rear-end collision
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rear-end collision
A traffic accident in which one vehicle drives into a vehicle in front of it that is moving or stationary.
Auf der Autobahn gab es einen langen Stau wegen eines Auffahrunfalls mit drei beteiligten Autos.
There was a long traffic jam on the highway because of a rear-end collision involving three cars.
The word is made up of the verb 'auffahren' (to drive into the back of something) and the noun 'Unfall' (accident). So it describes an accident that happens because one vehicle 'auffährt' (drives into the back) of another.
Der LKW-Fahrer hat das Stauende zu spät gesehen und ist auf das Auto aufgefahren.
The truck driver saw the end of the traffic jam too late and drove into the back of the car.
Common phrases are 'einen Auffahrunfall verursachen' (to cause a rear-end collision), 'in einen Auffahrunfall verwickelt sein' (to be involved in a rear-end collision), or the impersonal expression 'es kommt zu einem Auffahrunfall' (a rear-end collision occurs).
Durch die nasse Fahrbahn kam es zu einem Auffahrunfall.
The wet road surface caused a rear-end collision.
This word is used almost exclusively in the context of road traffic. Typical situations include traffic jams on the highway, sudden braking at a traffic light, or inattention in heavy traffic.
Ein kurzer Moment der Unachtsamkeit kann zu einem Auffahrunfall führen.
A brief moment of inattention can lead to a rear-end collision.
car accident
'der Autounfall' and 'der Auffahrunfall' both belong to the area of traffic accidents. 'Autounfall' is the general term: it only says that at least one car is involved and that damage occurred. 'Auffahrunfall' is more precise. It means that one vehicle drives into another vehicle from behind, either while that vehicle is moving ahead of it or while it is stopped. Learners may confuse the words because a rear-end collision can always be a type of car accident. But not every car accident is a rear-end collision. If the type of accident is important, use 'Auffahrunfall'; if you are just speaking generally about the accident, 'Autounfall' is enough.
Vor der Ampel gab es einen Auffahrunfall, weil ein Fahrer zu spät gebremst hatte.
There was a rear-end collision at the traffic light because a driver braked too late.
In der E-Mail schrieb Paul, dass er wegen eines Autounfalls später kommt.
In the email, Paul wrote that he would arrive later because of a car accident.