THE DO NOT’S

DO NOT MOVE YOUR CAR FROM THE LOCATION OF THE ACCIDENT Yes, I know this blocks traffic and it makes no sense whatsoever, but if you move your car you are automatically guilty even if you are not at fault.

DO NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCIDENT

DO NOT MAKE ANY TYPE OF FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENT

It is very common in Panama to hear this “in Panama we each pay for what happen to our own cars.” Or other people will try to ask you for money instead. Unless you are mechanic or work in the auto industry you do not know how much pieces are worth and that settlement you make will not be covered by the insurance company.

DO NOT FORGET TO GET THE OTHER PARTY’S INFO

Write down the name(s), telephone, cedula/passport number, the license plate number, and the car brand. If you carry a camera or a phone camera it’s always a good idea to take pictures. If there are any witnesses talk to them, they will usually be very cooperative.

DO NOT FORGET TO CALL/CONTACT YOUR INSURANCE BROKER

Keep the company or my cel phone (6676-5151) in your cel phone. If it’s after labor hours call the number of your insurance company’s roadside assistance (you should also keep this number in your cel or place the sticker the company gives you in your car). If it is an emergency feel free to contact us.

WHAT TO DO?

If there is no policeman nearby then you have to call the Police for them to send over a policeman who will inspect the scene.

Panama City ~ 232-5614 or 232-6845

Colon ~ 441-4197

David, Chiriqui ~ 776 -8125

Each insurance company has motorized drives which come to the scene of an accident and assist you as well as record and take pictures of what occurred.

~ AssaMovil 205-0220

~ Mundial Assist 390-9090

~ HSBC Seguros 265-8255

~ Generali 205-0224

~ Internacional de Seguros 265-2881

~ InterOceanica 265-8255

If the other party leaves the scene of the accident, call a policeman and report that a “colision y fuga” happened to you. The policeman will write a report which you should keep for the insurance company as well as for your personal records to relieve you from any future legal liability.

IN CASE OF INJURIES, WHAT TO DO?

In case the accident gets messy and there are injuries or if you run over a pedestrian, you have the responsibility to help them. Call your insurance company and let them know what happened. Depending on where you are call an ambulance or take them to the hospital. Your insurance company should send you an ambulance or call directly (all companies use one of the two bellow):

Ambulance:

SEMM 264-4122

ALERTA 269-1111, 800-0911

Depending on where you are it’s better to drive the person. Anywhere outside of the main cities, it is better to drive the person to the nearest hospital because ambulances can take a while to arrive.

If it’s your fault and you need to pay for the initial ingression or such, pay for it but first let the insurance company know and keep the receipts. Do not pay for any treatments or surgery. And make sure to take the police report as well.

GOING TO COURT

Thank God your policy covers for legal fees, which means you do not have to go to court! You need to ask for this benefit and there are no costs for it. Contact me (6676-5151) and the insurance company and you will need to take the citation to the insurance company and sign a release of power over to the company’s attorney.

I strongly suggest taking this benefit because courts anywhere are awful, and Panama is no exception to that rule. If you do not go to court and the lawyer doesn’t go for you, you automatically are found guilty and have to pay a fine besides the costs of the other party’s damage.

***Print this article and keep it in your car.

Driving Permits for Foreigners ~ for 90 days

Requirements

~ Passport

~ Authorization from the Direction of Migration and Naturalization

~ Blood type

~ Present a written test about the driving manual and traffic rules

~ Listen to a speech

~ The cost of this permit depends on the validity of the document, if it is for less than 3 months it is $5.50 and for more than 3 months it is $20.00

From Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. a 9:30 a.m.

OBSERVATION: If the person has a valid driver’s license from their own country they can present it to the “Autoridad del Transito” and they will obtain an equivalent Panamanian drivers license without the need to present any written or practical tests. To do so you must have some type of visa (work, pensionado, reforestation, etc.)

Since January of 2007

Article 236: The owners of vehicles are obligated to maintain a effective civil responsibility insurance policy, which includes as a minimum:

• Responsibility for damage to foreign property for the minimum amount of $5,000.00
• Responsibility for personal injuries of $5,000.00 per person and $10,000.00 per accident.

The owners of vehicles registered in other countries are forced to comply with the dispositions of this article in order to be able to drive in the Republic of Panama.

Source: Gaceta Oficial, Friday 29 of December of 2006 (nº 25,701)