Rent a car?

[Rambo]

I drive at home, there I sit...then I can see the area we are driving in...........and avoid such a hassle 'bout any accident,
and ANY driver we can hire can find places we have never heard of...see enough strange things from the passengers side of the ride.........

[Ly Shell]

Hi Negrilmon I think my wife and I saw your accident. It was on Wednesday April 03 arround 2pm and you were driving a wine red 4 door sadan heading towards the roundabout. If this was you I am glad to see no one got hurt. I was very surprized of the reaction of some of the locals who also witnessed the scene. Once they realized it was a tourist they told the other driver to hurry up and leave before you even had a chance to get out of your car. It was a classic hit and run in broad daylight with lots of witnesses.

[negrilmon]

Hi Negrilmon I think my wife and I saw your accident. It was on Wednesday April 03 arround 2pm and you were driving a wine red 4 door sadan heading towards the roundabout. If this was you I am glad to see no one got hurt. I was very surprized of the reaction of some of the locals who also witnessed the scene. Once they realized it was a tourist they told the other driver to hurry up and leave before you even had a chance to get out of your car. It was a classic hit and run in broad daylight with lots of witnesses.

Hi Ly Shell, that must have been me that you saw...same color car, date, time and direction...If you recall, one witness ran over to me and gave me the license number, she told me the guy who hit me said he was running off because I was white/tourist.

I also never got any paperwork as was promised by the Negril police...I reported the accident on Wednesday right after it happened. Sargent Hall said come back Friday to pick up the legal documents for the rental car agency. Sargent Hall said Jamaican law gives the guy 24 hours to report the accident before they could do anything and once that period of time went by he would start the process.

Once I heard this I figured I was screwed but I went back Friday anyway just in case a miracle happened.

I arrived at the police station at 3:00 as requested by Sargent Hall but he wasn't there. They called him on his radio and he was out in the bush but they said he was on his way. Once he got there 30 minutes later he quickly said he had no paperwork available and I was now going to need the rental agency to contact him next week since I was leaving the following day.

At this point I didn't see many options so I accepted that I was out on this one and went out and had a great afternoon driving out to Orange Hill and some of the back country of Negril enjoying my last day in Jamaica for this trip.

I met some great people and had a great time!...Also saw a 7 foot Jamaican Boa (Yellow Snake)...My first snake in 38 years of Jamaican travel... It scared the heck out of my Jamaican friend!

Since I had no proof for the rental agency I was out the $500 deposit and learned that it is better to hire a driver in the future. No huge deal...no one was injured!

Think hard before renting a car...Probably better just to kick back and enjoy the ride.
You can also help a local by hiring them for the week and spreading a little of the wealth.
I believe minimum wage in Jamaica is about $40 a week!...Think about trying to live on $40 a week...

[Rob]

...Sargent Hall said Jamaican law gives the guy 24 hours to report the accident before they could do anything and once that period of time went by he would start the process.

Once I heard this I figured I was screwed but I went back Friday anyway just in case a miracle happened.

I arrived at the police station at 3:00 as requested by Sargent Hall but he wasn't there. They called him on his radio and he was out in the bush but they said he was on his way. Once he got there 30 minutes later he quickly said he had no paperwork available and I was now going to need the rental agency to contact him next week since I was leaving the following day.

Negrilmon,

Yes, I am sure that corruption exists in Jamaica as it does everywhere. Heck, even my old high school in Columbus Ohio was raided this past week for grade and attendance tampering - all the records were confiscated.

Anyhow, it sounds like what Sargent Hall told you is exactly correct. The law does provide the other party 24 hours to report the incident so no other paperwork can be started until that point. It does not mean that it would be completed in that 24 time period - just that nothing can proceed until the 24 hour time period is over. As mentioned, a fender bender is not a major priority and the fact you were leaving the next day put you in a time crunch situation. Last time I was involved in an accident here - the paperwork took about a week to be completed.

I would follow up with the rental agency - a reputable agency will receive the information from the Negril Police Station and will process it with their insurance company. From experience, this process can take a while, but once the agency processes the claim, you should be reimbursed on your credit card. This is normal operating procedure.

And yes, hiring a legally licensed and insured red plated driver does have its advantages...

[Ly Shell]

Negrilmon

I would follow up with the rental agency - a reputable agency will receive the information from the Negril Police Station and will process it with their insurance company. From experience, this process can take a while, but once the agency processes the claim, you should be reimbursed on your credit card. This is normal operating procedure....

I think Rob has a valid point here that I would pursue. If there is anything I can do to help, please PM me and I will do my best. Lyle

[negrilmon]

I think Rob has a valid point here that I would pursue. If there is anything I can do to help, please PM me and I will do my best. Lyle

Thank you Lyle! Were you the couple who offered to help when I pulled over? You were staying on the garden side of Coral Seas?

If so what a small world...never thought I would run in to you on this site! Funny!!

I'll call the agency tomorrow and see what is happening.

Thanks again!

[negrilmon]

Negrilmon,

Yes, I am sure that corruption exists in Jamaica as it does everywhere. Heck, even my old high school in Columbus Ohio was raided this past week for grade and attendance tampering - all the records were confiscated.

Anyhow, it sounds like what Sargent Hall told you is exactly correct. The law does provide the other party 24 hours to report the incident so no other paperwork can be started until that point. It does not mean that it would be completed in that 24 time period - just that nothing can proceed until the 24 hour time period is over. As mentioned, a fender bender is not a major priority and the fact you were leaving the next day put you in a time crunch situation. Last time I was involved in an accident here - the paperwork took about a week to be completed.

I would follow up with the rental agency - a reputable agency will receive the information from the Negril Police Station and will process it with their insurance company. From experience, this process can take a while, but once the agency processes the claim, you should be reimbursed on your credit card. This is normal operating procedure.

And yes, hiring a legally licensed and insured red plated driver does have its advantages...

Thanks Rob!!!... I'll get in touch with Chalis Car Rental and see If they are going through this process. If not I'll ask that they start.

I"ll be sure to let you know the outcome!