What would happen if you were in an accident in Baja without insurance?
carcel
thebajarunner - 9-26-2004 at 07:25 PM
My partner, Jack McCoy, spent 8 days in jail in Los Mochis and he had insurance!
It is a whole chapter in our book, "Racing's Real McCoy"
(believe it or not, he enjoyed the experience... well, all but the rats)
Baja Arriba!!
answer please
bajagrouper - 9-26-2004 at 07:36 PM
Again thanks for the story...
Chances are
Tucker - 9-26-2004 at 07:39 PM
you would stay in jail until some financial arrangement was worked out.
Fender bender
jrbaja - 9-26-2004 at 08:32 PM
you can probably work it out on the spot. Severe accident, you will go to jail.
Whether you are gringo, Mexican, or spaceman, it is the law to have insurance to get in an accident in Mexico.
Not necessarily to drive but, if someone runs into you and you don't have insurance, you will go to jail until responsibility is proven. Serious !
JR is right
thebajarunner - 9-26-2004 at 08:39 PM
Depending on the severity of the crash the possession of insurance may be irrelevant.
Jack killed the guy (it was the fourth or fifth time the guy have been run over, he was not wrapped too tight) but off to the carcel he went.
Mr. Adjuster shows up, immediately wants $500 US to proceed, and Jack refused. 8 days later, with a lot of help from a local business man (Stanford
grad) he got out.
But, if the injury is serious, or worse, off you go.
No insurance, buena suerte amigo!!
Baja Arriba!!Dave - 9-26-2004 at 10:01 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by jrbaja
Whether you are gringo, Mexican, or spaceman, it is the law to have insurance to get in an accident in Mexico.
That's an interesting way to put it.
Now for the BIG questions:
What would your guess be as to the percentage of Mexican drivers who have insurance?
Do you think this would, in any way, influence the outcome of an accident investigation?
mcgyver - 9-26-2004 at 10:06 PM
Dave , If this is a poll the answer is 0 and no.
a better answer
thebajarunner - 9-26-2004 at 10:43 PM
Dave,
Last time I looked it was their country.
ergo, they make the rules...
Every time I cross the border, insurance and all, I remind myself that I am no longer on my turf, in my rulebook, in control.
That is the reality of any border.
Guess that is why crossing some borders is not for the faint of heart. (and Baja is an easy one compared to some I crossed last year.... like
Myanmar)
Baja Arriba!!synch - 9-27-2004 at 08:23 AM
Om the other hand, bribary can be a godsend.
Years ago I crossed at Sonoita (in Sonora), and violated the 15 Kmph, got pulled over, we negotiated and I paid. No Insurance company ever heard
about it and it never affected my insurance rates.
Isn't Mexico wonderful!
America sure has a racket between speeding tickets and insurance rates, so you could think about the USA insurance premiums as "corporation mordita"
The best insurance in Mexico
jrbaja - 9-27-2004 at 11:49 AM
is to drive something like I do, pay attention every second, and have at least liability insurance.
I have been run into 3 times coming back from Tijuana. (minor) . The people driving just took off and I already knew that there would be very little
if any damage to the van.
The last time, some guy was trying to make it past me while I was stopped at a signal and buckled his whole gooky little quarter panel.
This time, I chased him down just to get his license number in case he wanted to start some dung.
Not a scratch on el vanaroony
I would guess that only the well to do Mexicans have insurance. Funny thing is, they are the ones that don't really need it hahahahahahahahahaha
Kinda the same as the u.s, isn't it ?bajalou - 9-27-2004 at 12:30 PM
I carry drivers license insurance for Mexico. Liablility and legal coverage only. Liability is the only thing I cary in the states also. Drivers
license ins covers me for liability driving any car registered outside of Mexico - mine - yours - the next door neighbor. It's cheap. $58 per year
for the liability and another $25 for legal assistance. Havent had to use it in the last 10 years but I feel a little better driving around down here
having it.
Insurance and extra driver endorsements
JZ - 9-27-2004 at 04:53 PM
My truck (value about $35K) was in an accident on the mainland while a MX national was driving and I was in the states. No damage to my truck, but
the other car was totaled (they were speeding and my friend clipped them changing lanes). The other car was worth about $12K.
I have two other people on the policy, but not this person. My adjuster showed up, said no coverage, and split. They impounded the truck, threatened
to call the fedarales to have it confiscated (MX national can't drive a US car on the mainland), and threatened to put my friend in jail unless we
paid. It cost me $4,500 (they sold the other car for parts for the rest). The adjuster for the other guy basically said if my adjuster wasn't a lazy
a$$ it would have cost me very little. Plus had to give the locals $150 to keep the fedarales at bay.
I was in one other fender bender (maybe $500 dollars damage). This time both of us had insurance. The adjust said in Mexico, where both people have
insurance, each pays for their own damage. There was no damage to my truck, so no money out of pocket (not even the deductable).
So my advice is have insurance, and have an endorsement for anyone who drives your car.
From what I hear
jrbaja - 9-27-2004 at 06:51 PM
it is illegal for a Mexican National to drive a foreign registered car, endorsement or not.
On the other hand, my crews have used my cars, been pulled over by the powers that be and let go because I gave them a note with my permission to be
in the car.
But again, my cars are not worth much.
That's right at least on the Mainland
JZ - 9-28-2004 at 02:16 PM
MX national cannot drive US plated cars. I did hear that there was a form with the local Policia that could be filled out that would make it legal to
drive around the local town.
The endorsement is for insurance.
[Edited on 9-28-2004 by JZ]
Drivers license policy contact.
Butch - 9-29-2004 at 09:36 AM
Bajalou, could you give contact info on where to get this type of policy ? I used to have one but company quit offering and rates were much higher ?
Thanks
