Licensing In Texas?

[Jeremiahswindshieldrepair]

I hate to disagree with both of you ... but

I fix cracks in front of people's views AND insurance pays for it every time. I don't hide the fact from the insurance companies they just give the option to their insured as to what they want to do... I explain the options to the insured and let them decide. if they are not bothered with it like it is I tell them that it won't go away .. but it also won't go further. if they don't want to replace it right now they can fix and then choose when THEY want to replace it rather than replacing it when it gets to both sides of the windshield. Yet another controversial thing I do ;0)

[glassfixerCO]

It's a good point you bring up Maxryde about possibly getting sued if someone with a repaired chip/crack in their line of vision decides to blame an accident on the repair tech. Brian, I'm glad I'm not the only one who does this. I think the solution might be to have the customer sign a waiver accepting all risk and liability in the extremely unlikely event that they have an accident because of this. :eusa_thin
Cliff

[Nomad]

As far as licensing is concerned, I think a quote from George Washington is in order here.

He said: "Government is not reason, it is not eloquence; it is force, like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master."

While there are calls for government deregulation, some here seem to be calling for or at least accepting the probability of regulation. Are we not inviting the "fearful master" into our businesses?

[maxryde]

Cliff, You may be right however the waiver could be constrewed by a high priced lawyer as proof of your knowledge that performing a repair in the acute area is a hazard in your eyes!! That being a professional you were in fact negligent having done the work knowing it may cause problems down the road. That is why I stay away from any potential uglyness in reguards to this type of repair. There is enough inherent liability without stepping up to the plate if you know what I mean!!

It's a good point you bring up Maxryde about possibly getting sued if someone with a repaired chip/crack in their line of vision decides to blame an accident on the repair tech. Brian, I'm glad I'm not the only one who does this. I think the solution might be to have the customer sign a waiver accepting all risk and liability in the extremely unlikely event that they have an accident because of this.

I still think just moving on to the next repair is the best way to proceed.
Nomad, invited or not the future will arrive, my choice to resist it's arrival or conceed to the inevitable and try to work within the paramters givin to me (Or us) are the choice's available, I personally have tried them both and after a long time battling I have found I must be willing to put in my two cent's worth and cease fighting when the time comes, else I lose twice!! Scott

[repare-brise]

Brian Et al

I too repair in the so called "critical area" without hesitation(I must admit that the Canadian legal system is very different than the US system, If I spill hot coffee on myself(I don't drink the stuff, so my risk is low) I would acept that I am clumbsy and go on wiht my life, not sue the people that served me a hot coffee). That being said I find that a repaired chip or crack is less of a visual impedement than a non repaired break. I can't see anyone winning a law suit with the logic that the repair caused the accident(Remember the winnebago, cruise control law suit, I may be wrong after all), since the repaired region is at least 75% better than the break that was there before it. Once again the previose is a canadian perspective, and our judicial system is far from the same as yours. I must say that I do find this thread very interesting(and judging by the number of responses I am not alone).

Merci

[Sneck]

I have always done repairs in the crital area, but still always wondered in the back of my mind .. what if??? What if this guy gets into an accident and blames me because the repair was in his line of sight.

I don't know about you all, but isn't EVERY part of the windshiled in your line of sight? Think about it. It's not just the part right in front of your face. Don't you look from side to side occasionally to see if vehilces are coming through an intersection, or if a pedestrian steps out onto the street?

What if I (or you) repaird a break way over on the passenger side of the windshield, and the customer hit someone because he claims that he didn't see them because the repaired break area distorted his vision and did not notice the pedestrian stepping out onto the street to cross it.

Who takes the fall for that one? Certainly not the pedestrian (he already fell). And with the right lawyer, the drivers claim of not seeing somone might be taken as valid. That leaves me (or you) with our neck sticking out as far as it will go. So I am prepared to go live in a tent because I know some lawyer could take it all away in a flash.

I know this is an extreme example, but I am merely trying to make a point. Afterall, arent the lawyers making extreme amounts of money from extremely stupid and idiotic claims?

I think I'll go to some well known national restaurant and spill some coffe on myself or trip on a rug and bump my head and sue for early onset of alzheimers or dimensia. Then maybe I could afford to by another house if the one I already own is taken away by an extreme lawyer.

Sneck

[mafsu]

Sneck you make a good point. The repaired area is definitely going to allow for more visibility than if it was not repaired. The customer chose to have the procedure done and accepted it when either making or approving payment. The coffee case hinges on the beverage being hotter then the customer had reason to believe it would be. Yes it is frivilous, the most anyone can hope for in any line of business is that common sense will prevail if such a suit is brought. It more often than not does, but those aren't the stories that make headlines or get talked about at the water cooler.

[Jeremiahswindshieldrepair]

Guys .... unless one of you is richer than I think you are, we all have no worries about litigious people. Those sorts of miscreants do not look for little guys like us, they go after McDonalds and other large companies so they can get real money. I mean honestly .. what is someone going to take .. my $180k house with a $138k mortgage on it ... or perhaps my scooter.... or maybe he can have my 1977 boat? or if they are really lucky they can get my $200k in debt from messing with marketing to Jiffy Lubes??????? No one would even look at any of us in a litigious way and to live life afraid of that is not where I want to be. Not to mention everyone here should have a 1mill policy if they are doing fleets or tents. Those who risk nothing gain nothing.

[mafsu]

Excellent point. You can't get blood from a rock.

[sunshine wr]

Rock-Chip, that is.