There has been recent attention about a Canadian woman in Mexico who has been held in custody in Mexico for alleged crimes committed while in Mexico. The woman has not been tried for any crime and is held in prison, despite being adamant that she has committed no such crime.

When visiting Mexico, it is important to understand the nature of the laws and how they are applied are completely different than your home country.

If your perfect vacation suddenly becomes less than perfect and you have an auto accident or collision, don’t panic. As long as you have purchased Mexico Auto Insurance and have a valid tourist card and drivers license (even from the United States or Canada), everything will be fine. In Mexico, it is common to see Napoleonic law at work, a form of law that views you as guilty until you prove yourself innocent.

The police often have the authority to decide who is at fault, and furthermore, actually assign guilt in the event of an auto collision. The United States police do not have the same authority. If there is no bodily injury, the police will generally assess the situation, listen to both sides of the story, assign guilt, write up a report and allow you to be on your way. You are then responsible for reporting the accident to your insurance company.

Do not fail to report an accident before you leave Mexico. Your Mexican Auto Insurance policy will only cover you while you are in Mexico and if you report it from Mexico. If you are in a bad accident and there is bodily injury to you or to the occupants of the other vehicle, you can expect for the process to be a bit longer. If you are not injured, you will be taken to the nearest court house/detention center for things to be sorted out. If you do have injuries, you will be treated with the utmost respect and will be taken to the appropriate center for medical treatment until you are able to sort things out otherwise. Once every thing has been sorted out, everyone gets to go home, unless you don’t have car insurance. In that case, you must stay in jail until someone is able to come up with the cash to pay off the accident. Mexican Auto Insurance will pay off the expenses of an auto accident so long as you have secured your policy.

In the event of a fatal accident, you may be charged with ‘accidental homicide’. The sentence ranges from three days to five years depending on the state. If you have purchased Mexican Auto Insurance, you will again have some legal coverage, which will assist you in obtaining bond and in all other legal matters concerning the accident. If you do not have legal assistance, you may be able to post a significant bond and will probably be allowed to return to the US until you are able to work things out. If your vehicle is stolen, go immediately to the nearest police station and report the theft. Be sure you get a certified copy of the complaint for your insurance company. You will also need the certified copy of the complaint to leave Mexico without your vehicle. After you have reported the theft, go immediately to the insurance agency provided on your policy paperwork for further instructions.

Some premium auto insurance providers for Mexico offer 24 hour, English and Spanish claims hotlines is provided so you will have no problems reporting a theft or other claim and no problems locating a local agency. If your car is recovered, you will need the agent to help you recover it. Todd Mumford is a professional with over 7 years in SEO and SEM, and can be found at SEO Visions. Todd writes regularly on various subjects including Mexican Auto Insurance.