• I want to consult about a traffic accident in the Yaizu, Makinohara, Yoshida, Omaezaki, and Fujieda area
• The at-fault driver will not disclose their insurance company
• I want to know how to find the at-fault driver's insurance company on my own

Are you troubled by issues like these in Yaizu, Makinohara, Omaezaki, Fujieda, Shimada, Yoshida Town, or surrounding areas?
Yaizu Sogo Law Office offers a free initial legal consultation regarding traffic accident concerns. There is no obligation to retain our services after the initial consultation. We are also available on weekday evenings and Saturdays. Please feel free to contact us by phone or email.

When the At-Fault Driver's Insurance Company Is Unknown

In traffic accidents, there are cases where the at-fault party refuses to acknowledge responsibility or disputes the claim.

In such situations, the at-fault party may choose not to contact their own voluntary automobile insurance company, leaving the matter unresolved with no progress at all because the at-fault party's insurer remains unknown.

Even if a lawsuit is filed against the at-fault driver while their insurance company remains unknown and a court judgment for damages is obtained, if the at-fault driver takes no action and it is unclear whether they have any attachable assets, there is a possibility that the victim may not receive proper compensation.

On the other hand, if the at-fault driver's voluntary insurance company is identified, since bodily injury and property damage voluntary insurance policies typically contain provisions for direct claims by victims, the likelihood of receiving compensation through a court judgment increases significantly, even if the at-fault driver denies responsibility.

This article explains how to find the at-fault driver's insurance company (both compulsory automobile liability insurance (CALI) and voluntary insurance) when they are unknown.

Problems That Arise When the Insurance Company Is Unknown

• Medical expenses are not covered, increasing out-of-pocket costs through health insurance
• Property damage (vehicle repairs) must be paid out of pocket
• Residual disability applications cannot proceed
• Settlement negotiations cannot take place
• The at-fault driver may flee or become unreachable
• The risk of the claim ultimately becoming "unrecoverable" increases

Because these problems can arise, it is critically important to identify the at-fault driver's insurance as quickly as possible.

How to Find the Compulsory Automobile Liability Insurance (CALI) Company

If you can obtain a Traffic Accident Certificate issued by the Japan Safe Driving Center, it typically contains the names of the CALI companies and certificate numbers for the parties involved (both at-fault driver and victim), enabling you to obtain the necessary information.

CALI coverage is limited to personal injury damages (property damage is not covered), but by filing a victim's direct claim with the CALI company, you can receive at least minimum compensation.

However, a Traffic Accident Certificate will only contain the CALI company name and certificate number if you called the police after the accident and the accident was properly processed (i.e., the police confirmed the CALI insurance certificate during their investigation). Be sure to always call the police after an accident to ensure proper accident processing.

If you cannot obtain the CALI company information from the Traffic Accident Certificate, ideally the at-fault driver would provide it voluntarily; however, as mentioned above, the chances of cooperation from an at-fault driver who denies responsibility are low.

In such cases, you can find the CALI company by using the same method described below for investigating the at-fault driver's voluntary insurance.

Requirements for Obtaining a Traffic Accident Certificate

• The police were called immediately after the accident
• The CALI insurance certificate was presented during the police investigation
• The recorded details differ depending on whether the accident is classified as a personal injury case or a property damage case

The CALI Company Is the Most Critical Information

• CALI is a system that makes "advance payments" for personal injury accidents
• Even if the at-fault driver does not disclose it, the victim can file a direct claim
• Medical expenses, transportation costs, lost income, and consolation money can be claimed up to 1.2 million yen

How to Find the At-Fault Driver's Voluntary Insurance

If you retain an attorney to handle your traffic accident case, the attorney can use a Bar Association Inquiry to investigate the at-fault driver's voluntary insurance company.

A Bar Association Inquiry is a system through which the bar association sends formal information requests to government agencies, corporations, and other entities on behalf of attorneys.

In cases like this, by submitting a Bar Association Inquiry to organizations to which insurance companies belong (such as the General Insurance Association of Japan or the National Association of Cooperative Insurance), it is possible to investigate whether a voluntary insurance company has an automobile insurance contract with the at-fault driver.

What Is a Bar Association Inquiry?

It is a system whereby an attorney, through the bar association, makes formal information requests to insurance companies, government agencies, corporations, and other entities.

Because it is [a formal procedure with legal basis], the response rate is extremely high.

Inquiry Recipients

• General Insurance Association of Japan
• National Association of Cooperative Insurance
• Insurance company headquarters and branch offices
• Land Transport Office (vehicle information)

What an Inquiry Can Reveal

• The voluntary insurance company covering the at-fault vehicle
• Whether a contract exists
• Policyholder information (name and address)
• Past contract change history (vehicle replacements, etc.)

Once this information is obtained, even if the at-fault driver refuses to communicate, a direct claim to the insurance company → securing payment becomes possible.

How Victims Can File a "Direct Claim" with the Insurance Company

Many voluntary insurance policies (bodily injury and property damage) recognize the "victim's right to file a direct claim"

Even if the at-fault driver has not contacted the insurance company, if the victim contacts the insurance company directly, the insurer will initiate accident processing and engage in negotiations.

In other words, the at-fault driver's intention = "to use / not to use" or "to contact / not to contact" does not affect the victim's right to claim.

For details on filing a direct claim with an insurance company, please also refer to the article: "The at-fault driver says they will not use their voluntary automobile insurance. What should I do?"

Practical Steps

• ①File a Bar Association Inquiry based on the at-fault vehicle's license plate information
• ②Identify the at-fault driver's insurance company
• ③The victim contacts the insurance company directly
• ④The insurance company initiates accident processing
• ⑤Proceed to payment procedures for medical and repair expenses

Cases Where the At-Fault Driver May Be Uninsured (No Voluntary Insurance)

When the at-fault driver conceals their insurance company, the following possibilities exist:

• No voluntary insurance (uninsured vehicle)
• Low rating class with the policy lapsed due to unpaid premiums
• Driving a company vehicle without the company's knowledge
• Only CALI coverage with no voluntary insurance

Remedies Available to Victims in Such Cases

• Filing a victim's claim with the CALI insurer
• Utilizing the uninsured motorist coverage under the victim's own policy
• Filing a compensation claim directly against the at-fault driver (lawsuit + compulsory execution if the driver lacks assets)

Accidents involving uninsured vehicles require specialized handling, so early consultation is essential.

Summary

The above describes how to find the insurance company of the at-fault driver.

When the at-fault driver denies responsibility for the traffic accident or is uncooperative in resolving the matter, the hurdles for the victim to receive appropriate compensation increase dramatically.

Once an attorney's investigation progresses, you can smoothly file a claim with the insurance company without needing to contact the at-fault driver personally.

Yaizu Sogo Law Office offers free initial consultations for traffic accident cases. If you are experiencing difficulties, please feel free to contact our office.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Initial Legal Consultation for Traffic Accidents at Yaizu Sogo Law Office Is Free of Charge

Yaizu Sogo Law Office provides a free initial legal consultation regarding traffic accidents.

We handle all traffic accident-related legal matters, regardless of severity or whether they involve property damage or personal injury. If you are feeling stressed by dealings with insurance companies, or if you want to know whether the amount offered by your insurance company is fair, please do not hesitate to consult with us.

Yaizu Sogo Law Office is available not only during regular weekday hours but also on weekday evenings and Saturdays. Please contact us by phone or email to schedule a legal consultation.

Are You Troubled by a Traffic Accident?

• Settlement Offers from Insurance Companies Are Almost Always Low
• The Insurance Company Said They Would Cut Off My Medical Expenses
• Dissatisfied with the Fault Ratio
• When and How to Consult a Lawyer About a Traffic Accident
• What Claims Can Be Made in a Personal Injury Accident?
• What Claims Can Be Made in a Property Damage Accident?
• What You Need to Know About Whiplash
• Traffic Accidents and Health Insurance
• Procedures and Steps to Follow After a Traffic Accident
• Fault Proportions Between a Through-Going Vehicle and a Right-Turning Vehicle at an Intersection
• Diminished Value (Loss of Market Value)
• Amount Claimable from the Other Party When Personal Injury Protection Insurance Was Used Prior to the Claim for Damages Against the Other Party
• Free legal consultation is available for traffic accidents
• Filing a Victim's Claim with Compulsory Automobile Liability Insurance (CALI)
• Lost Wages for Salaried Employees (Wage Earners) in Traffic Accidents
• Understanding a Company's Losses When Employees Are Killed or Injured in a Traffic Accident
• Finding the Court with Jurisdiction over Traffic Accident Lawsuits
• Want to Know Whether You Can Offset the Other Party's Damages Against Your Own in the Same Traffic Accident
• The at-fault party refuses to use their voluntary automobile insurance. What should I do?
• I was seriously injured in a traffic accident in June 2017, before the enforcement of the amended Civil Code (April 1, 2020). Three years have passed (but less than five years) since I completed my treatment. Is the statute of limitations still valid?
• How to Identify a Hit-and-Run Driver from a Vehicle License Plate Number
• Methods of Dispute Resolution in Traffic Accidents
• What You Need to Know About Medical Commuting Transportation Expenses
• How to Find the Insurance Company of the At-Fault Driver in a Traffic Accident
• Understanding Workers' Compensation Insurance in Traffic Accidents (Leave Compensation)
• How Much Is the Standard Compensation for a Traffic Accident?
• What Is Residual Disability Grade Certification in Traffic Accidents?
• How Much Compensation Can You Get for Whiplash from a Traffic Accident?
• Benefits of Hiring a Lawyer for Traffic Accidents
• Key Points When Dealing with Insurance Companies After a Traffic Accident
• How to Calculate Lost Income from a Traffic Accident
• The Relationship Between Number of Hospital Visits and Compensation for Pain and Suffering in Traffic Accidents (Key Considerations When Visit Frequency Is Low)
• What Is Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) After a Traffic Accident?
• How to Use Lawyer Fee Special Coverage for Traffic Accidents?
• How to Handle a Traffic Accident When the At-Fault Driver Has No Insurance
• Damages in Bicycle Accidents
• Claiming Compensation When a Passenger Is Injured in a Traffic Accident
• Do You Have to Pay a Traffic Fine for a Burned-Out Brake Light?
• "I Said I Would Pay the Full Repair Cost" in a Bicycle Accident
• If Repair Costs Exceed Your Car's Market Value After a Traffic Accident, Can You Still Recover the Full Amount?
• Can a Car Proceed if a Pedestrian Yields at a Crosswalk?
• What Are "Replacement Incidental Costs" When a Vehicle Is Totaled in a Traffic Accident?
• What Damages Can Be Claimed When a Family Member Dies in a Traffic Accident?

See all articles on traffic accidents