A major insurer is offering interpretation in five languages for motorists reporting accidents by phone, amid an influx of foreign visitors and the expectation that the fender bender rate will rise.

Under what Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Insurance Inc. says is the first service of its kind in the industry, simultaneous interpretation in English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish or Portuguese is offered to policyholders who need language assistance after an accident.

The company's 24/7 call center is equipped with a three-way system so that operators can bring an interpreter into the conversation, said a company spokeswoman.