What to Do After a Traffic Accident in Japan: Steps for Drivers, Cyclists and Pedestrians

Updated: 2026-09-15

Quick answer

Miya, the GetConnectedJapan guide, smiling warmly and giving a small friendly wave in a bright everyday setting. — Nobody plans for a bump on the road, but knowing the steps ahead of time makes it much easier to stay calm — let me walk you through them.

Hi, I'm Miya, and I help newcomers settle into life in Japan. This guide is about the moments right after a traffic accident — whether you were driving, riding a bicycle, or walking — and the general order of things to do so that everyone is safe and the practical side is handled properly.

In short: make the scene safe, check on anyone who is hurt and call 119 if needed, call the police on 110 so the accident is reported (even if it seems minor), exchange details with the other person, see a doctor even if you feel fine, and let your insurer know. This is a general overview, not legal advice, so for anything specific to your situation the police and your insurer are the people to ask.

First, make the scene safe and help anyone hurt

In Japan, anyone involved in a traffic accident is expected to stop, help anyone who is injured, and prevent further danger — this is a legal duty for drivers, not just good manners. If you can, turn on your hazard lights and, where it's safe, move vehicles out of the flow of traffic so no one else gets caught up. On expressways, stay well away from moving traffic and get behind a barrier if there is one.

Then check on people before property. If anyone is hurt, call 119 for an ambulance, and try not to move someone who seems seriously injured unless they are in immediate danger. Speak slowly and give your location as clearly as you can; if your Japanese is limited, nearby landmarks, a street address, or the name of a shop or intersection all help, and the operator may be able to help with interpretation.

Call the police, even for a minor bump

Reporting to the police is part of the same duty, and it matters even when the damage looks small and the other person suggests you just sort it out between yourselves. Call 110, explain that there's been an accident, and wait for officers to arrive. They will ask what happened and record the details, and that record is what makes it possible to confirm later that the accident took place.

That confirmation is often needed when you deal with insurance, so skipping the police call to save time can leave you with real headaches afterwards. I'd also gently suggest not agreeing to any private settlement on the spot, however friendly the conversation is — take a breath, let the police record things, and talk it through with your insurer first.

Exchange details and record what happened

While you wait, and once everyone is safe, exchange contact details with the other person: name, address, phone number, and their vehicle's licence plate number. If they have insurance details handy, note those too. If there were witnesses, it's worth politely asking whether they'd be willing to share a contact number.

Take photos of the scene from a few angles — the position of vehicles or bicycles, any damage, road markings, traffic signals, and the general surroundings — and jot down the time and exact location. Memory gets blurry quickly after a shock, so a few calm notes and pictures on your phone can make the conversations that follow much simpler.

See a doctor, even if you feel fine

Adrenaline can hide pain, and some injuries, such as neck or back strain, may only show up hours or days later. So even if you walked away feeling okay, it's wise to see a doctor soon after the accident and explain that you were in a traffic collision. If symptoms appear later, go back rather than waiting it out.

If you are injured, the police and your insurer may ask for a medical certificate from the clinic, so keep any paperwork and receipts together. I can't give medical advice, of course — your doctor is the one to guide you on treatment — but getting checked early helps both your health and the record of what happened.

Contact your insurer

Let your insurer know about the accident as soon as you reasonably can, ideally the same day. They will usually ask for the date, time and place, the other party's details, whether the police were called, and whether anyone was injured — which is exactly why the notes and photos from the scene come in handy.

Every policy is different, so I won't try to tell you what yours covers. Your insurer can explain the next steps, what documents they need, and how communication with the other side is handled. If you're driving a rental or a company vehicle, contact the rental office or your employer as well, since they may have their own procedure.

Cyclists and pedestrians: the same steps apply

Under Japan's road traffic rules, a bicycle is treated as a vehicle, so if you're riding and collide with a pedestrian, another cyclist, or a car, the same basic steps apply: stop, help anyone hurt, call the police, and exchange details. It's easy to think a bicycle bump is too small to report, but the police call is just as important here.

If you're a pedestrian who has been hit, try to get to a safe spot, call 110 or 119 as needed, and still see a doctor even if you feel shaken rather than hurt. Many municipalities encourage or require bicycle liability insurance, so if you cycle regularly, it's worth checking the rules where you live and whether you're covered.

The phone you'll reach for first

At the scene, you'll call the police and perhaps an ambulance, then your insurer and a clinic, and you'll share photos and your location from your phone. So a working Japanese phone number with data matters most exactly when something goes wrong. Setting one up is refreshingly simple — you apply online with your residence card, verify with a quick eKYC, and eSIM-capable phones can connect the same day, often within about fifteen minutes.

Have a look at our setup guide for eligibility and the step-by-step, and confirm current terms on the page before you apply. Get the line sorted, save 110 and 119 alongside your insurer's contact in your phone, and you'll be ready to handle a bad moment calmly. I'll be right here to help.