Car Accident in Ecuador: What to Do and What NOT to Do
Any crash, even a minor one, leads to stress and rushed decisions. What you do in the first 30 minutes determines how the injured are cared for, how your insurance claim moves forward and whether legal problems come up later. Save this guide on your phone.
✅ What to do, step by step
1. Protect yourself and secure the scene
- Stop the vehicle, turn on your hazard lights and switch off the engine.
- Put on your reflective vest before getting out and place warning triangles at a safe distance behind the vehicle.
- If you smell fuel or see smoke, move away and get others to move away too.
2. Check for injuries and call ECU 911
- Dial 911 and give the exact location, the number of vehicles involved and how many people are hurt.
- Do not move injured people unless they are in immediate danger (fire, risk of being hit). Moving them incorrectly can worsen spinal injuries.
- If you know first aid, provide it; if not, stay with the person and keep them calm until help arrives.
3. Document everything
- Wide shots of the scene from several angles and close-ups of the damage, license plates, traffic signs, skid marks and debris.
- The other driver's information: name, ID number, driver's license, plate number, insurer and policy number.
- Names and phone numbers of any witnesses. Their account is very valuable and is often lost if it isn't taken on the spot.
- If the vehicles have to be moved to clear the road, photograph their final positions first.
4. Notify your insurer
- Call your policy's assistance line as soon as possible; most insurers require immediate notice or notice within a short period.
- Follow their instructions: many will send a claims adjuster to the scene.
5. Wait for the authorities when required
- If there are injuries, fatalities or the parties disagree, wait for the traffic officer or the police, who will file the accident report.
- If anyone is injured, SPPAT (Ecuador's Public System for Payment of Traffic Accidents) covers the victims' medical care, regardless of who was at fault.
❌ What NOT to do
- Don't leave the scene. Abandoning a victim is a crime and makes any liability worse.
- Don't argue with or confront the other driver. Stay calm; aggression complicates everything.
- Don't admit fault or sign anything at the scene, and don't agree to cash settlements without consulting your insurer.
- Don't move injured people unless they are in immediate danger.
- Don't delete or edit photos or videos: the originals are the best evidence.
- Don't repair the vehicle before the insurer's adjuster has inspected it.
- Don't post the crash on social media with opinions about who was at fault: it can be used against you.
Quick checklist to keep in your car
| Item | What it's for |
|---|---|
| Warning triangles and reflective vest | Marking the scene and being seen |
| Fire extinguisher (not expired) | Putting out small fires |
| First aid kit | Basic first aid |
| Copy of your policy and the assistance number | Notifying your insurer right away |
| Flashlight and phone charger | Photos and calls at night |
What does the adjuster do next?
The claims adjuster reconstructs what happened: they interview the policyholder, third parties, witnesses and the traffic officer, take photos, draw the accident sketch and assess the damage. With Peritovia, each interview is recorded in its own section and transcribed automatically, and the signed report reaches the insurer the same day. For you, that means a faster response to your claim.
This guide is for information only and is not a substitute for legal advice. The applicable rules are set out in Ecuador's Organic Law on Land Transportation, Traffic and Road Safety and the Comprehensive Organic Criminal Code (COIP); always check the terms of your policy.
Do you work at an insurer or as an appraiser?
Peritovia records interviews at the scene, transcribes them automatically and delivers the signed report the same day.
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