Do I Need to Report to My Insurance If I Get Rear-Ended?
4 Answers
If your car is rear-ended and the other party is fully at fault, you do not need to involve your own insurance. The at-fault party should notify their insurance company, which will assess the damage and provide compensation. If the at-fault party does not have insurance, they are responsible for covering all damages. Below are the relevant provisions from the "Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China": 1. Article 73: The traffic management department of the public security organ shall promptly prepare a traffic accident certification based on the on-site investigation, inspection, and relevant testing or appraisal conclusions, which serves as evidence for handling the traffic accident. The traffic accident certification shall specify the basic facts, causes, and responsibilities of the parties involved and shall be delivered to the parties. 2. Article 74: In case of disputes over compensation for traffic accident damages, the parties may request mediation from the traffic management department of the public security organ or directly file a civil lawsuit with the People's Court. If the parties fail to reach an agreement through mediation or do not fulfill the mediation agreement after it takes effect, they may file a civil lawsuit with the People's Court.
When I first got my driver's license, I was rear-ended too, and it was quite nerve-wracking. That time, I was waiting at a red light when suddenly there was a loud bang—a car behind me hit mine. After getting out, the other driver and I exchanged contact information and took photos of the scene, including the license plate number and the damaged areas. I reported it to my insurance company immediately afterward. Even though it was later confirmed that the other party was fully at fault, filing a claim helped avoid disputes. If I hadn’t reported it, the other driver might have denied responsibility or become unreachable, leaving me to cover the repair costs myself and potentially complicating future claims. Looking back now, reporting it to insurance was also a way to protect myself, making the whole process more reassuring. My advice to everyone in a similar situation: first ensure safety, then notify your insurance company and follow the proper procedures—don’t cut corners for convenience.
As a parent with kids, I'm particularly concerned about driving safety. Being rear-ended is no small matter—I was once hit on the way to dropping my child off at school, and thankfully, no one was hurt. At that time, I immediately pulled over, recorded the accident details including the time and location, and then reported it to the insurance company. Experience has taught me that regardless of who is at fault, reporting to insurance is essential to fully handle compensation and vehicle repairs. Especially when the other party might delay or evade responsibility, reporting to insurance safeguards your rights. I also recommend calling the police—if they intervene, the record they leave is more convincing. After the accident, I took my car to the designated repair shop, which was hassle-free and efficient. In short, safety comes first—don’t be afraid of the hassle, as the insurance system is designed for this very purpose.
I drive a taxi and rear-end collisions are common. When this happens, just report it to the insurance without hesitation. If the other party hits you, it's their fault, but if you don't report it, you might end up at a disadvantage. For example, last month while I was working, I got rear-ended. After simply exchanging information, I reported it to the insurance, and they handled all the compensation. If you don't report it, in case the damage is severe or there are follow-up issues, you can't handle it on your own. Remember to take photos as evidence to facilitate the claims process. The whole procedure is simple and quick—just a few minutes to file the report—and it won’t take too long.
