Personal Injury Lawyers in Colombia
Compensation for foreigners injured, robbed or attacked in Colombia, with English-speaking lawyers on your side.
Being hurt or robbed in another country is frightening, and dealing with police, hospitals and insurers in Spanish makes it harder. LCG-Colombia represents tourists, expats and visitors who have been injured in accidents or targeted by crime in Colombia. We pursue compensation from the people and companies responsible, and we can keep working on your case after you've gone home.
Accident Claims
Road, Bus and Taxi Accidents
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If you were hit by a car, motorbike or bus, or injured as a passenger in a taxi, bus or private vehicle, you may have a claim against the driver, the vehicle owner and their insurer. When a bus or taxi company is involved, the company itself can be held responsible for its driver's actions. That matters because companies and insurers are usually the ones with money to pay a claim.
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Passengers have an extra advantage. A transport company has a legal duty to get you to your destination safely, so if you were hurt on board, the company is generally responsible unless it can prove the accident was caused by something outside its control.
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What SOAT Covers and What It Doesn't
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Every vehicle in Colombia must carry SOAT, the mandatory accident insurance. SOAT pays medical costs for anyone injured in a traffic accident, whoever caused it, up to a set limit per victim. It also makes fixed payments for permanent disability and death. If the vehicle was uninsured or the driver fled, the national health fund ADRES generally covers these costs instead.
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SOAT's limits are low, though. It doesn't pay for lost income, long-term treatment beyond the cap, pain and suffering or the disruption to your life. Those losses are claimed from the people responsible through a legal claim, and that's where we come in.
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Other Accidents
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We also handle injuries caused by negligence on tours and adventure activities, at hotels and rental properties, in shops and public places, and from dog attacks. If someone else failed to keep you safe, they may be responsible for your losses.
Crime Victims
Robbery by Taxi and Ride-Share Drivers
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Robberies by taxi and ride-share drivers are a known risk for visitors in Colombia's cities. Common cases include drivers who take passengers to accomplices, "paseo millonario" express kidnappings where victims are driven between ATMs, and drivers who rob passengers directly. We help victims report the crime properly, take part in the criminal case and pursue compensation.
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Scopolamine and Drugging Cases
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Scopolamine (known locally as burundanga) and other drugs are used to rob victims, often after meeting someone through a dating app or at a bar. The U.S. Embassy has issued security alerts about dating app robberies in Colombia for this reason. Victims can lose cash, phones and bank funds and may have little memory of what happened. These cases need fast action on evidence, including medical tests, bank records and security footage, before it disappears.
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Assault and Other Violent Crimes
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If you were attacked and injured, you have the right to take part in the criminal case against the person responsible and to claim damages for your injuries, medical costs and suffering.
How Crime Victims Take Part in the Case
In Colombia, a crime victim isn't just a witness. Through a lawyer, you can take an active role in the criminal case. You can present evidence, follow the prosecution and push for it to move forward. Once the offender is convicted, you can claim full compensation from them through a separate hearing, known as the incidente de reparación integral.
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We can file your criminal complaint (denuncia), register you as a victim, act for you in hearings and pursue your compensation claim, all while you're outside the country.
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Compensation in crime cases depends on whether the person responsible has assets that can be reached. We'll give you an honest view of your prospects from the start.
What You Can Claim
Depending on your case, compensation can cover:
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Medical and hospital costs, including future treatment
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Lost income and reduced ability to work
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Money and property taken from you
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Travel and accommodation costs caused by the incident
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Pain, suffering and emotional distress
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The impact of your injuries on your daily life
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If a loved one died in an accident or crime in Colombia, close family members can bring a claim for their own losses.
What To Do After an Accident or Crime
The steps you take early can make a big difference to your claim:
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Get medical attention and keep every report, receipt and prescription
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Report the incident to the police or the Fiscalía (prosecutor's office). Many crimes, including theft, can be reported online through ADenunciar
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Make sure you're referred to Medicina Legal, the national forensic institute, whose report is key evidence of your injuries
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Write down names, plate numbers, locations and times while you still remember them
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Keep photos, messages, bank statements and ride app records
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Contact a lawyer before you accept any payment or sign anything from an insurer
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If you've already left Colombia and didn't do some of these things, you may still have a claim. Contact us and we'll look at what can be done.
Pursuing Your Claim From Home
Many of our injury clients contact us after returning home. You can give us a power of attorney from your home country, and our lawyers will handle the claim and the criminal case here. You can find out more about working with our litigation lawyers from abroad on our main litigation page.
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For how the court process works, see our guide to Filing a Lawsuit in Colombia. For fees and timelines, see the Cost of a Lawsuit in Colombia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I claim compensation if I've already left Colombia?
Yes. You don't need to be in Colombia to bring a claim or take part in a criminal case. We can act for you under a power of attorney.
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What if the driver had no insurance or drove off?
You can still receive medical coverage through ADRES, the national fund that covers victims of uninsured and unidentified vehicles. If the driver or owner is later identified, we can pursue them for your other losses.
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My travel insurance paid my medical bills. Can I still claim?
Usually, yes. Travel insurance often covers only part of your losses, and a claim against the responsible party can recover the rest, such as lost income and pain and suffering.
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Is there a time limit to make a claim?
Yes, and some deadlines are short. Passenger claims against transport companies, for example, can expire after two years under Article 993 of the Commercial Code. The time limit depends on the type of claim, so contact us as soon as you can.
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I was robbed after meeting someone on a dating app. Can you help?
Yes. These cases are common in Colombia, and we can help you report the crime, preserve evidence and take part in the criminal case.
Meet Isabel
Partner, LCG-Colombia
With more than eight years of legal experience, Isabel represents foreign nationals who have been injured in Colombia, from bus and road accidents to assaults, robberies, and injuries caused by someone else's negligence. She pursues compensation for medical costs, lost income, and other harm through civil liability claims and, where a crime is involved, the criminal courts, so clients can recover what they are owed even after they have left Colombia.