Tips on What to Do After an Auto Accident

Car accidents can happen in the blink of an eye. According to Car-Accidents.net, they occur approximately 6.4 million times each year.

Although being involved in a car accident can be overwhelming, knowing what to do in the moments following a fender-bender can help alleviate some of the stress and confusion of the situation.

The service specialists at Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge offer the following tips on how to handle a car accident:

* Don't leave the vehicle. Following an accident, most drivers will want to exit their vehicles to check for damage or speak with others involved. Ideally, drivers should call the police and remain in their cars until the authorities arrive. Drivers can protect themselves - both physically and legally - by remaining in their vehicles and allowing the police to process the scene.

* Carry a disposable camera. Although the police report should capture the details of the accident, it is always helpful to take photos for your own documentation.

* After police are notified, call a towing service. You should know exactly who is towing your vehicle and where it will be taken. For easy access, keep a small business card in your wallet that contains the numbers of several tow-truck companies and your dealership's service department.

* Call your insurance company. Most people think of this as something to do later, but calling from the scene will help to expedite the processing and administering of your claim. And, you will be able to relay accurate information in real time instead of relying on memory.

* Get an estimate on vehicle damage. Insurance companies may require only one estimate on vehicle damage. However, it behooves the driver to get several estimates, which may vary greatly. Review these reports carefully to understand what you are paying and what the insurance company will cover. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Reputable repair shops will gladly address questions regarding the required repairs.

How Do They Make Auto Glass Bulletproof?

As you may know bulletproof glass is glass that is capable of stopping all sorts of bullets fired at it. This type of glass is made by using a strong but transparent material such as polycarbonate thermoplastic. Sometimes it’s constructed by using layers of laminated glass. 

The polycarbonate layer is often put between layers of regular glass. A bullet will probably pierce the exterior glass layer, but will be stopped by the really strong polycarbonate layer before it can pierce the inner layer of glass. There’s also what’s called bullet resistant glass that’s constructed of laminated glass layers. This is built from sheets of glass glued together using some sort of liquid rubber.

One-way Bullet Proof Glass

As technology advances in the field of bullet resistant glass we now have a new type of bullet proof glass called one-way bulletproof glass. These types of glasses are commonly used by armored cars. 

The beauty of this glass is that it will resist incoming fire arms striking the outside of the glass, while allowing those on the other side of the glass, such as guards, fire from inside the armored car, through the glass at the exterior threat outside.

Usually One-way bulletproof glass is made up of two layers. A brittle layer on the outside and a flexible layer on the inside. If a bullet is fired from the outside it will hit the brittle layer first and will probably shatter an area of it. This shattering of the glass absorbs some of the bullet's energy, and spreads it out on a larger area. When the slowed down bullet hits the flexible layer, it will be stopped.

However, when someone fires a bullet from the inside it hits the flexible layer first. The bullet will then go through the flexible layer because its energy is focused on a smaller area. The brittle layer will then shatter outward because the inner layer flexes and doesn’t stop the bullet's progress.