Driving Rules & Regulations
Accidents & Emergencies in Ciudad Obregon
What to do in an emergency
Emergency services including the police, fire and ambulance services can be contacted from any telephone or Mexican mobile phone by dialling 066.
If you're involved in a car accident you must:
- Stop immediately.
- Use your hazard warning lights to warn other traffic if they still operate.
- Ask drivers to switch off their engines and stop smoking.
- Inform the emergency services immediately with full details of the accident location and any casualties. You can call 066 free from any phone to contact either the police, ambulance or fire service.
- Assist uninjured people away from the vehicles to a safe place away from traffic..
- Do not move injured people from their vehicles unless they are in immediate danger from fire or explosion.
- Do not remove a motorcyclist's helmet unless it is essential to do so as this could cause more injury.
- Stay at the scene until emergency services arrive.
- Give details of your insurance to the police to other drivers involved.
- Use your cell phone to call your claims adjuster and attorney as soon as possible.
- Take photos of the incident if you have a camera.
- The adjuster will complete an accident report and secure a copy of the police report. You should ask for copies of both. If your vehicle is damaged the adjuster will assist in getting it to a shop where it can be repaired
Until you are proven innocent you are guilty
In Mexico, the law is Napoleonic. This means that until you are proven innocent you are guilty. The person deciding this will most likely be the police officer who arrives at the scene of the incident. Both parties will be held responsible until the fault has been established..
How to behave in the event of an accident
Try to remain calm, do not express any frustration or anger and fully co-operate with the police and your insurance company in order to resolve the issues that have resulted in the accident. Await instructions from the police to move your vehicle or leave the scene of the accident.
Don't risk driving without Mexican Auto Insurance!
You must provide proof of Mexican Auto Insurance to the police, it is a serious criminal offence to be driving without any.
If you are involved in a traffic accident, the police might impound your vehicle especially if you have nobody present that can defend your rights such as an insurance adjuster or legal attorney. Depending on the severity of the incident, you could end up spending a short period in jail until it has been established that funds are available to cover the 3rd part damage and injuries.
Without Mexican Auto Insurance, you may find yourself liable to cover not only the other parties’ medical expenses, but also for financially supporting them and their dependants until they recover if you have caused any injury.
