JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — First Coast News reached out to officials to learn more about insurance claim requirements after hundreds of viewers reached out about cracked windshields and chipped painted after taking a drive along a stretch of I-10 on Jacksonville's Westside.
Drivers have described the ride on I-10 from Chaffee Road to I-295 as driving through a blizzard of rocks that leave dings in the windshield and chips in the paint.
"It was like a dime size, and it just splintered across the top of the windshield," Veronica Harding said, describing damage to her windshield, which she says happened while driving on I-10.
The windshield on Harding's car is brand new, but the chips in her paint are still visible.
“You can see the damage, it’s all over," Harding said. "Almost as if someone had opened fire. I mean that’s what it sounded like it was just 'pow-pow-pow.'”
She is not alone. Her coworker says a huge dent in his windshield came from driving on I-10.
In fact, Harding was just one of over 500 comments on this First Coast news Facebook post.
She filed a claim with the Florida Department of Highways, but officials say the Florida Department of Transportation is not responsible for maintenance of the road. That responsibility falls to Jorgensen Contract Services, Inc.. She says they sent her this response.
“You have not presented evidence to fit the criteria to place liability on Jorgensen contracting," Harding said.
FDOT officials say providing evidence goes beyond just sending a picture.
“We can't just say 'cracked windshield' on it. Unfortunatel, that's not satisfactory from an insurance actuary perspective. So, it does have to be a detailed actual kind of item," Hampton Ray with FDOT said.
Drivers should include the time, date, road conditions and exact location on I-10 where their windshield was cracked. If you have it, include dash-cam footage or a police report.
Florida Department of Highways officials say providing this information will not guarantee your claim will be accepted, but it will help. They say claims should be filed with Jorgensen Contract, who is responsible for maintaining the road.
Harding ultimately went through her insurance for her new windshield
"It is very frustrating, and if you're missing information that you require, then tell me, I might be able to get that for you," Harding said. "And if they’re the ones that are maintaining this stretch of road, it wouldn’t be like this.”
First Coast News did reach out to Jorgensen Contract asking what information they require from drivers for a claim, but did not receive a response.
FDOT officials say a project to repave this stretch of I-10 will start this weekend. Construction starts Sunday night, April 20. The project will take about a year to complete because it also includes new signage and drainage improvements.