accident scene
Loading your saved state.
accident scene
The exact spot or place where an accident has occurred.
Polizei und Rettungskräfte trafen kurz nach dem Notruf am Unfallort ein.
Police and emergency services arrived at the accident scene shortly after the emergency call.
'Unfallort' (accident scene) is a compound noun made up of 'der Unfall' (the accident) and 'der Ort' (the place). The meaning is therefore very direct: it is the place where an accident happened.
Die Straße war gesperrt, um den Unfallort zu sichern.
The road was closed to secure the accident scene.
To indicate a position, you use the preposition 'an' with the dative: 'am Unfallort' (at the accident scene). To describe movement there, you use 'zu' with the dative: 'zum Unfallort' (to the accident scene).
Die Zeugen warteten am Unfallort auf die Polizei.
The witnesses waited for the police at the accident scene.
This word is often used with verbs that describe an official action. Typical phrases are: 'den Unfallort sichern' (to secure the accident scene), 'den Unfallort absperren' (to cordon off the accident scene), or 'sich vom Unfallort entfernen' (to leave the accident scene).
Die Feuerwehr musste den Unfallort weiträumig absperren.
The fire department had to cordon off a wide area around the accident scene.
The word 'Unfallort' (accident scene) belongs especially to the language of police, emergency services, insurance companies, and news reports. In everyday conversation, one might say more simply 'an der Stelle, wo der Unfall war' (at the place where the accident was).
Der Reporter berichtete live vom Unfallort.
The reporter reported live from the accident scene.
crime scene
'der Tatort' and 'der Unfallort' both refer to a place where something important or bad happened. The difference lies in the type of event. 'Tatort' is used for a criminal offense or crime, for example theft or murder. 'Unfallort' fits when an accident has happened, for example in traffic or at work. The words can be confused because police and emergency services often work at both places. The key point is: for a crime, you speak of the 'Tatort'; for an accident, the 'Unfallort'.
Am Unfallort warteten schon zwei Krankenwagen.
Two ambulances were already waiting at the accident scene.
Die Polizei sperrte den Tatort ab, weil dort ein Einbruch passiert war.
The police cordoned off the crime scene because a break-in had happened there.