Does your windshield look like this...? If you have a cracked, or 'dinged' windshield you are compromising the structural integrity of your vehicle.
Chips lead to "star" cracks. These types of dings can often be repaired and made nearly invisible, but left unattended and your windshield can be ruined.
A typical "ding" which can eventually crack. Early repair can keep further cracks in the glass from occurring.
Another typical "ding" or "half-moon"
In this example, the driver sees a "ding" and also a "fog" on the windshield which is the laminate separating from the glass.