In November 2025, a tourist visited a hotel in Bali on a day pass. While she was relaxing on the resort grounds, a tree fell on her. The woman suffered broken ribs, a concussion, and injuries to her head, neck, shoulder, and back.
Her treatment continued after she returned home. Eight months later, the hotel paid her more than $13,000 in compensation. The case never reached court — the parties settled the dispute out of court.
Why compensation was obtained
Indonesia's Civil Code provides for liability for harm caused by negligence, including harm caused by objects under the control of the responsible party. Since the tree stood on the hotel's grounds, its condition and safety fell within the resort's area of responsibility.
At the same time, it was necessary to prove that the incident had occurred, along with the injuries sustained and the related expenses. An incident report, witness statements, photos and video, medical reports, test results, and receipts for treatment all helped with this.
The injured woman's lawyer sent the hotel a somasi — a formal pre-trial demand letter. After negotiations, the parties agreed on the amount of compensation and signed a settlement agreement.
What to do after an incident
If you are injured at a hotel, restaurant, shopping mall, or other commercial property in Indonesia, it is important to document what happened right away: take photos and video, get the contact details of witnesses, and ask management to draw up an incident report.
Keep all medical documents and receipts. Don't rush to sign a waiver of further claims in exchange for an initial payment — the consequences of the injury and the actual costs may only become clear later.
Legal Indonesia's takeaway
This case shows that compensation in Indonesia can be obtained without going to court. However, the outcome largely depends on how well the circumstances of the incident, the consequences of the injury, and the expenses incurred are documented.
In cases of serious injury or substantial damage, Legal Indonesia recommends seeking legal assistance before starting negotiations with the company. This will help you assess the prospects of the case, determine a well-founded amount to claim, and structure the pre-trial settlement correctly.
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