Global Voice Column

■Point: You are a victim of a traffic accident

■Advice: The number of traffic accidents involving foreign nationals has recently been on the increase. What would you do if you were the victim of a traffic accident? Here are a few points of advice for you to remember.

At first make sure to get the name, address, telephone number and car registration number of the offending motorist.

Contact the police. The police will officially document the traffic accident and give you an accident certificate, called a jiko-shomei. If you are overstaying your visa, you may reluctant to contact the police. However this step in necessary if you want to claim damages from the accident.

If you are injured and seek treatment at a hospital, make sure you ask for a medical certificate, called a shin-dan-sho, issued in your name. Without this medical certificate it may be difficult to get an insurance company or the offending motorist to accept your claim for damages.

Follow the doctor’s instructions for treatment, make sure you attend any follow up check-ups, and keep the receipts for any medical costs you incur.

It is also important to keep in contact with your insurance company and the offending motorist to ensure that they make a firm commitment towards bearing all your treatment and other damage costs.