What to Do Before and After an Accident or Property Loss

Auto Accidents

You can be prepared for an accident by doing a few simple things. First, keep your insurance card and registration in an easy to access place like your glove compartment. You should also keep an emergency roadside kit in the trunk of your car that includes flares or hazard triangles to help notify oncoming traffic that an accident has just occurred.

Claims Phone Numbers

Here are a few tips on what to do after an auto accident:

Stay calm!
Check for injuries; call 911 if necessary.
If the accident is minor, move your vehicle and the other party’s vehicle safely out of the line of traffic.
Turn on your vehicle’s hazard lights and place hazard triangles or flares in the roadway to warn oncoming traffic to slow down and be cautious.
Remember to call the police, even if the accident is minor.
Call your insurance carrier immediately after to file the claim.

Important Reminders

Make notes about the accident, including any specific damages of your vehicle and the other vehicle(s) involved.
If there are witnesses to the accident, obtain their name and phone number.
Be polite, but do not admit fault for the accident, even if you think it was your fault.
Limit your discussion with other parties involved in the accident other than the police and your insurance agent.
Do not leave the accident scene before the police and other drivers do.
Obtain a police incident report after the accident as soon as it is available.

Property Damage or Loss

The most important thing you can do to prepare is to prepare a home inventory. Taking photos of every room highlighting your assets like electronics. Open drawers and closets and photograph the contents. Remember, if you lose everything due to a fire, you’ll have to replace cooking utensils, appliances, personal grooming items, and many more items too numerous to list. Store the photos digitally outside of your home (cloud storage).

Claims Phone Numbers

If you suffer a loss to your home

As soon as possible, contact your insurance carrier and report the loss. Take pictures of the damaged property; make reasonable and necessary repairs to protect your property from further damage or loss.
If the loss involves theft or vandalism, notify the police immediately.
Do not discard of any property that was immediately replaced (ex. water pump), as your insurance carrier may request to inspect the damaged property.