Chile Forum

droog85 wrote:Hello all, long time reader, first time poster.

I am a US citizen living in Puerto Aysen with my Chilean girlfriend. On September 19th, I was involved in a car accident on the Carraterra, one of those blind curves on a single-wide road and I got unlucky, hit head-on with an SUV with a Chilean family. The guy immediately tried to make under the table deals with me, which I of course refused, because I really believe noone is at fault in the accident.

The guys wife broke a rib, it is not clear if that happened during the crash or in the 15 minute, violent panic attack she had sprawled out on the ground afterward. Now, I was given a citation yesterday to appear in court for injuring the woman. The 'trial' is set to be in the Caribenro station of this guys hometown, where he is the bank manager, obviously they are going to try to extort me. I am already completely out of money after fixing my girlfriend and I's car. I am only looking for work now to save enough money to be able to come back to the US, so needless to say, I can't afford either expensive legal representation or whatever they are going to get me to try to pay them. They are saying if I cannot pay I will go to prison here. I am totally freaked out. my emails to the embassy have gone unanswered and I cannot find a lawyer that speaks english, my spanish is very basic. If anyone out there has any experience in a similar situation or any words of advice at all, they would be greatly appreciated. I do not want t end up in a Chilean prison for refusing to give kick-back money to these small town cops. Man....

nwdiver wrote:

droog85 wrote:Hello all, long time reader, first time poster.

I am a US citizen living in Puerto Aysen with my Chilean girlfriend. On September 19th, I was involved in a car accident on the Carraterra, one of those blind curves on a single-wide road and I got unlucky, hit head-on with an SUV with a Chilean family. The guy immediately tried to make under the table deals with me, which I of course refused, because I really believe noone is at fault in the accident.

The guys wife broke a rib, it is not clear if that happened during the crash or in the 15 minute, violent panic attack she had sprawled out on the ground afterward. Now, I was given a citation yesterday to appear in court for injuring the woman. The 'trial' is set to be in the Caribenro station of this guys hometown, where he is the bank manager, obviously they are going to try to extort me. I am already completely out of money after fixing my girlfriend and I's car. I am only looking for work now to save enough money to be able to come back to the US, so needless to say, I can't afford either expensive legal representation or whatever they are going to get me to try to pay them. They are saying if I cannot pay I will go to prison here. I am totally freaked out. my emails to the embassy have gone unanswered and I cannot find a lawyer that speaks english, my spanish is very basic. If anyone out there has any experience in a similar situation or any words of advice at all, they would be greatly appreciated. I do not want t end up in a Chilean prison for refusing to give kick-back money to these small town cops. Man....

Take a translator, be calm and give the same story you gave to the Caribenros after the accident. The idea that the “small town cops” are extorting you is not the mood to go in with unless you want to be seen as uncooperative. If it was no fault, her getting injured is not your fault, or 50% your fault 50% their fault.

Settling out of court is not an “under table deal” what has you insurance company said, that why you carry it?

As the Admin said, your rant won't get you any help so can it, be respectful and tell the truth.

droog85 wrote:So does anyone understand the situation or are you guys just tied up on ideas of american imperialism etc. etc? I was hoping to receive some advice from fellow humans, I am sorry I took your time. Thanks anyway.

droog85 wrote:We have SOAP but i have heard it doesn't really do much. The deal is the police are suggesting the accident was my fault when it was clearly a no-fault accident. The charge is 'cuasidelito de lesions menores' . Everyone is telling me, including my girlfriend that sometimes situations happen like this where the police give fault to the gringo in order to try to bring in some money. I understand that those of you selling property and other services in Chile would have a problem with me stating this because its obviously bad for business, but thats how it goes sometimes.