Injured in Costa Rica? A Legal Guide to Your Rights & Compensation
An injury during vacation is never just a matter of paperwork. The consequences of the situation include disruption of plans, the need to change flights, paying expensive medical bills, and suffering physical discomfort with permanent or temporary disabilities. At AG Legal, we have a proven track record of successfully representing tourists and expats following accidents in Costa Rica, ranging from zip line incidents during canopy tours in Monteverde to collisions involving ATV rentals. We assist you in preserving the evidence and ensuring that every responsible party is held to account while you recover.
- Personal injury cases we handle (real scenarios)
- Who can be liable (joint & several liability)
- Consumer law in action: objective liability & full compensation
- The Consumer Protection Law: Articles 30 & 35
- Damages you can claim
- Civil route vs. criminal complaints
- Evidence checklist (save this)
- “Costa Rica dangerous?” Myths, realities & a traveler’s story
- Illustrative cases & outcomes
- Our process: step by step
- FAQs
- Talk to our injury lawyers
Author: AG Legal • Reviewed by: Litigation, Insurance & Consumer Law Team • Updated: Oct 2025
Personal injury cases we handle (real scenarios)
No two trips—or injuries—look the same. We routinely see Costa Rica injuries after “bucket list” adventures and everyday moments: a zip line accident when a harness wasn’t properly checked; a white water rafting accident in Costa Rica during a sudden rise in the river; a Costa Rica ATV accident on a muddy trail without helmet; or a car accident in Costa Rica after a rental with worn tires hydroplaned in the rain. We also handle hotel pool slips, food poisoning, negligent security, and boating mishaps (snorkel/scuba, sport fishing, jet skis, catamarans and docks).
We know what searchers ask—“is Costa Rica dangerous?”, “Driving in Costa Rica is Dangerous”, “Costa Rica vacations dangers”. The truth is, risks exist everywhere. The question is whether the operator, hotel or rental company did what the law requires to keep you safe. When they didn’t, we build the case: safety briefings, instructor ratios, weather calls, equipment logs, maintenance, signage and emergency plans. Then we go after everyone who should contribute to your recovery—including their insurers.
- Adventure tourism:
- Costa Rica zip line accidents
- Canopy tours
- Costa Rica rafting accidents
- canyoning, rappelling
- surf lessons
- horseback riding
- ATV/UTV & road:
- ATV accident
- Motorcycle accident Costa Rica
- Car accident Costa Rica
- Fatal car accident in Costa Rica
- Unsafe shuttles or ride-share
- Hotels & rentals:
- pool decks slips
- railings/balconies
- stairs
- negligent security
- food poisoning
- Boats & water:
- snorkeling
- scuba
- sport fishing
- jet skis
- catamarans
- docks and marinas
- Products & premises:
- defective harnesses/helmets
- contaminated food
- poor maintenance
Who can be liable in Costa Rica (joint & several liability)
In many Costa Rica accidents there isn’t one culprit—there’s a chain. The tour company may cut corners, the hotel may fail to warn, a rental car or ATV company may deliver unsafe equipment, a subcontracted driver may speed, and a supplier may sell a defective harness. Under joint and several liability (responsabilidad solidaria), we can pursue all actors in the commercialization chain—tour operators, guides, hotels, property managers, equipment suppliers, transport subcontractors, organizers/promoters and, at times, concession holders—so you’re not left chasing a single under-insured defendant while bills pile up.
Consumer law in action: objective liability & full compensation
When you travel Costa Rica, book a tour or stay at a hotel, you’re a consumer. Costa Rican consumer law recognizes that the company (hotel, tour operator, rental car/ATV business, importer, merchant) usually holds the power. To balance the scales, the law provides:
- Objective (strict) liability: If a product or service causes harm—or if information about its use/risks was inadequate—you can claim compensation even without proving fault.
- Joint & several liability: Producer, supplier and merchant can be held responsible together; managers and technicians may also answer when their conduct breaches consumer duties.
- Full indemnification (indemnización) for damage (daño): medical costs, lost income, pain and suffering, travel disruptions and other proven losses.
The Consumer Protection Law: Articles 30 & 35
The Law for the Promotion of Competition and Effective Defense of the Consumer (Law No. 7472) is our core tool. Article 30 requires suppliers to provide truthful, adequate and timely information about goods and services—especially regarding risks, safety conditions, correct use and limitations. If a tour operator downplays a river’s flow on a stormy day, or an ATV rental omits warnings about brake wear, that is a problem under Article 30.
Article 35 sets a robust regime of responsibility: the producer, supplier and merchant answer concurrently and regardless of fault when a consumer is harmed by a product or service, or by inadequate/insufficient information about its use and risks. In practice, this lets us bring in all relevant actors—tour operator, hotel, rental company, distributor, importer—so compensation doesn’t depend on a single pocket.
For travelers, that means you don’t have to prove exactly who was careless.
We apply these rules daily for injuries tied to hotels, tour operators and rental car/ATV companies. The goal is simple: full and fair compensation.
What compensation covers
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Medical expenses | ER, surgery, hospitalization, meds, rehab, prosthetics, follow-ups in your home country |
| Lost income | Time off work, reduced capacity, caregiver costs |
| Pain & suffering | Physical pain, scarring, PTSD/anxiety, loss of enjoyment |
| Travel & logistics | Medical flights, lodging changes, family travel, specialized transport |
| Property damage | Phones, cameras, gear, clothing |
Civil route vs. criminal complaints
Most matters move forward as civil claims (damages against companies and their insurers). In severe cases (gross negligence or intentional wrongdoing), we may coordinate a criminal complaint. Practically, the civil route remains the best vehicle to secure compensation efficiently, while criminal actions can complement accountability when appropriate.
Evidence checklist (save this)
- Incident data: date/time, GPS or address, weather/lighting conditions.
- Photos/video: scene, equipment, signage, defects, injuries over time.
- Witnesses: names, contacts, short statements if possible.
- Operator documents: waiver, voucher, safety handouts, equipment tags.
- Medical records: ER report, imaging, prescriptions, invoices.
- Expenses: airline/hotel changes, transport, caregiver logs.
- Communications: emails/chats with hotel/operator/insurer—do not sign releases without counsel.
“Costa Rica dangerous?” Myths, realities & a traveler’s story
Search trends spike every season: Costa Rica dangerous, is Costa Rica dangerous, Driving in Costa Rica is Dangerous, Costa Rica vacations dangers, Costa Rica zip line accidents, Costa Rica rafting accidents. Here’s what we see up close. A family lands in Liberia, excited for a week of beaches and canopy tours. On day two, unexpected rain turns a country road slick. Their rental car with worn tires fishtails; later, at a zip line, a rushed briefing skips key warnings about braking technique. None of this means “don’t travel Costa Rica.” It means operators must do their part: maintain gear, read the weather, train staff, set safe ratios, post clear signage, and call off an activity when conditions change.
Our role is simple and firm: when companies fail those duties and you’re hurt, we prove it—using maintenance logs, instructor records, weather data, communications, and expert analysis—and then we pursue full compensation. Costa Rica remains a remarkable destination; with responsible operators, risks are managed. When they aren’t, the law protects travelers.
Illustrative cases & outcomes
- Defective product explosion (Embotelladora Tica): a bottle exploded on opening and injured a consumer’s eye—full compensation awarded under objective liability (Sala Primera, vote 646-F-2001).
- Vehicle theft at retailer (PriceSmart): duty to safeguard clients’ property; compensation ordered (Sala Primera, vote 655-2007).
- Bank hostage tragedy (Monteverde): joint compensation ordered for deaths inside a bank despite the act of a third party (Sala Tercera, vote 1333-2007).
- Slip and fall at restaurant (McDonald’s): inadequate service conditions triggered compensation under the consumer law framework.
Our process: step by step
- Demand & negotiation: a full damages brief with evidence and prognosis.
- Litigation-ready: file the civil action; coordinate any criminal complaint if warranted.
- Obtaining compensation: We focus on compensating you for the damage caused to you as a consumer.
Frequently asked questions
- What should I do right after a Costa Rica accident?
- Get medical care, document the scene, gather witnesses, and avoid signing releases. Contact us to preserve evidence.
- Can I recover damages if I signed a waiver?
- Waivers don’t excuse negligence in safety protocols, defective equipment or inadequate supervision—especially in consumer contexts.
- How long do I have to bring a claim?
- Deadlines apply and can be short depending on the claim type. We confirm the periods and file protective actions where needed.
- Do you take cases for zip line, rafting, ATV and road crashes?
- Yes. We investigate standards, equipment logs, training and emergency response to establish fault and maximize recovery.
Talk to our injury lawyers
If your trip turned into a Costa Rica accident—hotel, road, ocean, zip line accident, rafting or ATV—we’ll carry the legal burden while you heal. Let’s make it right.
This guide is informational and not legal advice. Strategy depends on facts, prognosis, insurance and current law.