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PhrasesCar AccidentHo avuto un incidente stradale.
A2

Ho avuto un incidente stradale.

I've had a road accident.

Pronunciation

'Incidente' = een-chee-DEN-teh. Stress the second syllable of 'stradale': stra-DA-leh.

When to use it

The first thing to say when calling 112/118 or flagging down a bystander after a collision.

What it means

'Ho avuto' is passato prossimo of 'avere un incidente', the standard fixed expression for having an accident. 'Stradale' specifies it is a road accident. In Italy you must call 112 or 118 immediately after any accident involving injury — failure to do so is a criminal offence under Article 189 of the Codice della Strada.

Variations

Sono stato/a coinvolto/a in un incidente.

I was involved in an accident.

More passive — use when you were not the driver at fault.

C'è stato uno scontro tra veicoli.

There has been a collision between vehicles.

Formal/official tone, suitable for police reports.

Mi hanno tamponato.

I've been rear-ended.

Tamponare = to rear-end; very common in Italian traffic vocabulary.

Mini Dialogue

— 112, cosa è successo? — Ho avuto un incidente stradale sulla SS7, vicino a Velletri. — Ci sono feriti? — Sì, l'altro conducente sembra ferito. Mandateci un'ambulanza. — Rimanga in linea. Stiamo inviando i soccorsi.

— 112, what happened? — I've had a road accident on the SS7, near Velletri. — Are there any injured people? — Yes, the other driver seems injured. Send us an ambulance. — Stay on the line. We are sending help.

Cultural Note

In Italy the 'Codice della Strada' (Highway Code, Legislative Decree 285/1992) requires all drivers involved in an accident with injuries to stop, provide assistance, and call emergency services. Leaving the scene (fuga) is a criminal offence.