Traffic · 02 Editorial guide
Traffic accidents
A traffic file is police, insurance and evidence. Safety still comes first.
First job Hold the police and insurance file, then map the claim — after safety.
Start here
Key considerations
The first questions are about urgency, governance and preservation — before collection expands or interviews begin.
- Was anyone still injured at the scene?
- Is there a police record?
- Which insurers are in view?
Direct answer
What this page decides
02
A traffic-injury file should preserve the police, vehicle, insurance, medical and loss records as separate but connected evidence streams. Confirm the exact vehicles and people involved, the police handling and responsibility record, every insurer and policy, and the treatment chronology. Foreign parties may also need identity, translation, authority and practical communication arrangements. This page helps assemble the file and route disputed issues; it does not determine accident responsibility, injury classification or compensation.
At a glance
Which fact changes the next route
Use the fact that changes ownership or urgency to decide the next move.
| Question | Why it matters | Next route |
|---|---|---|
| Is care or scene safety still urgent? | Health and immediate safety take priority over claim administration. | Use emergency services and keep the resulting records. |
| What did police record? | The handling record anchors identities, vehicles, location and early accounts. | Collect the complete police file and note any review or objection status. |
| Are all insurers identified? | Vehicle, commercial and personal coverage may involve different notices. | Record insurer, policy, claim number and each communication. |
| Can injury and loss be traced? | Treatment, work impact and expenses need dated source documents. | Maintain a medical chronology and indexed loss schedule. |
Scope
What this page owns — and what it does not
Practical workflow
Action, evidence, legal gate, output
| Action | Documents / evidence | Legal gate | Output |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protect people and the scene | Emergency, treatment, location, image and witness records | Do not compromise safety to collect evidence | Immediate incident file |
| Secure official and party records | Police papers, licences, registrations, vehicle and party identities | Check names, dates, plates and factual discrepancies | Verified incident map |
| Notify and organise insurance | Policies, claim numbers, notices, adjuster and repair materials | Preserve deadlines and avoid unsupported admissions | Insurance correspondence log |
| Build injury and loss proof | Medical file, expenses, work records and continuing needs | Separate documented fact, estimate and disputed item | Chronology and loss schedule |
Documents
What to gather before the next call
These items help clarify the file; they are not a legal requirement list.
| Item | Why needed | Who holds it | Risk if missing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Police and scene record | Fixes location, participants and early evidence | Police, parties and witnesses | The incident must be reconstructed from later recollection |
| Vehicle, driver and insurance details | Identifies responsible parties and notice routes | Drivers, owners and insurers | A necessary party or policy is missed |
| Complete treatment chronology | Connects symptoms, care and recovery over time | Injured person and providers | Causation and continuity remain unclear |
| Expense and work-impact file | Supports claimed financial effects | Injured person, employer and payers | Loss is estimated without source records |
Common failure points
Where files usually break
Relying only on a brief accident description while omitting the police file.
Contacting one insurer without mapping vehicle ownership and all possible policies.
Mixing medical facts, expense proof and compensation demands in an unindexed message trail.
Decision map
Keep the question bounded.
- Safety firstThe previous route if care is still open.
- Hold official recordsPolice, photos, counterparties.
- Insurance overlayCompulsory and commercial cover, at a high level.
Curated resources
Open the asset that matches this job.
China injury response and claim map
National safety, evidence, insurance and support desk — not a contract-chop file.
Traffic accident compensation: evidence and procedure
Police, insurance and procedure after a road incident.
Traffic accident claims for foreign nationals
Road-incident orientation for visitors and residents.
Helpful to prepare
Facts that make the next conversation clearer.
These items are orientation aids, not a legal requirement list.
Counsel hand-off
What to bring when you instruct
Bring the complete police file, scene evidence, vehicle and party details, insurance policies and communications, medical chronology, expense and work records, foreign-party documents and any live deadline or proceeding.
Local context
Add the city when police or hospital practice changes.
Records, insurance desks and courts differ after the national injury route is identified.
Open city and province guidesCounsel hand-off
Need injury counsel?
This hub organises safety, incident type and the evidence pack. It does not treat injuries, admit liability or settle a claim on your facts.
Find personal-injury counselLegal review
Who reviewed this guide
Subject to editorial/legal review. No reviewer is assigned to this route.
Need qualified counsel?
Move carefully. Move with a record.
Use the portal to identify counsel for this practice and related China-side issues.