Storms, break-ins and claims in Terrebonne Parish
Houma Auto Glass Damage Guide
In Houma, glass rarely breaks for no reason. A limb comes down in a storm, a truck kicks up a rock, someone smashes a side window for a bag on the seat. What you do in the first hour decides how smoothly the repair and the insurance claim go. Here is the order we recommend, with the local contacts.
Claim helper
What broke your glass?
Pick the cause. We will show you whether you need a police report, what to photograph, how insurers usually treat it, and what we do next.
Police report?
Usually not needed for weather damage. Check that no power line is on or near the car before you touch anything.
Photograph
The car where it sits, the branch or debris, the glass up close, and the date. Do it before you move anything.
Insurance, usually
Falling objects and storm damage generally fall under the comprehensive part of an auto policy, with your deductible unless you carry full glass coverage. Check your policy.
What we do
We come to you, remove loose glass, and repair or replace the windshield. If the car cannot be driven safely, we cover the opening first.
Police report?
No. It is road debris, not a crime, and the other driver is rarely identifiable.
Photograph
The chip with a coin next to it for size. Cover it with clear tape to keep dirt and water out until it is repaired.
Insurance, usually
Road debris is generally a comprehensive claim. Many insurers handle a small chip repair differently from a full replacement, so ask yours.
What we do
Small chips and short cracks can often be repaired before heat and A/C make them spread. Long cracks or cracks at the edge mean replacement.
Police report?
Yes. Your insurer will ask for the report number. In the city, Houma Police; outside city limits, the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office. Call 911 if it is happening now.
Photograph
The broken window, the glass inside the car and anything missing. Make a list of what was taken.
Insurance, usually
Vandalism and theft damage to the car generally fall under comprehensive coverage. Items taken from the car are often a homeowners or renters policy question.
What we do
Side windows are tempered and shatter into small pieces. We clear the glass out of the door and the cabin and fit a new side window or back glass.
Police report?
No. Note the date and time of the storm.
Photograph
Every damaged panel of glass and the body dents too, since the adjuster will look at both.
Insurance, usually
Hail is generally covered under comprehensive. If the body shop and the glass are on the same claim, keep the claim number handy for both.
What we do
Pitting and several star breaks usually mean a new windshield. If your car has a camera behind the glass, we tell you up front whether it needs recalibration.
General information, not insurance or legal advice. Coverage depends on your own policy.
Hurricane season
Before, during and after a storm in Terrebonne Parish
Every season, the first calls after a storm come from people whose car was parked under the one big oak in the yard. A few minutes before the weather turns saves a windshield.
- Garage the car if you can
- Otherwise park away from trees, carports with loose panels and anything that can fly
- Follow Terrebonne Parish emergency updates on tpcg.org
- Check for downed power lines near the car
- Photograph the car where it sits
- Do not drive with a windshield that blocks your view
- Open the claim with your insurer and write down the number
- Expect delays: everyone calls at once after a storm
- Call us early to get on the schedule
When the claim gets stuck
Your insurer and your rights in Louisiana
Most glass claims go through without trouble. When they do not, the Louisiana Department of Insurance has a consumer division that takes complaints and checks whether an insurer followed the law and the terms of your policy.
Before calling them, gather your policy number, your claim number, the photos and every email or letter about the claim.
Laminated glass: it cracks instead of shattering, which is why small damage can often be repaired.
Usually tempered glass: it breaks into small pieces and has to be replaced, not repaired.
Louisiana Department of Insurance
General information: 800-259-5300
Consumer Services: (225) 219-0619
Online complaint form on ldi.la.gov
Brake tag questions? Read our page on the brake tag changes and your windshield.
Quick directory
Houma and Terrebonne numbers worth saving
Public agencies only. None of them is us.
Questions we hear
Storm damage, break-ins and glass claims in Houma
Does car insurance cover a windshield broken by a falling branch in a storm?
Usually under the comprehensive part of an auto policy, which covers things like falling objects, storms, hail and vandalism. Your deductible applies unless your policy includes full glass coverage, so check your declarations page or ask your agent.
Do I need a police report for a smashed car window in Houma?
For a break-in, yes: your insurer will ask for the report number. Inside the city, contact Houma Police; outside city limits, the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office. For storm, hail or road-rock damage, a police report is usually not needed.
Can a rock chip be repaired or does the windshield need replacing?
Small chips and short cracks can often be repaired, especially if you cover them with clear tape and get them fixed before heat and A/C make them spread. Long cracks, cracks that reach the edge, or damage in the driver’s line of sight usually mean a new windshield.
Who can help if my insurer will not pay a glass claim?
The Louisiana Department of Insurance takes consumer complaints and checks whether the insurer followed the law and your policy. Call 800-259-5300 or use the online complaint form on ldi.la.gov, with your policy and claim numbers ready.
Photos taken? Let’s fix the glass.
Mobile auto glass repair and replacement across Houma, Bayou Cane, Gray and Schriever. Price confirmed before work starts.