Compensation after an Accident in Bali: Why You Can’t Demand Repair Payment Immediately
The story of this accident in Bali clearly shows how the rules work here and where you may unexpectedly encounter legal issues. Our client was involved in an accident: he was traveling on the main road when a local biker suddenly emerged from a side alley. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured, but the client’s bike was damaged.
When the police arrived, the offender immediately admitted his guilt in the presence of the officers. The client asked if he was ready to pay for the damage. At that moment, the police officer stopped him with a gesture and said, "You can’t demand money. That’s extortion."
For a foreigner, this sounds absurd. You are the victim, your bike is damaged, the culprit doesn’t argue—and suddenly you are told that your words could be grounds for accusation.
Then the police explained their reasoning. Their job is to record the fact of the accident. Money for repair is not within their scope of responsibility. They suggested going with the culprit to a service center where mechanics would calculate the cost of vehicle restoration, and there he would pay officially.
But the police didn’t go with them. No one took the culprit’s contact details, nor photographed his documents. The client went, trusting the officers’ words, while the local biker simply turned into an alley and disappeared.
To legally demand compensation for damages after an accident in Bali, a police report on the accident with signatures from all parties is required. Contact details of the culprit and his information, photos of documents, the bike or car, and registration numbers are needed. This is the basis with which you can approach a lawyer to demand compensation for the consequences of the accident.
There are specific rules of the game here. Those who live in Bali, rent a bike or car, should know these rules.
If you are involved in an accident, you should call a lawyer. This way, you will have more chances to actually receive compensation and not turn your attempt to protect your rights into a criminal story about extortion.
