ve had many broken windshields and just wrote them off as the cost of driving. This time, after going about another mile, I saw the construction crew standing around their trucks. I pulled in and talked to the foremen. He confirmed that the dump trucks belonged to his company and gave me the information to file a claim. Their office (Utah) took my claim and after a few days handed it over to their insurance company and gave me a claim number. I couple days later I received an email from the claim adjuster in Massachusetts asking for details. I provided the details and then heard nothing for almost a month. After a month, I asked her for an update on the claim and received the following response:

“Thank you for your patience. Looking at the information provided, it was found that our truck was cleaned off and would have bene unable to cause such damages. This claim is being denied on our end for this reason. Although we do not dispute you sustained damage, the damage was likely caused from the debris kicked up from road and not from our customer vehicle.”

This determination was made by the claim rep sitting behind her desk on the opposite side of the country. I asked if she had looked at the dash cam video which I had forwarded to the construction company in the beginning. She had not and asked me to send it again. I did; that was two weeks ago and I have not heard a word since.

Bottom line; the sleazy insurance company is going to claim the debris came from the road and not the truck and will deny the claim. If it wouldn’t require a couple 12-hour trips, I’d file in small claims court; but, of course, they know it would be difficult for me.

I’ve turned it over to my insurance company who said “no problem, where do you want to get it fixed?”

Just venting….

 

Within days of having my windshield tinted with UV tint, I got a rock chip. I've never owned a vehicle more than a few months without the first rock chip.

And yeah, I didn't expect to keep reading and see that the construction company folks were willing to replace your windshield.

 

I have State Farm so may be different, but regardless of whether it was caused by someone else I just file through my Insurance and get it taken care of. It has never caused my rates to increase and hasn't effected my 10yr accident free discount.

 

I just had mine replaced too after a rockchip spread overnight. Our insurance here (BC canada) considers glass claims comprehensive so there is no impact on rates. Its also a streamline process that doesnt require any adjusters or even a claim. Simply book at any of the approved glass shops(most are) and its all handled. Dropped truck off, 2 hours later get a call its ready, signed a few papers, got my keys and left. sometimes i dont hate our government run insurance system...

 

It sucks you have to go through your insurance company, but they will go after theirs. They will want the dash cam footage and have their legal team pursue. Hopefully your rates don't go up.

 

State Farm has alway been great for me. I got rear ended once and the other guy didn’t have insurance, I paid my deductible and got it fixed. About a year later I got a check for my deductible back where they’d gone after the guy.

 

A few years ago....My daughter was a new driver, coming back from a Senior (HS) party. Winding road, started raining. She was on the inside lane next to the mountain. Tractor Trailer comes going on the outside lane up the road.

Ignored three signs stating no trucks and no truck over 40 feet. He had a 53 foot trailer in tow.

Daughter was going 10 mph around the corner (posted lime was 20) and this truck came around the corner and ran over the drivers side front bumper and fender. That was even with my daughter putting it in the ditch.

Driver gave us vague paper work, No contact info or anything. State police cited this guy like 3 tickets, maybe more.

I did the dectective work and filed a claim. All I heard was crickets. Now since they want to play that game I got after them and worked them over with the phones, BBB, State Attorneys office and my insurance.

Claimed that he to get ahold of the driver and here his side of the story. Not needed, he was at fault!

I got them to honor it but it took a couple of months.

I did the same thing with a zip car driver too. She ran into the side of my truck with trailer in White Plains NY. Claimed that she didn't see 60 foot of truck and trailer.

Zip car is self insured and I read online they wont pay. They did!

 

Does your truck fall under the windshield recall.....
mine does, but no cracks or chips yet so I'm gonna wait a little longer.

 

I always laugh at those signs on the dump trucks that say not responsible for damage. If it were that easy to avoid liability, nobody would ever be liable for anything.

I got a rock on the passenger side edge of my windshield shortly after picking up my 22. Does not seem to take much to crack these modern windshields.

With Progressive and in Tennessee, it is optional to have low deductible glass replacement. It adds about $50 per period to the premiums. My last truck I owned for over 14 years and never cracked the glass so I took the gamble and lost. Costed me $500 out of pocket for the replacement.

 

Unfortunately this is considered a "road hazard" pretty much everywhere. Your small claims case would not likely result in a victory. If they claim they cleaned the truck before hitting the road, that and a tarp over the load are all they are required to do and they would be held harmless in court. That rock could have been stuck in a tire and there is no requirement of anyone to address that, it is just a hazard of using the road, despite it being a rather obvious source, they would not have to pay for your glass.

 

$0 deductible comp @ State Farm. Free (not really) windshields.

 

My wife spent 36yrs as an ICU RN. She's always taken care of everyone, everything. I encouraged her into taking an early retirement at age 55, then celebrate it with buying herself a new Mercedes. It was a good day. As I followed her home from the dealership, a passing truck broke her windshield. Her tears were crushing. I was speechless .. that really sucked.

 

I think we pay and extra $35/yr for full glass coverage w/$500 ded comp with State Farm. Living in rural Colorado we go through about a windshield a year per vehicle. Rates haven't changed for getting them replaced over the last 10 years.

 

Sorry, just venting. Yes, I have State Farm $0 deductible glass replacement; had it replaced yesterday. Now it is going to Ford (also covered) for calibration. Lane departure seems to work fine, but I'll still have it done. The glass shop had the calibration equipment, but their software for 2022's has not been released yet. I knew all along my insurance was going to cover it, should have done that in the first place and avoided aggravation; but I was just hoping they would do the right thing; forgot for a second I was talking to an insurance company.

PS: it was not just one piece of gravel thrown up from a tire. We were peppered like a shotgun blast by at least two of the three trucks. It had only been about 1/2 mile since they pulled out of their work site. I suspect the debris was still falling off the trailers from loading the rollers. Of course the employees are going to say the cleaned everything off.

 

yep. it's their insurance job to say "we cleaned the trucks not our fault" insurance is a scam, however glass coverage with 0$ deductable is great. I've gone through about 7 windshields.