Passive damping mechanisms are frequently used in traditional seismic mitigation techniques. The structural response can be minimized when conventional spring mass damper arrangement is integrated with an inerter-based damper which uses inertial properties of rotating mass to counteract the structural vibration. The main aim of the current study is to understand the behavior of an Single Degree of Freedom (SDOF) system when induced with an inerter damper. This article compares the vibration control of SDOF system with and without the implementation of inerter component when subjected to strong velocity pulse ground motion. Incorporation of inerter to a structure can be significantly affected by this type of ground motions depending on the inerter parameters. The investigation utilizes recent Japan’s mainshock of magnitude (Mw ≈ 7.6) stations’ data to simulate real time seismic records and assess the efficacy of the proposed system. Despite its small physical mass, the inerter induced damper mechanism will help in improving the performance of the system by producing a huge inertial mass (mass amplification effect), and thus reducing displacement and acceleration demands on a structure subjected to earthquakes.