A rock or an iguana just smashed through your windshield? Florida may have you covered [Miami Herald]

You may not even see it coming.

A rock, steel rod or animal hits your car windshield as you're traveling on I-95 or Florida's Turnpike.

What happens now?

If you're fortunate to avoid injury, you have a windshield to fix or replace.

That could be expensive. But if you have a particular insurance, you're covered in Florida, and can even get the work done free.

READ MORE: Will car insurance cover frozen iguana damage in South Florida?

Here's what to know:

What can happen on the road

It doesn't take much to break a windshield in South Florida.

Miami and Broward highways are filled with open vehicles carrying hunks of concrete, metal rods and other construction material. Road debris carpets the pavement. Birds, turtles, even frozen iguanas have been known to come from nowhere.

And it all can get kicked up from the road or dropped from a truck or tree. Sooner or later, BOOM! CRACK! SHATTER!

READ MORE: What just smashed through the windshield? For some, a scare. For others, death

How can you get a free windshield in Florida?

So, what now? A Reddit user shared the news: Drivers with broken windshields can get a free replacement. But how does that work?

Insurance:First, to be eligible for free windshield replacement, drivers need to carry comprehensive auto insurance. That's the part of a policy that covers vandalism or damage from something other than a crash. It's an added purchase, above the minimum liability requirement in Florida.

Florida law:Yes, the state has a law that offers free windshield replacements for drivers who carry comprehensive insurance. Basically, the law waives the deductible, which in some cases could be high, maybe even $1,000, and lead to significant or total out-of-pocket expenses before the policy kicks in to cover the cost of a broken windshield. Kentucky and South Carolina also offer zero-deductible windshield coverage for drivers who carry comprehensive insurance.

Surprise:Many drivers don't know about the benefit. One Reddit user posted this: "Did you know that windshield replacement is free in Florida? If you have a comprehensive car insurance policy. I was pleasantly surprised by this. I booked the appointment online and was told it would be a $100.00 deductible. But that's not the case. It was zero."

Premiums: If you use the benefit, will your premiums increase? One Reddit user expects that: "The insurance companies turn around and raise their policy rates." But a former insurance agent weighed in: "A glass claim will NOT impact your rate. Why would they adjust your risk because you got a windshield fixed? And it's free because the state of Florida reimburses them. Actually no comprehensive claim will make your rate go up... except a theft/vandalism claim. Damage from that, indicates you're not in a great area, or at least you're personally involved with people who would damage your car. This causes an increase in risk."

Insurance cost:Florida drivers already pay plenty for auto insurance. According to U.S. News & World Report, car insurance costs an average of $2,553 a yeary, more than $1,000 higher than the national average. Insurify, an insurance comparison website, says Floridians are paying the fourth highest auto insurance rates in the nation. Uninsured drivers, weather and fraud push up rates even more in South Florida.

Risk:Florida wants you to replace your shattered windshield for safety reasons and the risk of causing other accidents or injuries. "A damaged windshield can be dangerous," according to Florida personal injury firm Baggett Law. "The glass may shatter while the car is on the road. If it does, it could cause a traffic accident that could cause catastrophic injuries and traffic fatalities. Therefore, repairing broken, cracked, and damaged windshields as soon as possible is in the public's best interest. Eliminating the deductible for the repair encourages vehicle owners to repair a damaged windshield as soon as possible."

What you should do to get the benefit

Process:

Review your policy to confirm that you have comprehensive coverage.

File a claim with your insurance company.

Confirm the benefit with the insurance company to start the process.

Some insurance companies work with glass repair companies and will arrange the no-deductible repair.

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