A reader wrote to Lifelines about a recent accident:
I was riding my bicycle and heading straight through an intersection when a car turned right and hit me. I broke my left arm and leg, and was taken to a hospital. A couple of days later, the driver's insurance company called me and told me that they would pay my medical fees and any damage to my bicycle. What compensation am I actually entitled to for the damage?
You are entitled to your medical fees, compensation for missed work, psychological damage and the cost of your broken bicycle. The damages will be paid for by jibaiseki hoken (compulsory vehicle liability insurance) as well as nin'i hoken (optional insurance) — if the driver has it.