What to do after a traffic accident in China
A safety-first visitor guide to using 122 for a traffic accident, adding 120, 119, or 110 when needed, and preserving the right records without guessing about fault, insurance, or compensation.
If you are involved in a road traffic accident in China, protect people from immediate danger and report the accident to the police promptly. The National Immigration Administration says a traffic accident in China should be reported to police immediately, and Beijing's official visitor guide identifies 122 for traffic accidents. Use the separate emergency number when the situation also needs it: 120 for urgent medical help, 119 for fire, and 110 for an immediate police emergency such as assault or property crime. Give the exact location and follow live instructions; do not assume that a traffic report resolves medical care, safety, vehicle, insurance, language, fault, compensation, or onward-travel questions.
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Emergency numbers in China
Call only for a real emergency. Say the exact location first; ask nearby staff to help communicate when safe.
Protect people first and call the right emergency service
Start with immediate safety rather than fault or payment. If there is an injury or urgent medical concern, call 120; if there is a fire, call 119; if there is an immediate police emergency such as violence or a crime, call 110. For the road traffic accident itself, call 122 and state where it happened. Beijing's visitor guidance lists these as separate nationwide emergency calls, while the National Immigration Administration says a road traffic accident should be reported to police immediately. Use more than one service only when the facts require it, and follow the dispatcher's or on-scene officer's instructions about the live scene.
- Give the city, district, road or junction, travel direction, a safe landmark, and the number of people needing help; show the exact Chinese address or map pin to nearby staff if speaking it is difficult.
- If the incident is at an airport, station, hotel, or other managed place, alert the responsible staff as well, but do not treat a desk, driver, app, or insurer as a substitute for emergency reporting when it is needed.
- Do not make a non-emergency request through an emergency line, and do not wait for a ride-hailing app, rental company, insurer, translator, or payment method before seeking urgent help.
Keep the traffic report separate from medical and personal-safety help
122 is the traffic-accident route, not a promise that every problem will be handled by one operator. A collision may also involve an ambulance decision, fire risk, personal safety concern, or a separate crime report. Tell the relevant emergency service only the facts you know, keep the phone reachable, and follow the current instruction about where to wait or whom to speak to. Do not assume an English operator, a particular response time, a police finding, a preferred hospital, a replacement vehicle, or a particular insurance result.
- If you are a passenger, prioritize your safety and medical condition; the driver, platform, rental company, and traffic police may each have separate roles after the immediate response.
- If you are in a taxi or ride-hailing car, preserve the in-app trip, vehicle plate, pickup and destination details, and any official support route without sharing account passwords, payment credentials, passport images, or codes with a stranger.
- If you rented or drove the vehicle, use the rental provider's verified emergency and insurer contact route after contacting the appropriate public service. A rental booking does not decide the official traffic process.
Record facts safely, then let the responsible authorities direct the process
When it is safe and does not interfere with emergency work, keep a simple factual record: time, exact location, vehicle plates, visible damage or hazard, the trip or rental reference, the responsible officer's or case reference if provided, and receipts or medical documents. The National Immigration Administration notes that traffic authorities inform parties of their rights and obligations when handling an accident, and that damage disputes can follow negotiation, mediation, or civil litigation. That is not a visitor shortcut or a prediction of fault, liability, compensation, or settlement; ask the responsible authority what applies to the live case.
- Use your own phone or a trusted companion where safe. Do not put yourself in danger to take photos, argue about fault, or retrieve property from traffic.
- Read before signing or accepting a digital confirmation. If you do not understand a document, ask the responsible officer, provider, insurer, or a qualified interpreter or adviser how to obtain an explanation rather than guessing from a machine translation.
- Keep original records and use the provider or insurer's independently verified channel for a claim. Do not accept an unofficial helper's demand for cash, a passport, or a phone unlock as proof that the official process is complete.
Plan the next journey only after the immediate case is clear
A traffic report does not automatically arrange a safe onward journey or settle the effect on a train, flight, hotel, visa-free-transit deadline, or medical appointment. Once immediate safety and the live official direction are clear, contact the responsible transport provider, booking platform, hotel, or insurer through its verified channel. If you need a non-emergency local-government service in Beijing, its 12345 hotline describes itself as non-emergency and directs emergencies to 110, 119, 120, or 122; other cities can use different local service routes.
- Keep an official taxi rank, staffed station or airport desk, hotel reception, or a confirmed public-transport route as the next-journey fallback instead of accepting an off-app offer in a stressful moment.
- For a missed or changed train, keep the railway order separate from the accident record and check the live 12306 or staffed-station process before assuming a change, refund, or protection.
- For a lost passport, medical emergency, or safety concern arising from the incident, use the corresponding dedicated official-help path; do not assume the traffic case changes immigration or consular requirements.
Before you rely on this answer
China travel rules and app behavior can change by city, route, account, passport, airline, and local inspection practice. Treat this page as a traveler-friendly starting point, then verify official or provider details before booking or packing anything important.
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Frequently asked questions
What number should I call after a traffic accident in China?
For the traffic accident, Beijing's official visitor guide identifies 122, and National Immigration Administration guidance says a road traffic accident should be reported to police immediately. If someone needs urgent medical help, call 120; call 119 for fire and 110 for an immediate police emergency such as a crime or violence. Give the exact location and follow live instructions.
Should I call 110 or 122 for a traffic accident in China?
Use 122 for the traffic accident itself according to Beijing's official emergency-number guide. Use 110 if there is also an immediate police emergency such as assault or property crime, and use 120 or 119 when urgent medical help or fire response is needed. Do not assume one call settles every part of a multi-service incident.
Will traffic police decide fault or arrange insurance after a China accident?
Do not assume a particular outcome. National Immigration Administration guidance says traffic authorities inform parties of their rights and obligations and notes that damage disputes can be resolved through negotiation, mediation, or civil litigation. Follow the responsible authority's live process and use the provider or insurer's verified channel for any separate claim.
Can I call 12345 instead of an emergency number after a traffic accident?
Not for an emergency. Beijing's 12345 service describes itself as a non-emergency channel and directs emergencies to 110, 119, 120, or 122. If an incident needs traffic, medical, fire, or police response, use the relevant emergency number first; local non-emergency service paths can differ by city.