Arrange a disability assessment after treatment ends or the clinical result stabilizes
Compensation often depends heavily on the disability grade, which concerns lasting impairment after treatment. The cited standard requires assessment after treatment is complete or the clinical result is stable. An assessment while a fracture is still healing or before planned hardware removal may not reflect the final outcome. An ordinary fracture that heals without qualifying impairment may not receive a disability grade.
What it takes
In China, assessment commonly costs several hundred to RMB 2,000, usually advanced by the applicant. Waiting for treatment completion or stability often takes three to six months after injury and sometimes longer. Resist rushing to settle before the outcome is clear.
What you may gain
China's Classification of the Degree of Disability Caused by Human Injury requires assessment after treatment of the primary injury and clearly related complications has ended or the clinical result has stabilized. It defines ten grades, from Grade 1 at 100% disability to Grade 10 at 10%, in ten-percentage-point steps. Assessment considers structural damage, functional impairment, reliance on medical treatment and nursing, and appropriate consideration of effects on social interaction and psychological functioning. Fracture-related Grade 10 criteria include one vertebral compression fracture with at least one-third compression or a comminuted fracture; two or more pelvic fractures or a comminuted pelvic fracture with malunion; and loss of at least 25% of function in any major limb joint except the ankle. The same disability at the same site and of the same nature must not be counted twice. Where two or more sites cause disability, each grade must be stated separately. The standard took effect nationwide in China on January 1, 2017.
Context & considerations
Three Chinese systems are distinct. Assaults, road accidents, and other personal injuries use judicial assessment under this classification to calculate disability compensation; see chapter 9. Occupational injuries use a separate ten-grade work-capacity assessment for occupational injury benefits; see chapter 19. Disability policy benefits require a separate disability certificate; see entry 11. Gather medical records, operation notes, and follow-up imaging before assessment, as in entry 6. The source identifies missing images as a common reason for an unfavorable assessment. Where pre-existing disease and the new injury both contribute, the opinion should state how much the new injury contributed, because this affects compensation. The source says premature assessment lowers the grade; the cited timing requirement supports waiting for stability, but does not establish that every early assessment necessarily produces a lower grade.
Research & references
Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuratorate, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of State Security, and Ministry of Justice (2016). Announcement of the Classification of the Degree of Disability Caused by Human Injury, issued April 18, 2016, effective January 1, 2017; sections 4.2, 4.4, 4.5, 5.10.6, and 6.2. https://www.moj.gov.cn/pub/sfbgw/zwxxgk/fdzdgknr/fdzdgknrtzwj/201908/P020210316701681025917.pdf