Being involved in an accident can be a jarring and stressful experience. Our goal is to make this process as quick and painless for you as possible.

Here are some tips for what to do on the scene of the accident, and what to expect afterward:

Notify police immediately:
No matter how friendly or cooperative someone may seem at the time, stories and accounts of events can change later in the process. It’s always best to have an officer on the scene to record an official version of the events as soon after the accident as possible.

Do not admit fault:
We’re here to help you through this process. Allow us to do the investigation, analyze all of the factors involved and to determine fault.

If you, or someone in your vehicle, are injured:
Your health and safety are the most important things in any accident. If injuries are involved, please follow the advice of any emergency personnel at the scene. The investigation will determine whether treatment is covered by your auto policy.

Get the info:
Don’t rely on the police report as your only record of events, as it may take up to 30 days for MAIF to receive a copy of the report. Make sure to write down the names, contact info, license plate and driver’s license numbers for all drivers and everyone in the cars involved. If there were any witnesses, be sure to get their contact information as well.

Use your phone:
Most cell phones have cameras built in. Use your camera to get photos of the damage to all of the vehicles involved, including your own. Please try to get wide shots of all vehicles involved, as well as close-up shots of any areas that have sustained damage.

You should also get a photo of the area around the accident scene, as well as any unusual road conditions (ice, debris, construction, etc.) that may have contributed to the accident.

If the other drivers agree, taking a photo of their tag and driver’s license is also a good way to capture their information.

As you take photos of the accident scene, please be sure not to put yourself or anyone else at risk of being injured or impeding any emergency response to the scene.

Report the Claim:
Call MAIF promptly at 800-492-7120 to report the incident and start the claim process. The sooner you speak with our adjuster, the sooner we can resolve your claim. Please make sure you give us your current contact information when you report your claim.

Claims Process:
When you report the claim, you will be given a claim number and the name of your adjuster. The adjuster will begin collecting and verifying all of the information needed to resolve your claim. They will explain the claim process and coverage available to you.

Discussing the Accident:
You may be contacted by an adjuster from the other driver’s insurance company, or by a lawyer for another party involved in the accident. We encourage you to refer all those callers to your MAIF adjuster.