How my car insurance saved me $350 after a freak accident

It all happened on a beautiful spring day, much like this one, in a town similar to the one you probably live in. I was just driving along, minding my own business, when the rear passenger window of my car literally exploded into the car.

Thanks to my car insurance, I didn’t have to pay a cent for the repairs and received incredible support.

A day that went terribly wrong

I admit, I skipped school that day and ran errands instead of sitting at my desk and writing like I usually do. It was Friday, it was nice and sunny, and I was making a familiar drive that I’ve probably done a thousand times by now. From the other side of town, back home on a flat highway.

My dog ​​was with me – this is important to know – but there were only two of us. He is an almost 9-year-old Jack Russell Terrier named Cody. And obviously a very good boy.

We were about halfway there when there was a sound like a metal object had hit the roof or ceiling of the car and bounced off. It was the weirdest thing. I looked down at Cody and he was looking right at me and we were both probably thinking, “What on earth is that weird thing?” But nothing else happened so I didn’t think much of it and just kept driving.

Two blocks away, I heard a sound I had never heard in my life. It was almost like the sound of a car without tires, and my mind said, “Hey, pull over, your tire is blown.”

OK, brain.

But before I could even change lanes, glass exploded into my car. Tiny black shards of glass that had once been the rear passenger window flew toward us like stinging confetti.

I had cuts, but nothing serious, and luckily I was already changing lanes, so it wasn’t long before we went off the road. I know you want to know what happened to Cody, but don’t worry, this isn’t that kind of story – the dog doesn’t die in the end.

Shaken but not stirred, I called my auto insurance agent because I had no idea who else to call. And that’s when I learned what I’d been paying for all these years.

Yes, your insurance may cover it!

My American Family agent was great. She explained what to do, what would happen next, and most importantly, what was covered. Since I chose the no-deductible policy, I didn’t have to pay anything out of pocket and my insurer would take care of the windshield, any injuries, and any rental car that was within the price range of my policy should I need it (unfortunately no Ferrari, but a compact car was an option).

That was great news, considering. But I forgot to ask her about Cody, who was also in the car. I couldn’t tell if he had shards of glass in his eyes (or anywhere else), so I rushed him to the vet afterward.

The adjuster informed me a few days later – my insurance also covered pet injuries up to $1,000. His bill wasn’t that high, and he was very lucky and OK. But I didn’t know I had that coverage, and was very happy to find out.

I also learned that my policy covered 100% of the glass replacement, including installation by a mobile service, which is more expensive but also more convenient when you’re constantly very busy.

My insurance paid the glass installer directly and reimbursed me within an hour of receiving Cody’s vet bill. It was unbelievable.

Do you know what your car insurance covers?

That was an important lesson for me and an important wake-up call. I mean, except for the very real fact that if the front window had blown out and not the back one – or not at all – I might be writing this from the hospital.

It was a reminder that I didn’t really know what I was paying for because I Car insurance Police for some time, although it is online and I can get a copy at any time. My agent responds quickly to emails and I could have asked her for an update at any time. But I hadn’t asked for one in about eight years and just paid my premium and went about my day as normal.

I’m required to carry auto insurance in my state, like most states, so I pay because I have to and hope never to have to use it. I’m also an experienced driver, a woman, and drive an older car, so getting the maximum coverage for the minimum cost was no problem. But if it weren’t for that, I might have unexpectedly lost a lot of money or been driving around with no windows for who knows how long.

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Check your coverage. It may save your chance of getting insurance after an accident or a chance incident on the road—and pay your dog’s vet bills. And while you’re at it, ask your agent for quotes on lower-deductible policies, just for fun.

You may find, as I did, that upgrading to fully comprehensive insurance with a low deductible doesn’t cost much more than the most basic coverage.