I was in a car accident a few weeks ago. I was waiting to merge into traffic at a roundabout. It was afternoon rush hour, so there were cars constantly swirling past as I searched for an opening. A line of cars built up behind me at the roundabout entrance. The truck right behind me was close — too close.

As I looked to my left, hoping to see a way into traffic, the car jolted forward just a few inches. The truck smashed into my rear, scraping paint off the bumper and denting the edge of the trunk hood.

After a few minutes, the road cleared again and we were able to loop around the roundabout. We pulled in a restaurant parking lot. No one was hurt, fortunately, and the truck driver admitted he was at fault. He even suggested I talk to the police officer first when the cruiser arrived, so I could get home for dinner.

If you do get in an accident, what happened to me is probably the best thing that could happen. But even though I wasn’t hurt, and didn’t have any significant damage to the car, I contacted my insurance company to let them know there was an accident. That’s what filing a claim is all about.

You can file the claim by using the toll free claim number on your auto ID card, or my calling our office. It’s a simple, straightforward process — but there’s a few things you should do.

At The Scene

  1. If anyone in the accident is injured, seek immediate medical attention.
  2. Call the police to report the accident.
  3. If possible, take photos of any damage to your vehicle and any other damage caused by the accident.
  4. Report the incident to McMichael Insurance as soon as possible. We’ll help you connect you with the insurance company to complete the claim process.

Gather Information

If there are other drivers involved in the accident, exchange names, addresses, and insurance information. Write down the following:

  • Time, date and place of accident
  • Names and addresses of passengers and witnesses

Claims can be a traumatic experience.   Here at McMichael Insurance, we are ready to assist you to make things go smooth.

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