Florida Windshield Replacement Law

No driver wants a crack or chip in their windshield. But thanks to Florida statutes, those damages are usually nothing more than a minor inconvenience. The statutes let vehicle owners get cracked or chipped windshields replaced through their comprehensive insurance coverage at no cost. This replacement work isn’t subject to the policy’s deductible.
If only the process was as smooth and easy for the repair shops that replace damaged windshields.

Vehicle owners generally don’t have to do anything more than call a repair shop. Most shops send their repair team to the owner’s home or workplace where they replace the windshield onsite quickly and easily. However, when it comes to getting paid by the vehicle owner’s insurance company, repair shops often find themselves facing a long and frustrating battle. Sometimes, this battle only ends when they take legal action against the insurance company.

If you own a windshield repair business in Florida and struggle to get payment from an insurance company for services rendered to vehicle owners they’ve insured, Vargas Gonzalez Baldwin Delombard, LLP, can help. Our Florida windshield replacement litigation lawyers can advocate on your behalf. We can also represent you in court to ensure that your business receives fair payment from uncooperative insurance companies.

Understanding Windshield Replacement Claims

The Florida windshield replacement law aims to protect drivers from driving vehicles with cracked or chipped windshields. After all, even the tiniest chip or crack can become a large and dangerous problem over time. In terms of the law, vehicle owners can get free windshield replacements. And insurance companies cannot apply the usual deductible to the replacement.

While the law makes life a little easier for vehicle owners, it does not always work in windshield repair shops’ favor.

To comply with the state law, most Florida insurance companies established working relationships with some of the larger windshield glass replacement businesses. Those relationships help streamline the process, and that’s not all. They also ensure that those approved businesses increase their business volume. This helps the insurance providers save money as the businesses agree to discount their repair rates significantly.

What This Means For Independent Small Repair Businesses

The approved larger windshield glass replacement businesses usually don’t have problems receiving payment from the insurance companies they have working relationships with. However, the same cannot be said about the independent small repair businesses that aren’t part of an insurance company’s approved network. Small independent businesses are often shortchanged when they try to obtain reimbursement on a claim from the vehicle owner’s insurance company.

Due to the few requirements for windshield repair claims in Florida law, many smaller windshield replacement businesses end up fighting large insurance companies for fair payment.

How Insurance Companies Avoid Paying Windshield Repair Claims

Some insurance companies in Florida avoid paying windshield repair claims by using limiting language in their policies. For example, an insurance provider might agree to only pay the “prevailing competitive price” for windshield replacements.

National Auto Glass Specifications publish industry-standard pricing and information used by auto glass professionals throughout the U.S. However, due to their working relationships with larger windshield repair businesses, large insurance companies control the local “competitive price” they pay, thanks to the significant discounts they receive from those businesses.

This means insurance companies and/or their third-party administrators determine how much smaller independent windshield repair and replacement businesses can get paid. The result is that those smaller businesses either make no profit on the repair work they do. Or, they take a loss. Insurance companies might also make it difficult for “unapproved” smaller businesses to collect on claims, hoping that those businesses will eventually give up. Giving up on trying to collect on claims is the last thing that you as a business owner should do. You have a right to be paid fairly for the services you render to your customers.

What This Means For Independent Small Repair Businesses

The approved larger windshield glass replacement businesses usually don’t have problems receiving payment from the insurance companies they have working relationships with. However, the same cannot be said about the independent small repair businesses that aren’t part of an insurance company’s approved network. Small independent businesses are often shortchanged when they try to obtain reimbursement on a claim from the vehicle owner’s insurance company.

Due to the few requirements for windshield repair claims in Florida law, many smaller windshield replacement businesses end up fighting large insurance companies for fair payment.

How Legal Assistance Can Help You

Florida windshield replacement law is good for consumers. But it can lead to difficult situations for the owners of independent small businesses. It is unacceptable that business owners like you are affected unfairly by limiting policy language and artificial price controls.

Whether an insurance company is delaying payment, has short paid you, not paid you, or tries to leverage warranty limitations or regulatory compliance and enforcement, you deserve fair compensation.

If your windshield repair business’ attempts to get paid from an insurance claim are going nowhere, turn to Vargas Gonzalez Baldwin Delombard, LLP, for assistance. Our experienced Florida windshield replacement litigation lawyers are committed to taking on large insurance companies. We’ll hold them accountable for their unfair practices, and advocate for the rights of smaller independent businesses.

Take action. Contact Vargas Gonzalez Baldwin Delombard, LLP, and set up a free consultation today.