Car accident Guidelines

First take your own safety into account.

Get the license plate, make and color of the vehicle that collided with yours.  

What is the location? If on the road call 086 for federal assistance or 066 if within San Miguel de Allende’s district.

 Get the driver’s name, address and phone number from his/her DL or Voter’s Registration card (Tarjeta Electoral)

Get the insurance information (if any)

If safe, don’t leave the scene until the report is taken by the police

Write the name and jurisdiction of the police officer taking the report

Burglary Guidelines

It is good practice and proven to be useful to make an inventory of your personal property. You could include a picture of the items, and in a secure place, keep a hard copy of the description of the items, serial numbers, make and price.  As soon as you know your house/car has been burglarized, call 066 and request an officer to come to the scene to make a report ASAP.  Be there when the officer shows up.

Mugging Guidelines

Your safety comes first since anything else can be replaced. If there are witnesses to the crime, get their names, addresses and phone numbers.  Call 066 to report it.

 

If the amount of the loss is an equivalent or more than twenty weeks of the minimum salary (i.e. 50.00x20=1,000.00 pesos) the individual will be charged and processed by the Ministerio Publico. If it’s less than twenty weeks of the minimum salary and the crime is committed by a habitual offender, the delinquent will be detained and brought to trial.

 

Arbitration – (Conciliador/Mediador)

The Public Ministry provides Arbitrators (Conciliadores) that could help you to reach an agreement and means of recovering your losses on a civil matter.  Arbitration usually results in a speedier resolution of the case.

 

To open an arbitration case you need to bring the following:

The name, address, phone number as stated on the Voter’s Registration Card. To open an arbitration hearing bring all related documentation/information with you.

The other party will be invited to appear at the arbitration meeting to present his/her case.

Once both parties have presented their case and reached an agreement the case is closed. If there is no agreement, and it is not a civil matter, the case will transferred to the Ministerio Publico if requested.

If you decide to follow through with the Ministerio Publico, ask the arbitrator to brief the Ministerio Publico staff about your case.

Bring pertinent information to be submitted

 

It is your choice to take the arbitration route.  The arbitrator (Conciliador) doesn’t refer cases to any other office.  The Offices of Arbitration are willing to accept civil matters for conciliation knowing that if the parties don’t come to an agreement it is up them to initiate a case with a lawyer.  In the case of a Service Provider that doesn’t deliver (as agreed upon beforehand)  and you decide to settle this via Arbitration (Conciliation) it is recommended that you have do the following:  

 

Before agreeing on anything check references. In order to reach an agreement, you must get the other party’s name, address and pertinent information from his Voter’s Registration card.

 

Make a payment schedule based upon finished work

 

Ask to sign a payment receipt.

 

Bring above information to the Arbitrator to begin the process. 

 

If after three invitations to appear at the Arbitrator’s office the other party doesn’t show up the conciliatory meeting can’t take place. Your choice then is to pursue it at the civil court level with a lawyer.

 

How to collect damages if when the other party agreed to pay?

At the arbitration process payment is stated and accepted by both parties.

 

How long does it take to have the case resolved in arbitration? 

It can be resolved in 2-3 sessions.

 

Can you learn of the case’s progress by phone?

No, since it is a confidential matter. You cannot provide valid ID by phone.