A rock shattered my rear passenger window...need some advice.

[mcimiluca]

Hey guys... So i was driving to work this morning, and as I was passing a house from down my street... The owner was weed whacking the end of his driveway and was kicking up rocks everywhere as i drove by. One flew and hit my rear passenger side window and spidered the whole window. It did not shatter glass everywhere because of my window tints.

Two Questions.

1. I'm expecting to have Safelite do the window install tomorrow. Should i be worried about use of a non oem window. I know there is audi security etchings on the windows. Is it worth paying more for the oem. I have no idea what the cost would be yet. The Final total is already $440.

2. I need to take this guy to small claims court because he didn't seem to care that he shattered my window. I called the police right away and am waiting for the report. Do you think i have a good chance of winning? Technically he could have lied to the cop and said he doesn't know what hes talking about but the cop clearly saw what happened.

Thanks guys! any help would be greatly appreciated.

[phillips2024]

in response to number 1.

when the windshield cracked on my Q7 I insisted on OEM glass. They will give you some song and dance about how aftermarket is just as good and if you want OEM it will cost you more; Dont listen. OEM or bust.

Have your audi dealer order (if they dont stock it) the side window then have safelite install. Thats how I did it.

as for number 2. Just state your case and have all your evidence!

[well_armed]

Usually insurance policies have a couple windshield replacements embedded in the premium, check and see. Small claims court is not worth your time.

[sapsec]

Sorry about your luck...

1) As everyone has said "OEM or bust". Don't skimp on an Audi.
2) Understand the frustration/anger/annoyance but probably not worth the hassle or the money to take this to court. I'm not a lawyer but don't see how he is legally responsible for your window. It was an accident and unfortunate but where is his liability? It's like a limb falling from a tree (in a way) and denting your car. I certainly understand your desire for court but fear you will waste money on court costs, filing fees only to lose. Just my .02 - Either way good luck.

[BlueByU]

OEM glass for Audi is generally half price to NAGS glass. I definitely would not have Safelite install glass, especially door glass. You need to have a body shop do it. They know how to take apart the door and put it back together. Seriously, I'm in the business. This is the truth.

Good Luck.

[mcimiluca]

Well small claims court is very easy in nj. Its only $25 to file. The police report is already in...so that's one step already. You don't need a lawyer. Going to small claims court is very common in this state.

[mcimiluca]

Does anyone know roughly how much an oem rear window costs on a b8 s4?

[BlueByU]

I believe it's like $110 or so. Audi door glass is pretty cheap. I remember b6 s4 door glass was $88.

[sirpickles]

The guy could've at least apologized. dang.

[mcimiluca]

The guy could've at least apologized. dang.

Yeah I know. He totally blew it off like it wasn't problem. I was more mad about how he handled it at the time then about the window. People these days...

[phillips2024]

Yeah I know. He totally blew it off like it wasn't problem. I was more mad about how he handled it at the time then about the window. People these days...

i totally hear you. Like 5 days into ownership some ($(^$ in her old hyundai slamming into my rear. Her story, its my fault i was there!!! no im sorry or anything. from that point on...it was WAR, bring 'em down :)

[FatalBert]

Sorry about your luck...

2) Understand the frustration/anger/annoyance but probably not worth the hassle or the money to take this to court. I'm not a lawyer but don't see how he is legally responsible for your window. It was an accident and unfortunate but where is his liability? It's like a limb falling from a tree (in a way) and denting your car. I certainly understand your desire for court but fear you will waste money on court costs, filing fees only to lose. Just my .02 - Either way good luck.

You can't take a tree to court and this wasn't a natural occurrence.
The guy was ignorantly whacking rocks/debris onto the road and one happened to shatter his rear passenger side window.

Now imagine it was his front windshield that shattered hindering his visibility and happening to cause injury to him/others.
As unlikely as that scenario is, would you still feel that he is not liable for any of it?

[IceAero]

You can't take a tree to court and this wasn't a natural occurrence.
The guy was ignorantly whacking rocks/debris onto the road and one happened to shatter his rear passenger side window.

Now imagine it was his front windshield that shattered hindering his visibility and happening to cause injury to him/others.
As unlikely as that scenario is, would you still feel that he is not liable for any of it?

I think we can all agree that a very foreseeable result of weed-whacking rocks near a public road is that a car will be hit by one. I cannot fathom a universe in which this is not negligence.

[adamkb26]

Yeah I would say the guy is liable for breaking your glass. You can't just spray stones everywhere with your equipment and not pay for it. Accident or not, it's still his fault.

[ENV²]

i totally hear you. Like 5 days into ownership some ($(^$ in her old hyundai slamming into my rear. Her story, its my fault i was there!!! no im sorry or anything. from that point on...it was WAR, bring 'em down :)

Her insurance covered it am I right?

[Habber]

Insurance will cover the damage, forget court. As for your neighbour, pay a kid 20$ to break his window.

[skiracerblah]

I spoke to my home glass guy whom used to do automotive glass. He doesn't do automotive glass anymore, but He says alot of german cars, especially bmw, benz, audi you should use OEM glass. Plus, he says many of the newer models require a special conductive glue since many of the sensors send current thru the glue. He says the glue can cost $40/tube. So, he says go to a shop to get it done and don't use a mobile glass guy. So, don't cheap out on this....

He also said the german cars over engineer the glass mounts compared to american/japanese cars. So, it requires a lot more time to remove the old glass...

[mcimiluca]

Insurance will cover the damage, forget court. As for your neighbour, pay a kid 20$ to break his window.

Yeah unfortunately i would still have to pay the $1000 dollar deductible. Which doesn't make sense since the the total repair will probably only run me 400 bucks or so.

I agree on the breaking of the window haha...I'm gonna call the guy later to give him one chance to settle it out of small claims court.

[ihkskim]

just get it replaced thru insurance. its not worth your time and money to go thru claims court and headache over a glass window.

my front windshield cracked and i got it replaced for $100 thru farmers. I paid a lil extra to have OEM parts in my premium but its worth it for resale purposes.

safelife sucks btw from what i've heard

[abingdon]

I had a landscaper shatter my Volvo's drivers side window a few years ago. The landscaping company gladly agreed to pay for the damage. I had Safelite do it - they installed Pilkington glass. From that day on, the door/window rattled. I think having a good body shop do the job may be the way to go.

[phillips2024]

Her insurance covered it am I right?

oh of course. Myself, the two cops, and her insurance company didnt believe a word of her colorful story

[focusaudi]

no lawyers in small claims court, it's you vs him. his homeowner's insurance will cover your window.

[Rich4114]

no lawyers in small claims court, it's you vs him. his homeowner's insurance will cover your window.

This

But to add to the argument for mci, what if he wasn't in his car at all and was a little kid riding by on his bike? What if that rock cracked his head open instead of a window? Then what?

Nothing drives me more insane than complete a-holes with total disregard for anyone else around them. First of all, learn how to operate a weed whacker. Second, if hitting rocks is unavoidable then at least wait for nobody to be near you so you don't have this happen.

[BLACKS4-10]

This as I recently took someone to small claims court and won and it only cost me $15 here in NY if it's under $1000,$20 if it's over.Negligence is a terrible and sometimes dangerous thing....
no lawyers in small claims court, it's you vs him. his homeowner's insurance will cover your window.

[Maltitol]

You should Judge Judy this guy! You get cash just for showing up, and it sounds like an easy win with the police report.