| Welcome to Okinawa! Here are some important facts about auto insurance on Okinawa that will help you on your way. Since Okinawa is under the direction of Japan, all the laws that govern mainland Japan, apply here as well. |
| BODILY
INJURY LIABILITY INSURANCE |
Bodily injury insurance is twofold
on Okinawa as dipicted below:
(1) Usually called JCI (Japanese Compulsory Insurance), this government sponsored insurance covers your legal liability (responsibility) to someone injured or killed in an accident caused by you or anyone driving your automobile with your permission. It pays up to 1,200,000 YEN per person for most cases of medical expense and up to 30,000,000 YEN per person if the accident is severe enough to kill or disable someone permanently. (2) Bodily Injury Insurance - As seen above, JCI is enough protection with only 1,200,000 YEN per person minimum limit for most cases. That is why it's required for you to purchase Bodily Injury Insurance besides the JCI. It covers in excess of any JCI's payment up to the limit you choose. In view of the current court awards sometimes reaching 100,000,000 YEN, it is reasonable to buy at least 70,000,000 YEN coverage on top of the JCI's maximum limit of 30,000,000 YEN, of course the choise is yours. If you are libable (responsible) for the accident, the insurance company adjusters and legal staff will negotiate and defend for you in or out of the court. |
| PROPERTY
DAMAGE LIABILITY NSURANCE |
U.S. Forces Japan require every person to carry at least 30,000,000 YEN property damage liabilitiy insurance with his/her automobile. This is to cover your legal liability for damages you may cause to someone's property if involved in an accident of some kind. |
| COMPREHENSIVE
INSURANCE (YOUR DAMAGE) |
Pays for loss or damage to your automobile caused by fire, theft, glass breakage, typhoon, wind, water, falling objects, vandalism, etc except for collision or upset. |
| COLLISION
INSURANCE |
Pays for damages to your automobile as a result of collision or upset whether it's your fault or not. |
| READ
AND HEED -
COMPARATIVE NEGLIGENCE RULE ON OKINAWA |
Unlike in the United States, Okinawa
is strictly a COMPARATIVE NEGLIGENCE area and negligence is assigned on
a comparative basis regardless which party is direclty responsibilitiy
for the accident.
Suppose you unfortunately ran over a person crossing the street that was ignoring a red light signal. You might think the pedestrian is responsible for the event because there was no chance of the accident, had he/she observed the signal. This is mostly justified from the American viewpoint, however, the Japanese police and/or authority would possibly (probably) assigned a certain percentage of negligence to your side on account of your "carelessness". This naturally means you may have to pay a considerable amount for the pedestrian's injury or even worse if a death were to occur as a result of your carelessness. |
| OTHER
IMPORTANT
FEATURES OF INSURANCE |
After one or more years without an accident/claim, you will be entitiled to a "No Claim Discount of 10% - 30% off your renewal rates. Just the opposite can be true as well, if you file a claim or have an accident, you can most often expect an increase in your premium. |
| WHAT
TO DO IN
CASE OF AN ACCIDENT |
BY ALL MEANS, .
Okinawa is a very small island and you can be assured, someone has seen
the accident and will report it. Stay at the accident scene until
police arrive. Leaving the scene beforehand is regarded as "hit and
run" which means a severe penatly.
Do whatever you can to help the injured if you able to. Call 119 for an Ambulance in town and 911 on base. Call 110 in town or 911 on base for the police and remove if possible, your automobile or anything obstructing traffic. Get the following information from each party involved in the accident: Names, Addresses, Telephone Numbers and Insurance Companies involved. Be polite and sincere, but "". Let the insurance companies do what you have paid them to do. Notify the your insurance company immediately, or your agent by calling or writing them about the accident. Unreasonable delays in reporting the accident may result in cancellation of your insurance policy. |
| MY
GOLDEN
RULE TO CONSIDER |
While on Okinawa, you are the guest, always remember that. The term of "professional driver" will come up during your tour and what it basically means is that you're going to be responsible for some part of the accident, regardless of the circumstances. Keeping your cool will do wonders to resolve any issues at hand. |
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