To car or not tonly car....that is the question. Tis it better to rent or taxi?

[deepsea21]

Does this only apply to rental insurance? If someone owns a car does their insurance cover the loss of wages?

Does this also apply to a Mexican citizen who injures a visitor?
If I am hit by someone and out of work will they go to jail until they pay for my lost wages?

If a Mexican citizen seriously injures a gringo (you) in a crash what are ya gonna do besides seek healthcare in the US as soon as you are stable enough to be flown back? Heck, I've known one Cozumel citizen who had to wait 4 months for heart bypass surgery and then it could only be performed in Mexico City which he had to pay to get to! (Maybe it could be performed elsewhere but he wanted it done in Mexico City and no where else). Once you've recovered are you going to spend thousands of dollars to fly back, hire and attorney, and stay for a few weeks while you wait for your day in court to pursue someone who has little or nothing of value to take in the 1st place? This is the reality of traveling to the 3rd world and let there be no doubt Mexico is a 3rd world country despite how nice the tourist areas may look. Mexican law and courts don't differentiate between fancy tourist areas and the other 99.9% of the country.

From what I understand (and I may be wrong), no insurance policy available to Mexican citizens covers lost wages either. However, if you are a Mexican citizen, injure another Mexican citizen, and don't have to catch a plane and get back to a job in the states the next week "lost wages" becomes a very different negotiation. I assume it is then based on realistic lost wages by a fellow Mexican citizen assuming it was a true "accident" and there was no criminal act committed (such as driving intoxicated).

 

[mmmbelows]

That's not what I was referring to. In Post # 22, @deepsea21 posted a link to an article from BudgetTravel.com that clearly asserts there is NO liability insurance readily available to a renter that covers the lost wages portion of actual damages:

"Being fully insured is important in keeping a situation from getting out of hand. But there is no readily available insurance to pay a settlement to cover their wages. That has to come out of the traveler's pockets ...."

I interpret this assertion as meaning that an ordinary liability insurance policy that you buy from the rental car company, even their most premium offering, contains an exclusion for lost wages.

Whether the assertion is true or not true, I do not know. One would have to scrutinize their rental policy.

Right, apparently lost wages could be covered under an insurance policy or not. I'll keep driving in Mexico and perhaps I can be the 2nd person since 2011 to report a lost wages jail stay.

 

[ReefHound]

If a Mexican citizen seriously injures a gringo (you) in a crash what are ya gonna do besides seek healthcare in the US as soon as you are stable enough to be flown back? Heck, I've known one Cozumel citizen who had to wait 4 months for heart bypass surgery and then it could only be performed in Mexico City which he had to pay to get to! (Maybe it could be performed elsewhere but he wanted it done in Mexico City and no where else). Once you've recovered are you going to spend thousands of dollars to fly back, hire and attorney, and stay for a few weeks while you wait for your day in court to pursue someone who has little or nothing of value to take in the 1st place? This is the reality of traveling to the 3rd world and let there be no doubt Mexico is a 3rd world country despite how nice the tourist areas may look. Mexican law and courts don't differentiate between fancy tourist areas and the other 99.9% of the country..

I think the question was more academic? We know that your stereotype of the dirt-poor Mexican injuring the rich American is most likely but what if it's not the case? What if the Mexican is the owner of a prosperous restaurant or dive op? What if the American is unemployed with no health insurance, having been gifted their dream vacation.

 

[wildbill9]

I have found all these answers to be informative and appreciate all the input. Sounds to me, since we will be in town, a taxi will serve our needs. (And this may be one of the few threads that didn't end up talking about a restaurant or some.where to eat....lol) Thanks Bill and DeeDee

 

[Jayfarmlaw]

Take a cab.....to La Perlita and order the grilled lobster..... there ya go!
Safe travels!
Jay