In Colombia, the Compulsory Insurance against Traffic Accidents (SOAT) is a compulsory insurance established by law, in order to ensure priority care for victims of traffic accidents.
Likewise, a person can drive in Colombia without the need to have comprehensive insurance.
(You may be interested: Know the keys to understand the benefits of SOAT; rising accident rate)
Nevertheless, you will not be able to do them if you do not have the SOATsince, if doing so and being involved in a traffic accident, the legal consequences will be serious.
A person who drives in Colombia with expired SOAT or who has not contracted said insurance will be forced to hand over their car to the authorities, who will immobilize it and transfer it to transit yards in a tow truck.
To remove the car, you must purchase a SOAT policy or pay a fine, in addition to transportation and storage costs.
In the event of a car accident and the driver responsible for the event does not have SOAT, he will be fined and, in addition, must bear all the medical expenses of the victims, as well as the costs of towing and parking.
Therefore, it is important to have this insurance to be able to move in a vehicle and, if an accident occurs, to be able to solve it.
Benefits of hiring CLOCK
Medical expense coverage
When the car accident causes bodily harm to people who were involvedthe SOAT will cover all the medical expenses that your immediate care and subsequent care causeamong them:
- hospital expenses: when the victims are admitted to the hospital.
- Surgical expenses: when the victims require an operation.
- Pharmaceutical expenses: when the victims need a medicinal treatment for their speedy recovery.
(You may be interested: 87% of road injuries involve a motorcycle in Colombia)
Permanent disability coverage
The SOAT guarantees that people who have been victims of a car accident in Colombia and have resulted in serious physical damage, which prevents them from studying, working or performing normally in society, they will be compensated with a certain amount of money.
This is established in a table published in articles 209, 210 and 211 of the Substantive Labor Code of Colombia.
The amount of compensation will depend on which organs or body parts were affected in the road accident.
Annual update of the value of coverage
SOAT coverage is expressed through current daily legal minimum wages (SMDLV), which are set according to annual inflation.
Every year, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) varies and directly influences the value of SOAT coverage, causing it to increase year after year.
Coverage for death of the victim
In the event that the victim of the automobile accident dies for reasons related to the road accident, the SOAT offers a coverage of up to 600 SMDLV for death and up to 150 SMDLV for funeral expenses. This is valid for up to one year after the accident.
SOAT coverage amounts
Some of the amounts of coverage offered by the SOAT to victims of car accidents are:
- Pharmaceutical expenses: Up to 500 SMDLV.
- Expenses of transport or mobilization of the victims: Up to 10 SMDLV.
- Surgical expenses: Up to 500 SMDLV.
- Permanent Disability: Up to 180 SMDLV.
- Hospital expenses: Up to 500 SMDLV.
Variety of prices according to the vehicle you own
The price of SOAT is not the same for all people; This will be determined by the characteristics of the car, among them are considered:
- Engine power and capacity: Those with greater capacity will have to pay higher amounts.
- vehicle age: Older vehicles must pay a higher SOAT than new cars.
(You may be interested: How much is it worth and how to get the motorcycle pass in Colombia?)
Electronic SOAT
The electronic format is another advantage of SOAT. This format has the same restrictions and also offers the same coverage and protection as the physical format SOAT.
When the authorities request the SOAT and the driver of the car has the electronic format, the officers will access the WATCH is virtualthat is, through a QR code.
This format ensures that the document will not be lost and does not require the placement of labels with SOAT information on the cart. It is easy to process and ideal for people who do not want to carry a large number of documents in the car.