Road accident: what to do? Step-by-step guide

⏱ 2 min read

Crash, injured people. Below: what to do right away, what next, when to call 112 and what to avoid. The same instructions are in the free SurvivalZone.app and work without internet.

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First, right now

Stop safely, switch on your hazard lights and put on a high-visibility vest.
Call 112. Say where you are (road, kilometre marker, direction), how many vehicles and how many injured.
Place the warning triangle well behind the crash: about 50 m on ordinary roads, about 100 m on motorways.

Then

Switch off the ignition of damaged cars and pull the handbrake if you can do it safely.
On a motorway, everyone who can walk goes behind the crash barrier, away from traffic.
Check the injured: do they respond, are they breathing? Not breathing normally? Start chest compressions.
Press hard on heavy bleeding with a dressing or clean cloth, without letting go, until help arrives.
Leave a conscious injured person in the position they are in. Cover them with a foil blanket or coat and talk to them.
Note or photograph the scene, the cars and the number plates for the police.

When to call 112

Always when someone is hurt, trapped in a car, a car is burning or fuel is leaking.

What not to do

Do not pull an injured person out of a car unless there is fire or another immediate danger.
Do not take a motorcyclist's helmet off unless they are not breathing and there is no other way to open the airway.
Do not stand between cars or in a traffic lane.
Do not give the injured food, drink or medicines.

Frequently asked questions

Road accident: what should I do first?

Stop safely, switch on your hazard lights and put on a high-visibility vest. Call 112. Say where you are (road, kilometre marker, direction), how many vehicles and how many injured. Place the warning triangle well behind the crash: about 50 m on ordinary roads, about 100 m on motorways.

When should I call 112?

Always when someone is hurt, trapped in a car, a car is burning or fuel is leaking.

Road accident: what should I avoid?

Do not pull an injured person out of a car unless there is fire or another immediate danger. Do not take a motorcyclist's helmet off unless they are not breathing and there is no other way to open the airway.

Keep it on your phone

SurvivalZone.app is a free app for every emergency, with no account and no app store. It works without internet and shows the nearest shelters and help points, local radio, a 72-hour plan and a mountain trip planner.

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Thank you for reading. If this could help someone, send it to the people you care about. Getting ready takes a moment, and in a crisis every minute counts.

Coming soon: the app’s permanent address will be survivalzone.app.

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Sources

Official sources are checked automatically every day. Last check: 2026-11-08.

General guidance only; it does not replace the emergency services. If a life is in danger, call 112.