Japan's traffic accident insurance system has two tiers: compulsory CALI (jibaiseki, CALI Act Art. 5) with limits of ¥1.2M injury, ¥30M death, ¥0.75-40M disability; and voluntary insurance for excess coverage. Victims can claim directly from the at-fault driver's CALI insurer (Art. 16, "victim claim"). Required documents: accident certificate, medical records, income loss certificate. Settlement should wait until treatment ends and disability grade is certified. Government guarantee program (Art. 72) covers hit-and-run and uninsured vehicles. Statute of limitations: 3 years property damage, 5 years personal injury (Civil Code Art. 724-2).
Insurance Claims for Traffic Accidents in Japan: Compulsory vs. Voluntary
Key Takeaways
- ✓Compulsory auto insurance provides minimum coverage for personal injury
- ✓Voluntary insurance covers damages exceeding compulsory limits
- ✓Victim claims allow direct insurance payouts without going through the at-fault party
- ✓Consult a lawyer before signing any settlement agreement
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