If you’re injured at work or hit while commuting, the first step is to get a work‑injury determination; if your employer won’t file it, you must do it yourself.

Injuries that happen at work are considered work‑related injuries. Being hit while commuting — provided you bear no significant fault — also qualifies as a work‑injury. Without a formal work‑injury determination, however, you won’t receive medical coverage, wage replacement during recovery, or disability benefits. Employers must file the application within 30 days; if they fail to do so, you, your family, or a labor union may file it within one year.

There is no cost — just a trip to the social insurance authority. You’ll need three documents: a work‑injury determination application form, proof of employment, and a medical diagnosis certificate.

Without a work‑injury determination, all related benefits disappear: medical care, wage continuation while you recover, and disability payments. If an employer misses the 30‑day deadline, it must pay all required benefits out of its own funds.

The one‑year deadline is absolute — after that you can’t apply. The burden of proof rests with the employer: if it denies that an injury is work‑related, it must provide evidence to the contrary. Still, you should keep your own records — photos from the scene, coworkers’ contact info, medical records, and attendance logs. Article 16 lists three situations where injuries are not considered work‑related: intentional criminal acts, intoxication or drug use, and self‑inflicted harm or suicide. Article 15 also defines “deemed work‑injuries”: death from a sudden illness at work or within 48 hours after unsuccessful emergency treatment.

国务院 (2010 修订). 工伤保险条例（国务院令第 586 号）第十四条列了七种「应当认定为工伤」，含「（六）在上下班途中，受到非本人主要责任的交通事故或者城市轨道交通、客运轮渡、火车事故伤害的」；第十七条「所在单位应当自事故伤害发生之日或者被诊断、鉴定为职业病之日起30日内，向统筹地区社会保险行政部门提出工伤认定申请」「用人单位未按前款规定提出工伤认定申请的，工伤职工或者其近亲属、工会组织在事故伤害发生之日或者被诊断、鉴定为职业病之日起1年内，可以直接向用人单位所在地统筹地区社会保险行政部门提出工伤认定申请」「用人单位未在本条第一款规定的时限内提交工伤认定申请，在此期间发生符合本条例规定的工伤待遇等有关费用由该用人单位负担」；第十九条「职工或者其近亲属认为是工伤，用人单位不认为是工伤的，由用人单位承担举证责任」；第二十条「自受理工伤认定申请之日起60日内作出工伤认定的决定」；第五十五条，对「工伤认定申请不予受理的决定不服的」「对工伤认定结论不服的」，「可以依法申请行政复议，也可以依法向人民法院提起行政诉讼」. https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2011/content_1778064.htm；最高人民法院 (2014). 关于审理工伤保险行政案件若干问题的规定（法释〔2014〕9 号）第七条：「由于不属于职工或者其近亲属自身原因超过工伤认定申请期限的，被耽误的时间不计算在工伤认定申请期限内」，所列情形为「（一）不可抗力；（二）人身自由受到限制；（三）属于用人单位原因；（四）社会保险行政部门登记制度不完善；（五）当事人对是否存在劳动关系申请仲裁、提起民事诉讼」. https://www.court.gov.cn/fabu/xiangqing/6775.html