Disability assessments must be conducted only after treatment is complete; doing it too early results in a lower rating.

9. Disability assessments must be conducted only after treatment is complete; doing it too early results in a lower rating.

Cost: The cost of such assessments ranges from a few hundred to two thousand yuan, typically paid upfront by the party requesting the evaluation. Assessments are only permitted after treatment has ended or when clinical outcomes have stabilized — usually three to six months post-injury, though sometimes longer. The difficulty lies in resisting the urge to get an early assessment when recovery is still underway.

In plain terms: The amount of compensation one receives depends largely on the disability rating assigned, which in turn reflects how much functional ability remains after full recovery. Official guidelines stipulate that assessments must be performed only after treatment concludes or when clinical results are stable. If an assessment is done while bones are still healing or metal implants remain in place, it reflects the individual’s condition at that moment, effectively lowering their rating. For ordinary fractures that do not impair function even after healing, no disability rating is assigned at all.

Benefit: According to the “Classification of Human Injury and Disability Levels,” assessments must be conducted “after primary injuries and any related complications have been fully treated or when clinical outcomes have stabilized.” The standard further divides disability levels into ten grades, ranging from Grade 1 (100% disability rate) to Grade 10 (10% disability rate), with each grade differing by 10% in terms of functional impairment. Evaluation criteria include structural damage to tissues and organs, resulting functional limitations, and the degree of dependence on medical care or nursing, while also accounting for social and psychological impacts caused by disability. Specific criteria relevant to fractures include: (1) compression fractures of one vertebra where compression reaches one-third or more, or comminuted fractures; (2) two or more fractures of the pelvis or comminuted pelvic fractures resulting in deformity; and (3) loss of 25% or more function in any major joint of the limbs, excluding the ankle joint. Multiple disabilities affecting the same area or of similar nature must not be counted repeatedly. In cases involving multiple disabilities, each respective grade must be explicitly stated (National Standard, effective January 1, 2017).

Evidence grade: A

Sources: Supreme People's Court of China, Supreme People's Procuratorate of China, Ministry of Public Security of China, Ministry of National Security, Ministry of Justice of China (2016). Announcement on the release of "Classification of Human Injury and Disability Degrees" (released on April 18, 2016, effective on January 1, 2017), Standard No. 4.2, 4.4, 4.5, 5.10.6, Article 6.2. <https://www.moj.gov.cn/pub/sfbgw/zwxxgk/fdzdgknr/fdzdgknrtzwj/201908/P020210316701681025917.pdf>

Notes: Three distinct disability assessment systems exist and must not be confused. For injuries resulting from assaults, traffic accidents, or other personal injuries, the “Classification of Human Injury and Disability Levels” is used for judicial assessments, determining compensation amounts (see Section 9). Workplace injuries are evaluated via a separate ten-grade system for work capacity assessments, governing eligibility for occupational injury benefits (see Section 19). To qualify for disability-related policies and benefits, individuals must also obtain a Disability Certificate (see Rule 10 of this section). Prior to any assessment, ensure all medical records, surgical reports, and follow-up imaging are fully prepared (see Rule 7 regarding personal record-keeping); missing imaging is a common cause of lower disability ratings. When current injuries coexist with pre-existing conditions, the assessment must specify the proportion of disability attributable to the current injury alone — this directly influences compensation calculations.