• I want to consult about a traffic accident in the Yaizu, Yoshida, Makinohara, Fujieda, and Omaezaki areas
• I want to know if I can consult a lawyer using the lawyer fee special coverage
• I am worried whether using the lawyer fee special coverage will increase my insurance premiums
• I do not know if my insurance includes the lawyer fee special coverage
• I want to know if I can use a family member's lawyer fee special coverage

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.

What Is Lawyer Fee Special Coverage?

If you are involved in a traffic accident, you may want to consult or hire a lawyer, but you may feel anxious, thinking:

• "Aren't lawyer fees expensive?"
• "What if the lawyer fees exceed the compensation amount?"
• "Can I consult a lawyer even for a minor accident?"

These concerns are common.

The lawyer fee special coverage is useful in such situations.

The lawyer fee special coverage is a rider included in automobile insurance and similar policies, under which the insurance company covers lawyer fees and legal consultation costs up to a certain amount for traffic accident cases.

Typically, coverage provides up to 100,000 yen for legal consultation fees and up to 3,000,000 yen for lawyer fees per accident.

If you can use the lawyer fee special coverage as a traffic accident victim, you may be able to consult and hire a lawyer with no out-of-pocket costs, or with significantly reduced costs.

Therefore, if you are involved in a traffic accident, it is important to first check whether you or your family members have the lawyer fee special coverage on your insurance policies.

Traffic Accidents Eligible for Lawyer Fee Special Coverage

The lawyer fee special coverage is primarily used for damage claims related to traffic accidents.

For example:

• Car-to-car accidents
• Rear-end collisions
• Intersection accidents
• Pedestrian accidents (hit by a vehicle)
• Bicycle-vehicle accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Property damage accidents
• Personal injury accidents

The coverage may be available for these types of accidents.

It may also be used for property damage accidents, not only personal injury accidents, such as when vehicle repair costs or diminished value are at issue.

In property-damage-only accidents, the amount of damages is relatively small, so hiring a lawyer may result in costs exceeding the recovery.

However, if the lawyer fee special coverage is available, the risk of costs exceeding the recovery is significantly reduced, making it easier to consult a lawyer even for property damage accidents.

Who Can Use the Lawyer Fee Special Coverage?

The lawyer fee special coverage is not necessarily limited to the policyholder alone.

Depending on the insurance policy, the following persons may generally be eligible to use it:

• The policyholder
• The named insured
• The spouse of the named insured
• Relatives living in the same household
• Unmarried children living separately

For example, even if your own automobile insurance does not include the lawyer fee special coverage, you may be able to use it if a family member living with you has the coverage on their automobile insurance.

Additionally, if an unmarried child living separately from their parents is involved in an accident, they may be able to use the lawyer fee special coverage on their parent's insurance.

"Even if you think, "My car insurance doesn't include the coverage," you may still be able to use it through a family member's insurance.

If you are involved in a traffic accident, we recommend checking not only your own insurance but also your family members' insurance policies.

The Coverage May Also Be Included in Insurance Other Than Automobile Insurance

The lawyer fee special coverage is commonly included in automobile insurance, but it may also be included in other types of insurance.

For example:

• Fire insurance
• Accident insurance
• Personal liability insurance
• Credit card supplementary insurance

These types of insurance may include coverage for lawyer fees related to traffic accidents or daily life accidents.

This is particularly important for those who do not own a car, or those involved in bicycle or pedestrian accidents, as it is worth checking insurance policies other than automobile insurance.

Check your insurance certificates, the insurance company's online portal, and policy notifications to see if they mention "lawyer fee special coverage," "lawyer fee indemnity," or "legal consultation fee coverage."

Benefits of Using the Lawyer Fee Special Coverage

The greatest benefit of using the lawyer fee special coverage is that it makes it easier to consult and hire a lawyer without worrying about the cost.

In traffic accident cases, hiring a lawyer offers the following benefits:

• You can leave communications with the insurance company to the lawyer
• Consolation money may be increased based on the lawyer's standard
• It becomes easier to deal with the termination of medical expense payments
• You can prepare for a disability certification application
• You can properly dispute the fault ratio
• You can properly claim lost income

These are the advantages of hiring a lawyer.

However, many people hesitate to consult a lawyer because they are concerned about the cost.

If you can use the lawyer fee special coverage, this financial concern can be significantly reduced.

In particular, for accidents with relatively small damage amounts or property damage accidents, whether or not you have the lawyer fee special coverage can make a significant difference in how easy it is to hire a lawyer.

Will Using the Lawyer Fee Special Coverage Increase My Insurance Premiums?

A frequently asked question about the lawyer fee special coverage is, "Will my insurance premiums increase the following year if I use it?"

Generally, using the lawyer fee special coverage will not result in a downgrade of your automobile insurance rating or an increase in the following year's premiums.

Therefore, if the lawyer fee special coverage is available, it is a system worth actively considering.

However, the handling may vary depending on the terms of the insurance contract, so it is advisable to confirm with your insurance company just to be safe.

Steps to Use the Lawyer Fee Special Coverage

The general steps for using the lawyer fee special coverage are as follows:

Points to Note When Using the Lawyer Fee Special Coverage

The lawyer fee special coverage is a convenient system, but there are several points to keep in mind.

1. Contact your insurance company in advance

When using the lawyer fee special coverage, it is advisable to contact your insurance company beforehand.

If you hire a lawyer without prior notification, disputes may arise later regarding the scope of covered expenses.

2. There is a coverage limit

Most lawyer fee special coverage policies have upper limits on legal consultation fees and lawyer fees.

While these amounts are generally sufficient, in serious accidents or prolonged litigation, the costs may exceed the limit.

In such cases, it is necessary to confirm in advance how any excess amount will be handled.

3. It cannot be used for every type of accident

The scope of eligible accidents varies depending on the type and terms of the insurance.

Some policies are limited to automobile accidents, while others may also cover daily life accidents.

It is important to review the terms of your contract.

Can the At-Fault Party Also Use the Lawyer Fee Special Coverage?

The lawyer fee special coverage is a system generally used by the victim to make a damage claim against the other party.

However, depending on the circumstances of the accident, there may be cases where you bear some degree of fault, or where the other party makes an excessive claim against you.

Whether the lawyer fee special coverage can be used in such situations depends on the terms of the contract.

For example, if you are only in the position of being claimed against, usage may be restricted.

If you are the at-fault party or involved in an accident where your fault is significant, you need to confirm with your insurance company whether you can use the coverage.

Can I Still Consult a Lawyer Without the Lawyer Fee Special Coverage?

Even without the lawyer fee special coverage, it is possible to consult and hire a lawyer.

However, depending on the nature of the accident, the economic benefit may be small when considering lawyer fees.

For example, in property-damage-only accidents with small damage amounts, the lawyer fees may exceed the recovery.

On the other hand, in cases involving:

• Accidents likely to result in residual disabilities
• Accidents requiring a long period of hospital visits
• Accidents with significant disputes over the fault ratio
• Accidents where the insurance company's settlement offer is low

There may be benefits to hiring a lawyer even without the lawyer fee special coverage.

Just because you do not have the lawyer fee special coverage does not necessarily mean you should give up on consulting a lawyer.

First, it is important to confirm the cost-effectiveness of hiring a lawyer.

What If You Do Not Know Whether You Have the Lawyer Fee Special Coverage?

In traffic accident consultations, many people say, "I don't know whether my insurance includes the lawyer fee special coverage."

In such cases, please try the following methods to check:

• Check your automobile insurance certificate
• Check your insurance company's online portal
• Contact your insurance agent
• Check your family members' automobile insurance
• Check your fire insurance and accident insurance as well

In particular, if a family member's insurance includes the coverage, the individual may not be aware of it.

If you are involved in a traffic accident, we recommend checking not only your own insurance but also your family members' insurance policies.

Summary

The lawyer fee special coverage is a rider under which the insurance company covers lawyer fees and legal consultation costs up to a certain amount for traffic accident cases.

If you can use the lawyer fee special coverage, you can significantly reduce financial concerns and consult or hire a lawyer with confidence.

Additionally, using the coverage generally does not result in a downgrade of your automobile insurance rating or an increase in the following year's premiums.

The lawyer fee special coverage may be available not only through your own insurance but also through the insurance of family members living together or unmarried children living separately.

If you are involved in a traffic accident, we recommend first checking whether you have the lawyer fee special coverage and, if available, consulting a lawyer as early as possible.

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