01First: safety
Breathe. Hazard lights on. If anyone is hurt, call 911 before anyone else. If the car could catch fire or you’re in a blind spot, get out and get safe. Everything else in this guide can wait two minutes — this can’t.
And one rule nobody should need but everyone must know: do not leave the scene. Driving away turns an insurance errand into a serious legal problem.
02The first 10 minutes
- Locate your policy: in the envelope there should be a roadside-assistance number — the insurer’s or your broker’s. Make sure you call that number.
- Contact Mint: if you are a Mint client and you are safe, call your broker too. Call or WhatsApp us and we will help you, in English.
- Photograph everything: both cars’ positions, damage close-up and wide, the plates, the street, traffic signs and any skid marks. Do this before the vehicles are moved.
- The other driver’s details: you can ask for them if you wish, but the policy’s roadside-assistance agent will collect them for you. When the insurer’s adjuster arrives — most of the time by motorcycle — he coordinates the information with the other person’s insurer (or the person directly, if uninsured). You only have to review it.
03The adjuster: how claims get documented in Panama
Here’s the biggest difference from the US or Canada: in Panama, vehicle claims are documented at the scene. Your insurer dispatches an adjuster (inspector) who writes the report, photographs the damage and takes both versions — plus the transit police report when they attend. That file — adjuster’s report, police report, photos, details — is what decides your claim weeks later.
This is where claims are won or lost
Try to photograph everything and keep your broker informed, so they can make sure your file is complete from the scene. A complete file gets paid fast; a thin one gets argued for months.
The legal floor: Law 68 of 2016 requires every vehicle to carry at least the mandatory traffic-accident policy. Driving without it is an offense — fine and possible tow — and the legal minimums are low: in a serious accident, your comprehensive coverage is what actually protects you.
| Mandatory policy (SOBAT) | Comprehensive | |
|---|---|---|
| What it covers | Third-party injury and property damage, at the regulation’s minimums | Higher third-party limits + your own car: collision, rollover, total and partial theft |
| Assistance | Not included | Towing, roadside and legal assistance, replacement car depending on plan |
| In a serious crash | Runs out fast; the excess comes out of your pocket | The insurer answers up to your contracted limits |
04Afterwards: how the claim gets paid
With a complete file, the typical process: the insurer values the damage, applies your deductible, and authorizes repair — at network shops or, depending on your policy, a shop you choose. If the car is a total loss, it’s settled at the insured value. If the other driver was at fault, their insurer answers for your damage — and our job is pushing that process so you don’t have to chase it in Spanish.
- Deductible: you choose it when you buy the policy, not when you crash. A lower deductible = a higher premium, but a smaller surprise.
- Replacement car and towing: the coverages you are grateful for precisely on the day of the accident. Verify your policy has them before you need them.
- Your claims history: a claim can affect your renewal. Part of a broker’s job is negotiating this with your full history on the table.
Want the full breakdown of your coverage? Review your auto insurance in detail →
05Frequently asked questions
Can I move the car after the crash?
It depends on the type of crash. When you SHOULD move it: in minor accidents with no injuries, where both cars can be driven safely and both drivers carry valid insurance and agree on the process. You are expected to clear traffic — but only after taking detailed photos or video of the vehicles’ positions and plates. Once moved, the Minor Accident Form is filled out.
When you should NOT move it: if there are injuries or fatalities, damage to public property (posts, barriers), damage severe enough that the cars cannot be driven, or a dispute. If the other driver is uninsured, appears to be under the influence, or will not cooperate, leave the vehicles exactly where they are until the authorities arrive.
What if the other driver has no insurance?
It happens, even though the law requires coverage. In that case, wait for the Transit Police to reach the scene and generate an official police report. With comprehensive coverage, your own policy answers for your damage and your insurer can proceed legally against the driver at fault. With only the basic mandatory policy, recovering your loss means going the legal route — one more reason not to drive on the minimums.
Will a claim raise my premium?
A claim can affect your renewal, but not claiming real damage means paying for the insurance and the damage. A broker negotiates your renewal on your full history; a clean file and years without claims work in your favor.
How long until a claim is paid?
It depends on the file, the case and the insurer; some are slower, some faster. A complete, well-documented file from the scene, a capable broker and the right policy make the claim much faster.
I don’t speak Spanish. How do I handle the adjuster and reports?
The process at the scene — the adjuster, the transit police, the paperwork — runs in Spanish. That is the moment a broker proves their worth: we talk to the adjuster, follow up on the file and manage the claim while you receive a clear, direct summary of the progress, in English.