What to do if you hit someone with your car?

Traffic accidents can occur at any time and place, and unfortunately, pedestrians being hit is sometimes involved. It is crucial to know how to act in these situations, both to safeguard the rights of all parties involved and to fulfill the corresponding legal obligations. In this article, we will explore the steps you should follow if you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of hitting someone in Mexico.

1. Prioritize safety: Your first concern should be to ensure that both the victim and yourself are out of danger. If possible, move the vehicles involved to a safe place and provide medical assistance to the person who was hit. Call emergency services immediately to request medical help and report the incident.
2. Stay at the scene: It is essential not to leave the accident scene. Regardless of the severity of the incident, you should wait for the arrival of the competent authorities. Fleeing the scene could lead to more serious legal consequences, such as hit-and-run charges.
3. Provide assistance and cooperation: Provide all the help you can to the victim while waiting for emergency services to arrive. Providing your contact information and reasonable assistance does not necessarily imply assuming legal responsibility for the accident but rather showing empathy and support.
4. State what happened: It is of utmost importance that you tell the facts as they occurred. Do not omit anything as it could be detrimental to you.
5. Detention: You will be detained for 48 hours, and your car will be taken to one of the traffic impound lots until responsibilities are determined, and a decision is made on how you will face this process. If you suspect that you are being set up, say so and request an investigation.
6. In case of death: You should wait for the traffic officer and the Public Prosecutor to arrive to sketch the accident scene. It is possible that the sketch may have been altered, so you should pay close attention. If you believe that the gathered information does not correspond to the original scene, do not refuse to sign the report! If you refuse, someone else will be able to sign it, and it will be difficult to correct later on.
   What you should do is sign and in the "OBSERVATIONS" section, write that you disagree with the sketch and why.

Despite what the traffic officer may tell you about writing, this space is yours, it is your right, use it without commenting anything.

Suggested actions

1. Take photos
2. Never alter the crime scene