Car Accident or Breakdown
These phrases will help you communicate clearly and safely if you are ever involved in a vehicle collision or breakdown.
Key Phrases
Hey, is everyone in your vehicle okay, or do we need to get an ambulance?
casualThe first priority is always checking on the other driver's well-being.
Please tell me you and your passengers aren't seriously injured from the impact.
neutralA concerned, empathetic way to check on people after a collision.
Let's pull over to the shoulder so we're not totally blocking the flow of traffic.
casualUS variety; essential for safety on busy roads.
We should move over to the hard shoulder so we don't obstruct the rest of the road.
neutralUK variety; equivalent to the American 'shoulder'.
Make sure you put your hazard lights on before you attempt to get out of the car.
casualCrucial advice to prevent secondary accidents, especially at night.
Thankfully, it looks like just a minor fender bender, and both vehicles are still perfectly drivable.
casual'Fender bender' is a very common idiom for a minor, low-speed car crash.
We should probably swap insurance info and take some pictures of the damage before moving.
casualStandard procedure following any traffic collision.
Can I get a quick picture of your driver's license and insurance card for my records, please?
neutralUS variety.
Would you mind if I took a photograph of your driving licence and insurance details for the claim?
politeUK variety.
I'm gonna call 911 just to have the police come out and file an official incident report.
casualEven in minor crashes, a police report is often required by insurance.
We really ought to contact the authorities so that the incident is properly documented for our insurers.
politeA slightly more formal way to suggest getting the police involved.
My car's completely dead, so I'm gonna have to call a tow truck to get it moved.
casualUS variety; used when the car cannot be driven away.
The engine won't start, so I think I'll need to call for a recovery vehicle to transport us.
neutralUK variety; the equivalent of a tow truck.
We've had a collision and we're currently stranded on the southbound interstate, just past the overpass.
neutralHow you would describe your location to an emergency dispatcher.
Let's just stay calm and let our respective insurance companies sort out who was actually at fault.
neutralA good phrase to de-escalate tension and avoid arguing about liability on the roadside.