When I began thinking more seriously about car issues, it occurred to me that there were a few things I needed to do if I wanted to make things easier for myself in the long run. For starters, I began taking my car in for regular auto service, which really helped out. It was really interesting to see how many different things had to be fixed every time I went in, but when my car didn't have as many problems, I could tell that it was really paying off. This website is all about understanding and preventing car problems by making better choices.
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You come back to your car, only to find that a tree limb has landed on your windshield and smashed it. You don't want to pay for it, obviously, if it wasn't your fault.
Before you get going with who is responsible for the damage, you are likely to want to get your care into a windshield replacement service to get the windshield replaced. Arguing for reimbursement or compensation from any of the following entities is likely to take a while, and you don't want to leave your vehicle exposed to the elements. Once you have secured your vehicle with windshield replacement services, you can get receipts and take the issue up with the party at fault.
Your Tree
If the tree was in your own yard, your best bet is to look at your car insurance policy. Do you have comprehensive coverage with a $0 auto glass deductible? You are in luck. If you don't have the $0 deductible, it may be counterproductive to file a claim with your insurer, since auto glass repair is fairly affordable to pay for out of pocket.
The City's Tree
It may be possible to claim that the city owes you damages for a fallen tree branch, especially if you can look back into the service records and find out that there have been complaints or service requests to attend to that tree before. The process of arguing for damages can take quite some time, so again, this is best left for cases where you have more than just window damages. If the tree was heavy enough to damage the frame of your vehicle, for instance, definitely look into getting that covered by the public service entity responsible for upkeep of the tree.
A Neighbor's Tree
If the tree was from your neighbor's property, it is worth looking into their home insurance policy to see if they have any liability coverage for property damage. This is an easy way to get the damages covered, and a small amount should not make a significant impact to their premiums.
Whichever route you go for financing, do make sure that you get your car promptly serviced by an auto glass repair team. This is the most important aspect of recovering from tree damages; a good job on your auto glass should cost no more than a few hundred dollars, and it preserves the aesthetics and safety of your vehicle.
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