Help and Support for Victims ofTraffic Crimes or Accidents

1Preface
This leaflet has been produced for any victim of a traffic accident or their surrounding family
members.
It discusses:○

What support system is provided by the Police?

○

What requests could the Police make to the victims and their family members?

○

How are the traffic accident perpetrators punished?

○

What type of motor insurance is available?

We hope the leaflet will be helpful for you and your family members.

～ Table of Contents～

1. Do the police provide any support? ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ １～～

Support and communication system

2. How are the traffic accident perpetrators punished? ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ ４～

Beginning of investigation to decision of disposition～

3. What type of motor insurance is available?・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ １２～Compensation and insurance systems～

4. Are there any systems of aid and redress? ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ １７～Types of aid and redress available～

5. Excluding the police, which other organizations can you seek advice from? ・・・ ２０～ Seeking advice from relevant organizations and organizations specializing in counseling2～1. Do the police provide any support?
The police can support and help the victims of traffic accidents and their families (hereinafter written
as “the victims” in this leaflet) by offering escort by a police officer, provision of information andproviding a consultation service.

Designated Victim Support Personnel System
This system designates, besides investigators, a police officer as “Victim Support Personnel” tosupport the victims that are emotionally upset not long after the traffic accident. The “Victim Support
Personnel” will offer escort and accept consultation on various issues.

Victim Information System
The police understand that the victims have a vested interest in how the investigation of the traffic
accident proceeds, whether the traffic accident perpetrators are caught or not, and what punishment is
imposed on the perpetrators.
In response to such interest, the police investigator in charge of the traffic will provide the victims
with the following information concerning serious traffic accidents etc.

Information about the Traffic Accident Perpetrator○

Address, name/age etc. of the perpetrator○

The time and date and place of the traffic accident○

Progress of the investigation

Information about the criminal disposition for the party responsible for the accident○

Arrest of the perpetrator○

Information regarding disposition of the perpetrator○

The public prosecutor’s office where the suspect was sent, whether the suspect was indicted ornot, the court where the perpetrator was indicted.

OthersSome people simply want to forget about a traffic accident and do not want to be contacted.
In this case the victims should inform the police investigators of that effect.

3

Provision of information on administrative disposition
The perpetrator who has caused a traffic accident is subject to administrative disposition such as
revocation or suspension of their driver’s licenses sanctioned by the public safety commission. Prior to theadministrative penalties (revocation and suspension of more than 90 days), the perpetrator will be subject
to a hearing open to the public. A representative may attend the hearing, however when both theperpetrator and representative cannot attend, disposition may be rendered without any hearing.
The police will provide information on the administrative disposition and hearing upon your request.

Details of the administrative disposition
We will provide information regarding the administrative disposition offered to the perpetrator(revocation, suspension and the duration of suspension).

The date of hearing etc.
We will inform you of the date and place of the hearing.

Police Consultation Services
The police offer support such as expert counseling services for victims. The following services areavailable.
Using Japanese would be appreciated when calling.

①

Police Consultation Dedicated Telephone(Consultation about police affairs)○・・・TEL ♯9110 or 0852-31-9110②

Traffic Accidents Consultation Services○・・・Traffic Enforcement Division, Shimane Prefectural Police Headquarters
TEL 0852-26-0110○・・・The nearest Traffic Police Station
Police Station

TEL

Shimane Prefectural

0852-26-0110

Headquarters
Express Way

Matsue0862-62-3110

PatrolHamada0855-22-1377

Muikaiti

0856-77-0110

Matsue Police Station

0852-28-0110

Yasugi Police Station

0854-22-0110

Unnan Police Station

0854-45-0110

Izumo Police Station

0853-24-0110
4

Oda Police Station

0854-82-0110

Kawamoto Police Station

0855-72-0110

Goutsu Police Station

0855-52-0110

Hamada Police Station

0855-22-0110

Masuda Police Station

0856-22-0110

Tsuwano Police Station

0856-72-0110

Okinoshima Police Station

08512-2-0110

Uragou Police Station

08514-6-0121○・・・ To find out your nearest Prefectural Police Consultation Service please visit the Police
Crime Victim Support Office website URL: http://www.npa.go.jp/higaisya/home.htm.

③

Consultation Services for Counselling

To reduce the mental burden of victims suffering from shock after the traffic accident, staff withspecialized knowledge and skills on counseling are available. Consultation and counseling service for thevictims are available through collaboration with psychiatrists and private counselors.
Concerning this counseling system, ask and request the contact person for victims or theadministration section of a police station.

5

Please let us know about non-police support and information systems.
The following information systems are provided by organizations other than the police.
The “Victim Support Personnel System” Established within the Public Prosecutors OfficePublic Prosecutors Offices nationwide designates a “Victim Support Personnel” to support victims
and help ease the burden and anxiety of these victims.
The Victim Support Personnel offers support in the form of consultation to the victims on various
issues, escorting them to a court, assistance in viewing of dossiers, return of evidence and other procedures.
They will also introduce relevant organizations and groups that offer mental, everyday living and financial
support depending on the condition of the victim.

The “Victims of Crime Notification System” established within each organization of the Ministry of Justice

The “Victims of Crime Notification System” provides victims with information related to theproceedings and outcome of the case, outcome of the criminal trial, and treatment of the perpetrator whenfound guilty. The information is provided by the Public Prosecutors Office, the regional parole board or the
probation office.
These notifications will be sent to the Public Prosecutors Office handling the case.
Upon the victims’ request, notification on the perpetrator put on probation (notification after thejuvenile trial) will be made by the juvenile reformatory, the regional parole board or the probation office.
Application office for the notification is the Public Prosecutors Office where the case was dealt.
When the perpetrator has been committed to a juvenile reformatory, application for these notifications
should be made to the nearest juvenile classification centre. When the perpetrator has been placed underprobation, the application of these notifications should be made to the probation office of the victim’s local
prefecture.

2. How are the traffic accident perpetrators punished?
The following is the punishment procedures when a traffic accident occurs.

Investigation
Investigation is an activity whereby the perpetrator is identified through collecting evidence, the caseis solved by investigating the facts and imposing punishment on the perpetrator.
The following investigations are carried out by the police when a traffic accident occurs.

6Police Questioning
The police investigator in charge will ask you in detail about the situation where the accident
occurred and the situation where the report of the traffic accident was filed.
We may take a deposition.
It may be difficult for the victims to revisit the accident, when all a person wants to do is to forget or
not mention about things. However police questioning is an indispensable step in determining the causeof the accident and identifying the perpetrator. The more details are discovered, the faster and smootherthe investigation will proceed. We appreciate your cooperation.

7

On-the-spot Investigation
On-the-spot Investigation involves the police officer investigating the following in detail in order to
identify the situation and the cause of the accident:○

The scene of the traffic accident○

Clothes the victim was wearing at the time of the accident or the vehicle involved in
the accident

Victims may be asked to revisit the scene of the accident. Furthermore, victims may be asked tosubmit the clothes the victim was wearing at the time of the accident as evidence that may lead to theresolution of the accident.
The evidence may have a large impact on the outcome of the trial.

Sending suspects to the public prosecutors office
A perpetrator suspected
to be the criminal by the police (the perpetrator is called the “Suspect”) must be sent to the publicprosecutor with evidence using the following procedures. This is called sending suspects to the publicprosecutors office.
When the suspect is arrested

When the suspect is not arrested○If it is deemed necessary for investigation,○When the suspect is not arrested and is

the suspect will be arrested and sent to theinvestigated on a voluntary basis, thepublic prosecutor with relevant documents

relevant documents and evidence will beand evidence within 48hours after the arrest.

sent to the public prosecutor after the police○ If the public prosecutor decides it isnecessary to detain the suspect, he or she will
ask the judge to issue a detainment order
within 24 hours after the suspect has been
sent.
○When there is a need to detain the suspect fora longer period, the suspect may be detained
for a maximum of 20 days.

8

have collected evidence.

Indictment
The prosecutor will decide whether or not to bring the suspect to trial on the basis of the evidence
sent.
○

Bringing the suspect to trial is called “Indictment”.

○

Choosing no to bring the suspect to trial is called “Non-indictment”.

There are two types of requests available to a prosecutor seeking indictment.
○”Demand for a Trial” that request for a public trial.

○”Summary indictment” which requests a judicial trial where fines or minor fines are orderedthrough written proceedings. (After the suspect is indicted, he or she is referred to as the“Defendant.”)※

The prosecutor may question the victim in order to decide whether to proceed with an indictment
or not. We appreciate your cooperation.

※

If the prosecutor has decided not to indict a suspect, an application for review may be made to
the district court and the Committee for Inquest of Prosecution of main district courts branches.
For more details please contact the Executive Office of the Committee for Inquest of
Prosecution.

Trial
At the trial, the judge will conduct a trial based on evidence and give adecision.
Victims may sometimes be asked to testify during the criminal trial as a witness. The following measures
have been introduced by the court to protect the victims.
○A witness should be accompanied with a person deemed to be appropriate by the court.
○A physical shield to hide the witness’s identity from the defendant and court spectators should beset.
○To provide a system where the witness can testify from a different location via a video monitor

In addition, the following measures have also been introduced:○After the first court day, in principle, the victims may inspect and photocopy the dossier of thecriminal case.
○Victims will be given an opportunity to express their feelings about the harm they suffered orgive their opinion concerning the crime.
○Victims are given consideration to have priority, upon their request, in observing the court
proceedings.
○When a out-of-court settlement is reached between the victim and the defendant, the details of

9the out-of-court settlement may be written down in the record of investigation to avoid civil suit.
○Victims may receive a paper copy of the summary of the opening statement made at the Public
Prosecutors Office.
○Victim participation system
Victims of dangerous driving resulting in injury or death or the non-compliance of the
Negligent Driving Manslaughter’s Laws concerning the punishment of acts that cause injury or
death as a result of driving a vehicle, are allowed to join in criminal trials with court permission
as "victim participants," a status in the proceedings.
To be specific, a victim can attend trials on the court day and under certain conditions
he/she can question the witnesses or the defendant, or give his/her opinion about the fact or theapplication of the law.
○Court-appointed lawyer system for victims
Victim participants can entrust a lawyer with the appearance on court day and questioning to
the defendant. If the amount of money the victim possesses (total amount of cash and savingsetc.) excluding the essentials (the combination of medical costs which is recognized to be spent
within 6 months after claim for injuries caused by the criminal activity, and other expenses) is
under the criterion (2.0 million yen), the victim can request a court-appointed lawyer (victim
participant lawyer). The government shall bear the pay and expense for the lawyer.
○Compensation order system
Victims of intentional criminal activities such as dangerous driving causing death or injury canpetition the court in charge, requesting an order to the defendant for compensation for thedamage caused by the crime in which the accused has been indicted for in the case where thecriminal case is pending at the district court.
Immediately after the defendant has been rendered a guilty verdict, the trial for the case of acompensation order for damages will commence. In principle, this trial will be carried out
within four days in a simple and rapid manner. The court that dealt with the criminal case will,by its own authority, conduct an investigation and therefore simplify the process of the victims
having to prove his/her damages.
Furthermore, in the instance the trial takes longer than the four day period, or if an objection israised against the petition for an order to the defendant concerning compensation for the damage
caused by the crime, the action will be transferred to ordinary civil proceedings.
For more details please consult the prosecutor in charge or the Public Prosecutors Office or
court handling the case.
10In consideration for the victims of juvenile crime and their families the following measures havebeen introduced.

○After a decision on commencement of hearing has been made, the victims may, in principle,
peruse and photocopy the dossier of the juvenile criminal case stored in the court (excluding
so-called social records which reports surveys concerning the necessity of protection of thejuvenile).
○Victims will be given an opportunity to express their feelings about the harm they suffered orgive their opinion about the crime to the judge(s) and to the investigators of Family Court.
○With regard to cases where the perpetrator has killed or injured a victim in an intentional
criminal act such as automobile driving manslaughter (Excludes juvenile cases when theperpetrators was younger than twelve years old at the time of the crime.
Furthermore, with regard to cases of injury, the victim is allowed to attend the hearingonly
when the victim’s life was seriously endangered due to the injury), the victims are allowed toattend the juvenile hearing upon request.
○The victims can receive explanation about the circumstance of the hearing from the Family
Court.
○The victims can receive notifications of the result of the hearing from the Family Court.
For more details please consult the Family Court dealing with the case.

Main systems available in rehabilitation service for perpetrators
The following systems are put into place where victims can express their opinions on the
rehabilitation service for perpetrators:

11○Victims can express their opinions or feelings on parole of perpetrators or release on parolefrom juvenile training school at the hearings held by the regional parole board to determine
whether an perpetrator should be granted parole from prison or reform school. Victims'
opinions can be considered by the regional parole board to decide if the parole isappropriate. If parole is granted, victims' opinions are considered to decide if special
conditions should be put on the parolee.
○Victims’ feelings conveyance system
If a perpetrator is released on probation, at the victim's request, the perpetrator will be
informed by the probation office of the victim's feelings, the plight the victim is placed in,
and victim’s opinions on the living and action of the perpetrator in probation. The
perpetrator will be supervised and guided so that his/her actions can be realised and reform
can be made by looking straight the actual condition of the harm.

For more information please contact your local probation office.

12

Criminal Procedure Chart

Occurrence of

Begin Criminal Investigation

Traffic Accidents

Voluntary Investigation

Within 48 hours

Referral to theProsecutor’s office

Police Procedures

ArrestReferralReleaseWithinhours
28

Detention

Detention

Maximum 20 days

Prosecutors
Office Procedures

Request for
detention to
the judge

Police questioning of victims and parties involved.

Referral

Questioning by prosecutor

Indictment

Non-indictment

Court Procedures

Demand for a trial

Documentary examination

Trial

Summary OrderAppearance in court of a witness

Judgement＊ If the suspect is a juvenile (less than 20 years of age), a juvenile trial proceeding etc., may be followed.
A juvenile trial follows a different set of procedures than listed here.

13

3.
T What type of motor insurance is available?
The security system for the victim of traffic accidents is as described below.
Automobile Liability Insurance and Voluntary Insurance
Automobile insurance is operated under two systems, automobile liability insurance, also called
compulsory insurance (includes mutual aid) and voluntary insurance (includes mutual aid).
○

Every automobile has an obligation to be insured by automobile liability insurance which isdesigned to provide relief to victims of traffic accidents.
○

Voluntary insurance includes liability coverage not covered by automobile liability insurance.

The following is a comparison of the two systems:

Automobile Liability Insurance
Compulsory (obligation)
Physical injury onlyDeath

30 million yen

Voluntary Automobile Insurance
Membership

Voluntary

Coverage

Physical Injury and Property Damage

Max.

Maximum amount of compensation

amount of

Injury1.2 million yen

benefitPhysical

750,000 – 40 million

Paid

impedimentyenbased on the insurance policy(Based on the Grade of
Disabilities 1 -14)

Fundamentally, physical injury is covered by Automobile Liability Insurance. However when theamount of damage exceeds the limits of coverage, the exceeding amount is to be covered by Voluntary
Automobile Insurance.
For example, if the amount of damage of a death accident is calculated at 70 million yen, themaximum coverage amount of 30 million yen is compensated by Automobile Liability Insurance, and thewhole or partial amount of the shortfall of 40 million yen is recovered by Voluntary Automobile
Insurance insuring the perpetrator or physical Injury Insurance insuring
The victim. If the compensation amount does not cover the amount of damage, or the parties involved are not insured, the perpetrator will become liable for the damages.

14

Payment Compensated by Automobile Li

Amount ofability Insurance

damageUp to the maximum amount of
30 million yen

70 million yen

What happens to the shortfall of 40 million yen?
・
Payment

Covered by Voluntary Automobile Insurance………

Compensated within the coverage of the policy
・

Not Covered by Voluntary Automobile Insurance …

The perpetrator is liable for the damages

Automobile Liability Insurance
1

Claiming for Automobile Liability Insurance
The perpetrator and victim are able to claim against the motor insurance companies (including unions)by recovering the amount of damages from the insurer by submitting the traffic accident certificate,diagnosis certificate and other necessary documents.
(1) Making a claim as a victim
Victims are able to claim directly against the motor insurance company insuring the car thatcaused the accident for the amount of damages。
(2) Making a claim as an perpetrator
The driver or the owner of the vehicle, who has paid the compensation to the victim, can claim
against the casualty insurance company for the amount of damages.
Even before reaching settlement of the amount of damage, the victim is able to claim against the motor
insurance company each time the victim pays the medical bills to the medical institutions, and theperpetrator is able to claim against the motor insurance company each time the perpetrator pays the amountof damages to the victim. They are able to claim any number of times as long as the total amount is within
the allowable limit.

15

Procedures for
Claiming Insurance
Submit documents

Request for Investigation

Investigation

Claimant

Motor

Non-Life

Parties

Perpetrator or Victim

Insurance

Insurance

involved inCompany

RatingtheOrganization of

accident

Japan
Payment2

ReportSuspense Payment System
Prior to reaching an out-of–court settlement, the victim is able to claim suspense payment against thecasualty insurance companies for use in paying for immediate expenses, in order to avoid running into
difficulty maintaining his/her daily life due to the accident.
※

For details on how to make a claim please contact the casualty insurance companies.

3 Time limit for making a claim
Claim Type Since when

Till when

InjuryWithin two years after the accident

Date when treatment
endedPhysicalDate of symptom

Within two years after the date of

Impedimentstabilization

symptom stabilization

Death

※

Date of death

Within two years after the date of death

Date of symptom stabilization is determined by a doctor, and points to a certain time

when the symptoms have stabilized, and widely accepted medical treatment will have no further
medical effectiveness.

16

List of Documents Required For Automobile
Liability Insurance (Mutual Aid) Payment

Claim byClaim by Victims

Perpetrators

Suspension
Payment

Death

Physical Impediment

InjuryDeath

Physical Impediment

InjuryDeath

Injury

◎

◎

◎

◎

◎

◎

◎

◎

Traffic Accident Certificate (Physical Injury)

◎

◎

◎

◎

◎

◎

◎

◎

Papers reporting the circumstances when

◎

◎

◎

◎

◎

◎

◎

◎

◎

◎

◎

◎

◎

◎

◎

◎

◎

○

◎

◎

○

◎

◎

◎

◎

◎

○

○

○

○

○

○

○

◎

◎

◎

◎

◎

Required Documents

Claim Form for Insurance (Mutual Aid)/
Amount of Damages/ Suspension Payment

the accident occurred
Diagnosis Certificate by Doctors or
Post-mortem Examination Report
Medical Practitioner’s Receipt for Medical
Insurance Claim
Receipt for Transportation Expenses for
Hospital Visits
Nurse Attendance Acknowledgement or
Receipts of Nursing Care Fees
Certificate of Work Suspension Damage or

○

○

○

◎

◎

◎

○

○

○

◎

◎

◎

Tax Return (Copy)
Receipt that proves the payment from theperpetrator
Settlement Documents(in case of out-of-court Settlement)
Seal Registration Certificate of the Claimant

17

Power of Attorney or Seal Registration

○

○

○

○

○

○

○

○

Certificate of the Mandator (In the case ofa third party is mandated)
Attested Copy of Family Register◎◎

Medical Certificate of Sequelae○

X-rays etc.

◎

○

◎
◎

○

○

○

○

Documents with ◎ are mandatory, documents with ○ are to be submitted case by casedepending on the type of accident.
There may be other documents to be submitted depending on the situation.

Voluntary Insurance (Mutual Aid)
Since the method of claiming differs per insurance company, for details on how to make a claim pleasecontact the casualty insurance company that you are insured with.
Victim of an accident

Insurance Company

Report immediately
after the accident

18

Automobile Liability Insurance Security Project
The victim is unable to make a claim for Automobile Liability Insurance for the following types ofaccidents causing physical injury:○The hit-and – run driver of the automobile is unidentified○The driver that caused the accident is not insured under Automobile Liability Insurance
To protect the victims in these circumstances, the government has put into place a system called
Automobile Liability Security project that covers any deficiency for the amount of damages.
Please ask your casualty insurance company on how to make a claim, and what documents are required.
Other Liability Claims
In accordance with Article 3 of the Automobile Liability Security Act, victims are able to make aclaim for automobile accidents causing injury or death against not only the perpetrator but also against theowner of the vehicle for economic and non-economic damages.

4. Are there any systems of aid and support?
The following systems of aid and support are available for victims of traffic accidents.
１ Financial Assistance and various support/ welfare system(1) Carried out by Public Offices
NameAlleviating

Description

There is a counselling support system aimed toward victims of hit and run

the burdens

accidents, fatal traffic accidents, severe injuries that takes more than 3

for Victims

months to heal, serious injury or death resulting from dangerous driving
manslaughter, as well as the deceased’s family.
Regarding death as a result of cases such as hit and run accidents,
legally-ordered autopsy regarding dangerous driving manslaughter,transportation of the dead body, and restoration of the dead body, there is a
public financial assistance system.
Contact: Police Station or Police Headquarter that is in charge of the case.

WelfareThere is a welfare loan system for single-mother households that have lost thesystemfather due to a traffic accident. Available loans include Child Raising Allowanceand Welfare Funds for Mothers with Dependable Children.
The Livelihood Protection System provides for those who due to loss of income, or
low income, have trouble making a living with necessary protection such as
maintenance allowance, education allowance, housing allowance, and medical
assistance corresponding to their needs.

Contact: Your Local Government and Welfare Office.

19

Priority

This system provides those who due to a traffic accident are experiencing

Access to

reduction in income and are having trouble making a living, or those who due to a

Publictraffic accident that occurred at or close to the current residence are having

Housingdifficulties residing at the property and will offer priority access to public housing.
Contact: Department in charge of public housing at the local prefectural
government or municipal government※ Please contact the relevant organizations for more information.

(2) Carried out by various support organizations and aid organizations
Name

Description

National

AgencyAutomotive

Safetyfor

The Group offers the following victim assistance business such as loan

and for living expenses for orphans of traffic accidents or children of a traffic

Victim’s Aid

accident victim with severe residual disabilities until the orphans or the℡03-5276-4451

children graduate junior high school.

※ Headquarter in Tokyo, ① Care payment for a traffic accident victim with severe physical iand branch offices in each
mpediment that requires full-time or part-time care.
prefecture②

Grant to cover costs for a short term admission into a hospital,

Shimane officeor short-term entry into a nursing home for traffic accident victims℡0852-25-4880

with severe residual disability.

※

Please use Japanese

when calling.

③ Setting up and operating Nursing Care facilities to treat and nurse
patients with persistent disturbance of consciousness due to traffic

Hotline for Victims ofaccidents.

Traffic Accidents
0570-000738※9:00～17:00
Excluding Saturdays
and Sundays,④ Loan for living expenses for orphans of traffic accidents or children ofa traffic accident victim with severe residual disabilities.
⑤ Consultation on care and consultation on every-day life for orpha
ns of Traffic accidents.

Public Holidays and End-

Website: http://www.nasva.go.jp

of-year and the New Year
Foundation for Orphans

Orphans from a traffic accident under 16 years old and who makefrom Automobile

contributions from some of the payment they have received as traffic

Accidents

accident damages are eligible to join the “Foundation for Orphans from

℡03-5212-4511

Automobile Accidents.” Combining the contributions with the aid money

Free Dial

from the government and private cooperation groups, the Foundation will

0120-16-3611

manage the funds and pay out a certain amount as benefit to the orphans, 4※Please use Japanese times a year (March, June, September, December) until they are 19 years

when calling.

old.
20

If the victim is a financial provider for one’s livelihood and either dies asa result of an automobile accident, or suffers a severe physical impediment(vehicle liability insurance class 1~3) and experiences difficulty continuing
their support as a result of the accident, the victim that is currently
providing for young persons who have not yet completed their compulsory
education can receive the: “Year-end Allowance”, “Support Money forCollege Entrance Preparation and Arrangements,” “Support Money forEntering a Higher-Level School or Job Searching,” and “Support Moneyfor visiting those with urgent circumstances”.

Please contact the Head Office of the Foundation for membership details.
Website: http://www.kotsuiji.or.jp
Road Public Welfare

The Foundation offers financial aid for high school students, who cannot

Association ℡ 03-6674-1 receive schooling due to financial difficulties and who are orphans of761

traffic accidents that have occurred on roads managed by East Nippon※

Please use Japanese Expressway Company Limited, Central Nippon Expressway Company

when calling.

Limited, and West Nippon Expressway Company Limited.
Website: http://www.douro-kouseikai.org/

Japan Legal Support

The

Centerprovidesfree

informationonlawyers

whoareCenterknowledgeable about the aid of victims and crime victim support℡03-6745-5600

organizations. The Center also provides legal consultations at no charge

Houterasu Shimane

and advances fees for court representation and document preparation fees

℡050-3383-5500

for people with financial difficulties

General Law Consultation

Furthermore, commissioned by the Center Japan Federation of Bar℡0570-078374

Associations, the Center also assists in attorney fees for victims of certain（English is available）

crimes, from a human rights standpoint.

Crime Victims Support

Website: http://www.houterasu.or.jp

Telephone Number

0570-079714※ Please contact the relevant organization for more information.

21

2

Support system in terms of tax regulations“Tax deduction and allowances” that reduces income tax may be available for victims, who have paid

medical fees for injuries, suffered physical injuries or have been separated from their spouse by death due
to traffic accidents.
The following are examples of the tax deduction and allowances available.
Name

Description

Medical Expenses

Tax deduction for the amount (only for the sum that exceeds a certain

Deductionamount) of paid medical bills (excludes insurance coverage received tocompensate for the said medical bill).

Allowance forTax deduction of 270,000 yen to a disabled person (400,000 yen when the

disabled persons

disability is severe. Same shall apply hereafter), and 270,000 yen per one
disabled person if the disabled person is a dependant.

Widow's

In general, tax deduction of 270,000 yen to the wife (widow) separated from

(Widower’s)

her husband, or the husband (widower) separated from his wife.

exemption※

Please contact the nearest tax office for more details.

5. Excluding the police, which other organizations can you seek advice from?
Excluding the police, public offices, public institutions and various organizations offer the following
advisory centers and counseling services.
Various Consultation Services

Name

Description

Public Prosecutors

Consultation about the harms and affairs is possible.

Office◇Victim Support
HotlineMatsue District Public Prosecutors Office Consultation Officefor Victims
TEL：0852-32-6701

Office hours：Monday through Friday（except national holidays）

8:30～17:15
Please use Japanese when calling.

22

Probation Office

Offering telephone consultation and face-to-face consultation forvictims, counseling on distress and anxieties, explanation on various
measures and introduction of authorities concerned.
◇

Matsue Probation Office
TEL ：0852-21-2250

Please use Japanese when calling.

Human Rights
Organs of the
Ministry of Justice

The Human Rights Commission conduct human rights counseling forVictims.
For suspected cases of human rights violation, the Commission will
investigate the case as a case of infringement of human rights, and carry out
appropriate measures as to each case.
◇Matsue District Legal Affairs Bureau Human Rights Protection
Division
TEL ：0852-32-4260

Mobile Website◇

Please use Japanese when calling.
Standing Human Rights Counseling Office of the Legal Affairs

Bureau and The District Legal Affairs Bureau
Website: http://www.moj.go.jp/JINKEN/jinken66.html◇

Online Human Rights Counseling Service (SOS-e-mail)PC

website: http://www.moj.go.jp/JINKEN/jinken113.html

Mobile website: http://www.jinken.go.jp/soudan/mobile/001.html
Prefectural and◇Consultation Office of Shimane Prefecture

Civic Consultation

Shimane Prefectural Traffic Accident Consultation Office

Office for Traffic(Main Office)Accidents

TEL：0852-21-5102
Office hours：Monday through Friday（except national holidays）

9:00～12:00 13:00～16:00
Shimane Prefectural Traffic Accident Consultation Office(Hamada consultation room)
TEL： 0855-21-5563
Office hours：Wednesdays

9:00～12:00 13:00～16:00
Please use Japanese when calling.

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The Early StageIn partnership with the relevant organizations such as the police, The Early

SupportStage Support Organization for Crime Victims designated by the Prefectural

Organization for

Public Safety Commission and Private victim support groups that are

Crime Victims

members of the “National Network for Victim Support”

offer support tovictims by conducting telephone/email/face-to-face counseling and escort thevictims to court, hospital and the police.
◇

Shimane Victim Support Center
TEL：0120-556-491
Office hours：Monday through Friday（except national holidays）
10:00～16:00（except weekends, national holidays、from December 29 toJanuary 3 and from August 13 to 15）

The Japan Center

Please use Japanese when calling.
Part-time lawyers offer mediation of amicable settlements and legal

For Settlement ofconsultations to aid the victims of traffic accidents.

Traffic Accident

Contact: Headquarter is based in Tokyo, branch offices are in Sapporo,

Disputes

Sendai, Nagoya, Osaka, Hiroshima, Takamatsu and Fukuoka.
Website: http://www.jcstad.or.jp/◇

The Japan Center for Settlement of Traffic Accident Disputes Hiroshima
BranchTEL：082-249-5421
Office hours：Monday through Friday（except national holidays）

9:00～17:00
Consultation hours：Monday through Friday(except national holidays)

13:00～16:00
Please use Japanese when calling.
Nichibenren

Offers free legal consultation on the percentage of negligence or any

Traffic Accident

troubles with the insurance payout, mediation ofConsultation

regarding negotiation of damages, and higher brain dysfunction due toCentertraumatic brain injury.

out-of-court settlements

For consultation hours, please contact the office in advance.

Contact: Headquarter is based in Tokyo.
152 consultation offices nationwide.
Website: http://www.n-tacc.or.jp◇

Nichibenren Traffic Accident Consultation Center
Shimane Prefecture Branch (Shimane)
TEL：0852-21-3450
Office hours： The first Tuesday of every month24

10:00～12:00、13:00～16:00
Nichibenren Traffic Accident Consultation Center Shimane
Prefecture Branch Office (Iwami)
TEL： 0855-22-4514
Office hours： Every Friday

10:00～12:00、13:00～16:00
Please use Japanese when calling.
Consultation

Situated inside the main office, branch offices, business offices of each

Office for Traffic

Casualty Insurance Company.

Accidents ofCasualty Insurance
Companies
In order to better assist non-Japanese residents living in Shimane Prefecture,

ShimaneInternational

the Shimane International Center provides a variety of services via a foreign

Centerlanguage consultation desk. The consultants can be contacted by telephone or inperson in 3 foreign languages (Chinese, English, and Tagalog).

◇

Shimane International Center Foreign Language
Consultation Services(Matsue)

TEL：0852-31-5056
Japanese (Weekdays) 8:30-18:30
English(Wed),Chinese(Thurs),Tagalog(Fri),13:00-17:00

Shimane international Center Western Branch Office (Hamada)
TEL: 0555-28-7990
Japanese (Weekdays) 8:30-17:15※

Please ask relevant organizations for more details.

25Other CounselingVictims suffering from severe shock after the accident may exhibit symptoms such as deep anxiety,and uncontrollable emotions.
The following organizations offering phone and face to face counseling services are available tosupport such victims.

Consultation of heat trouble◇

Shimane Prefectural Consultation Center for Mental and Physical Health
TEL：0852-21-2885
Consultation hours：Monday through Friday 8:30～17:15◇

Shimane Life Line
TEL：0852-26-7575
Consultation hours：Mon-Fri 9:00-22:00 (All year round)、
Sat 9:00-the following Sun 22:00※ Please use Japanese when calling.
※

These facilities are closed on national holidays, year-end and new year's holidays.

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