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PhrasesCar AccidentDevo andare al pronto soccorso.
A2

Devo andare al pronto soccorso.

I need to go to the emergency room.

Pronunciation

'Pronto soccorso' = PRON-toh sok-KOR-soh — stress first syllables of each word.

When to use it

Use after an accident when you are experiencing any symptoms, however mild. A medical evaluation creates a medico-legal record essential for injury compensation claims.

What it means

Italian A&E departments (Pronto Soccorso) use a colour triage system: red (immediate), yellow (urgent), green (non-urgent), white (non-urgent, charged). After a road accident, always present yourself as an 'incidente stradale' patient — this typically upgrades your triage priority.

Variations

Ho bisogno di una visita medica dopo l'incidente.

I need a medical examination after the accident.

Formal phrasing — appropriate for insurance notifications.

Dove si trova il pronto soccorso più vicino?

Where is the nearest emergency room?

Ask police, bystanders, or use Google Maps.

Ho bisogno di un certificato medico per l'assicurazione.

I need a medical certificate for the insurance.

Request this explicitly — A&E staff will issue one for accident-related visits.

Mini Dialogue

— Devo andare al pronto soccorso. Ho dolore al petto. — L'accompagno io, o preferisce l'ambulanza? — Se è vicino, mi porta lei. Altrimenti chiamo il 118. — È a dieci minuti. Vengo io. Può camminare? — Sì, ma con difficoltà.

— I need to go to the emergency room. I have chest pain. — I'll take you, or do you prefer the ambulance? — If it's close, you take me. Otherwise I'll call 118. — It's ten minutes away. I'll take you. Can you walk? — Yes, but with difficulty.

Cultural Note

Italian A&E visits are nominally free for EU residents with an EHIC/EHIC replacement card. Non-EU residents may be charged for 'white code' (non-urgent) visits. However, accident-related visits should always be coded by the triage nurse as accident-related.