What Happens to Foreigners Who Cause Physical Harm to Others in China According to Chinese Law?

2020/1/16

In recent years, more and more foreigners are working or studying in China. Due to the cultural differences between China and foreign countries, friction between some foreigners and Chinese is inevitable. What if foreigners cause physical harm to others in China?

This is a very complex issue, different cases and different responses will lead to different legal consequences. It's hard to say exactly what the consequences will be, so we recommend hiring a lawyer immediately and giving the full details of the case to the lawyer, who will then give the answer on the merits.

Due to the complexity of personal injury cases, we can only briefly describe the possible consequences. First, the personal injury cases caused by foreigners in China shall be governed by Chinese laws, which have the power to restrain and punish the actions of foreigners in China. Second, foreigners should make economic compensation according to the Tort Law of the People's Republic of China and relevant laws and regulations for personal injury caused to others. Third, those who cause personal injury to others, which constitutes a crime, will be punished according to Criminal Law of PRC.

It is important to note that some people think that the personal injury caused to others is not intentional, such as friends accidentally hit others in the eye when joking. According to Chinese law, even an unintentional act requires compensation. More seriously, if an unintentional act causes serious injury or death to another person, the perpetrator may violate the criminal law.

Therefore, we once again remind all the people concerned that if a foreigner causes personal injury to another person in China, he or she should immediately consult with a professional Chinese lawyer to formulate countermeasures based on the specific case.