After a car accident: what people actually say

Are you alright? (after something happens)

Tip: lit. 'how did it go?'; the first thing anyone says after a fall or a crash.

I didn't have time to brake.

Tip: The verb means to have time or manage to do something in time.

Does it hurt anywhere?

Tip: lit. 'have you pain somewhere?'.

It's probably nothing serious.

Tip: lit. 'it is probably no danger'; used to play something down.

Should we call 112 just in case?

Tip: lit. 'for safety's sake'.

No, there's no need.

Tip: lit. 'it isn't needed'; a passive-looking verb in -s.

We should move the cars to the side.

Tip: Get out of the traffic if the cars can still be driven.

I'll get the warning triangle out.

Tip: lit. 'take forward'; the particle means getting something out to use.

I guess we'll have to swap details.

Tip: Here the verb usually meaning 'get' means 'have to'; the small word softens it.

Which insurance company are you with?

Tip: lit. 'which insurance company have you'; the question word agrees with an ett-word.

You can take a picture of it.

Tip: lit. 'take a card of it'; casual for taking a photo.

Do you have a claim form in the glovebox?

Tip: lit. 'the glove compartment'; many drivers keep the joint European form there.

We can fill it in together.

Tip: Particle verb: fill in, stress on the particle.

We both have to sign it.

Tip: lit. 'write beneath'; the usual verb for signing.

Shall we draw how it happened?

Tip: There's a box for a sketch on the form; lit. 'how it went to'.

I drove into you from behind.

Tip: lit. 'drove in in you from-behind'.

It's my fault.

Tip: The noun is an ett-word, so 'my' takes the ett form.

Thanks for being so decent about it.

Tip: The adjective is casual: fair, decent, nice.

I'll take a few photos of the damage.

Tip: lit. 'pictures on the damages'; the plural is normal here.

Write down my reg number.

Tip: lit. 'write up'; the usual way to note something down.

in case the insurance company has questions

Tip: One word for 'in case' or 'if'.

I'd like to report a claim.

Tip: lit. 'report a damage'; the standard opener with an insurer.

Did you fill in a claim form at the scene?

Tip: lit. 'on place'; plural 'you' because it's both drivers.

The other driver admitted it was his fault.

Tip: The verb means admit or confess.

Then it's his motor insurance that pays for your car.

Tip: 'Then it is ... that' highlights who pays, just as in English.

Do I need to pay any excess?

Tip: lit. 'any self-risk'.

Which garage should I take the car to?

Tip: lit. 'leave in the car at'; the preposition ends up last.

My neck has started to hurt a bit since yesterday.

Tip: lit. 'I have got a little pain in the neck'; body parts take the definite form.

It's good to get it documented.

Tip: lit. 'to get it documented'.

Thanks, now I know what to do.

Tip: lit. 'then I know how I shall do'.