How to Report an Auto Accident.
When an auto accident occurs, report the accident to the police through 911. Tell the operator if you, or any one with you, or persons in the other vehicle is injured and requires medical assistance.
Obtain the: name, address, phone number, license plate number; insurance particulars, company name and policy number of all the drivers involved in the accident. The police will give you an accident report. The officer’s name and badge number will be on the form, as well as the occurrence number and any information regarding possible charges. Try to remember the answers to the following questions: Where did the accident happen? Why were you there? Was the sun in your eyes? Was the road in good or bad condition? What was the weather like? Can you remember anything about that time of day? If your vehicle has to be towed, make sure you know who the towing company is, their phone number and where they are located. Also, inquire specifically where your vehicle is being towed, because the drop-off point may not be the same address as the Towing Company.
Next, call Howard Mutual and have that information readily available when you’re asked. If your accident occurs on a weekend or after hours there will be a message prompting you to dial an emergency number to be taken care of by after-hours adjusters.
Once you have reported your claim, an adjuster will be assigned to your file. The adjuster will then have an appraiser look at the damage to your vehicle. If you are injured, an Accident Benefits adjuster will be assigned and will contact you immediately.
How to report a claim of Theft, Fire, Wind or Liability, etc. to your property?
In the event of a property loss, it’s important to immediately contact the following, to prevent further loss:
- The Fire Department: in case of a fire
- Plumber: in the case of water event
- Police: in the event of theft or vandalism (you will be given an incident number by the police. Have this ready for your adjuster.)
If your property has been damaged, you should take steps as soon as possible to prevent further damage by covering broken windows, securing broken doors, etc. Do not throw away any damaged property before talking to your adjuster. The adjuster needs to see all the damage so he or she can make an accurate calculation of the loss. After an adjuster has had a chance to assess the damage he/she will advise you on how to get repairs completed and/or belongings replaced.
If one of the above should happen, or if you don’t know if you need to file a claim, call Howard Mutual and ask for help. Call in a timely matter so an adjuster can be assigned immediately.
Have your Howard Mutual policy number ready when you call. It is located in the very top right hand corner of your declaration sheet. This makes it faster for an adjuster to locate your coverage information.
Our experienced adjusters will guide you through the filing and processing of your claim and begin to relieve some of the stress you have suffered.
