Windshield Shattered!

beefangusbeef · Jun 16, 2006

Ok, well it didn't quite shatter, but pretty close. I was driving home and another suicidal moose comes prancing in front of my jeep I quickly slow down from about 35-25 as quickly as possible and my dog (58lbs), usually surefooted in the car tumbles into the windshield. Didn't seem to hit it that hard, but it left a large 14"+ sunburst on the outside of the windshield. He's totally unhurt, not bruises, swelling, bleeding and seemed unfazed by the incident. Is that normal for a windshield because how hard he hit it didn't seem like it should have done that much damage to it?

Mongo-man · Jun 16, 2006

yes, it's normal, you should realise that a car window is curved. Because it is curved it's very difficult to break from the outside.
If you think of a dam you will realise that they are always build with the curvature against the water pressure. If you would change the design and make the curvature the other way around the dam would immediatly collaps.
Same applies to your windshield. A small force from inside the car will easely break the curved windowshield. I have seen this happen quit a few times with loose pets and kids.

locomike · Jun 16, 2006

Man, I thought you were going to say you hit a moose and all you were complaining about was the windshield.

It's amazing how hard a dog head can hit something and be pretty much unfazed while the same impact would probably drop a person. When I was younger, my sister's pitbull almost knocked me out cold with a headbutt. He didn't even act like he felt it...

beefangusbeef · Jun 16, 2006

If you think of a dam you will realise that they are always build with the curvature against the water pressure. If you would change the design and make the curvature the other way around the dam would immediatly collaps.

I think your example is backwards, but I understand what you're saying I need to get some bulletproof glass installed anyways and a titanium bullbar death brushguard. From now on I'm meeting the moose head on!! Maybe a remote controlled IR gattling gun. I can get them before they even leave the woodline!

FullerH · Jun 16, 2006

I have mentioned this before, but when the Canadian Pacific RR first introduced diesel electric engines to their trains, the folks out in the boondocks told them to change the diesel horns to a loud, piercing whistle such as steam locomotives used. The management laughed at the hick yokels until the moose rutting season came and they had a number of derailments because the trains would honk their horns and then round a bend to find an angry bull moose in the middle of the track. The horn sounded just like the challenge call of a bull moose. They now use loud, piercing whistles on the engines.

PerformanceFirst · Jun 16, 2006

Windshields have a layer of plastic with a layer of glass on both sides. That might have something to do with how it broke.

ABTOMAT-47 · Jun 16, 2006

I gently smacked a mosquito on the inside of the windshield of a friend's Mercury Capri once. Huge cracked area. Not doing that again.

beefangusbeef · Jun 16, 2006

Windshields have a layer of plastic with a layer of glass on both sides. That might have something to do with how it broke.

Yeah getting it fixed tommorrow 270 out of pocket. Doesn't seem like to bad a deal. My deductible is 500, which isn't bad if you have a major accident or something, but for little stuff like this makes me want to switch to 100!!

brewthunda · Jun 17, 2006

beefangusbeef said:
Yeah getting it fixed tommorrow 270 out of pocket. Doesn't seem like to bad a deal. My deductible is 500, which isn't bad if you have a major accident or something, but for little stuff like this makes me want to switch to 100!!

Double check your policy - many car insurance policies don't have a deductible for windshield replacement. They realize that they're better off paying for a new windshield than letting you drive with a cracked windshield and getting into a REAL accident.

smithsnoh · Jun 17, 2006

Whoaaa - 270 bucks? Excuse me, but isn't that what the clear duct tape is for? For less than 10 bucks, I think that you can buy a roll large enough to fix your windshield and tape your dog down. Probably don't need a windshield for a while though, it'll be Summer in Alaska in just a couple more months.

beefangusbeef · Jun 17, 2006

Double check your policy - many car insurance policies don't have a deductible for windshield replacement. They realize that they're better off paying for a new windshield than letting you drive with a cracked windshield and getting into a REAL accident.

Unfortunately, no. It came out of pocket. I was going to have to fix it eventually.

Mongo · Jun 17, 2006

brewthunda said:
Double check your policy - many car insurance policies don't have a deductible for windshield replacement. They realize that they're better off paying for a new windshield than letting you drive with a cracked windshield and getting into a REAL accident.

I will never again submit a windshield replacement through car insurance. I got CANCELLED from those Allstate *$#@^&'s for having "three incidents" on my "record". Two of them were for windshields, the other a minor fender-bender. Good Hands with Allstate my kiester!:grumpy: