If I see someone injured or in danger in the street, do I have to help?
In short
Yes. Knowingly failing to help someone in serious danger is a criminal offence (level 2). You do not have to put yourself in danger; calling 112 also counts as helping.
Video transcript
Someone is lying injured at the side of the road. You're in a hurry and think about walking on. Required: Knowingly not helping someone in serious danger is a crime: level 2. You don't have to put yourself in danger. The right way: Make sure you're safe, call 112, and stay with the injured person until help arrives. If you don't help (Level 2 offence): Prison: 6 months – 3 years; If the person dies: 3 – 5 years prison; Also: Family can claim damages.
What is not allowed, what is required?
- Knowingly failing to help someone in serious danger, or to get help for them, is a criminal offence: failure to assist a person in danger (schuldig verzuim / abstention coupable), Criminal Code art. 299, level 2.
- You must have seen the danger yourself, or been told about it by people asking for help.
- If helping would put you or others in serious danger, there is no offence (art. 302). In that case, at least call 112.
- If the person dies because no one helped, the penalty goes up to level 3 (art. 301).
- At an accident scene: make sure you are safe, call 112 and stay with the injured person until help arrives.
- If the authorities lawfully ask for your help in an accident, fire or flood, knowingly refusing is also an offence (art. 300, level 2).
Penalty and indirect consequences
- Fine / payment
- Prison is a last resort; the judge can also impose another penalty, such as community service.
Legal basis:Strafwetboek (W 29.2.2024) Boek I, art. 27, 36
- Court / prison
- Level 2: 6 months – 3 years in prison. If the person dies, level 3: 3 – 5 years in prison.
Legal basis:Strafwetboek (W 29.2.2024) Boek I, art. 36FOD Justitie – Hervorming Strafwetboek
What does this level mean? Criminal Code, level 2: 6 months – 3 years in prison or an alternative sentence. All penalty levels →
What really matters: the indirect consequences
- It may appear on your criminal record extract (uittreksel uit het strafregister / extrait de casier judiciaire); this can cause problems when you apply for jobs
Legal basis:Sv. art. 590, 595
- The victim or their family can claim compensation
Legal basis:BW Boek 6, art. 6.5
- When deciding the penalty, the judge takes into account whether the victim was a child or a vulnerable person
Legal basis:Strafwetboek (W 29.2.2024) Boek II, art. 304
What do these terms mean?
- Criminal record
- The state register of convictions handed down by a court. The extract asked for a job, residence or nationality application comes from it. Municipal GAS fines are not entered in it.
Why does this rule exist?
Any of us may need help one day. The rule means everyone owes others at least a basic duty to help.
Where can you go?
- Free first-line legal advice and pro deo lawyerA free or low-cost lawyer if your income is low
- Justice HouseInformation and support for victims, accused people and convicted people (Justitiehuis / Maison de justice)
- Emergency112 · Police 101
- Social interpreterAt the municipality, the OCMW/CPAS, school and hospital, you can ask for an interpreter in your language; it is often free.
This site does not handle individual cases; it points you to the right service. All help addresses
Source and reliability
Official source- Source check
- 15 / 15 statements in an official source
- Checked: 22.10.2026
- Last checked
- 22.10.2026
- Rules can change
Show the 15 checked statementsopen
- Found in an official source
Md. 299 schuldig verzuim tanımı
Strafwetboek Boek II (Wet 29 februari 2024), Justel, art. 299 - Found in an official source
Md. 299 seviye 2
Strafwetboek Boek II (Wet 29 februari 2024), Justel, art. 299 - Found in an official source
Tehlikeyi kişi kendisi tespit etmiş veya yardım isteyenler anlatmış olmalı
Strafwetboek Boek II (Wet 29 februari 2024), Justel, art. 299 (özet) - Found in an official source
Hulp verlenen ciddi tehlike yaratacaksa suç yok (md. 302)
Strafwetboek Boek II (Wet 29 februari 2024), Justel, art. 302 - Found in an official source
112'yi aramak = 'hulp verschaffen' (yardım getirmek)
Belgisch Staatsblad 08.04.2024 (Wet 29.02.2024, Strafwetboek boek I en II), boek II art. 299 en 302 - Found in an official source
Ölümle sonuçlanırsa seviye 3 (md. 301)
Strafwetboek Boek II (Wet 29 februari 2024), Justel, art. 301 - Found in an official source
Mağdurun küçük veya savunmasız olması hâkimce dikkate alınır (md. 304)
Strafwetboek (W 29.2.2024) Boek II, art. 304 - Found in an official source
Seviye 3 = 3–5 yıl
Strafwetboek (W 29.2.2024) Boek I, art. 36 - Found in an official source
Seviye 2'de en az hapis 6 ay
FOD Justitie – Hervorming Strafwetboek - Found in an official source
Seviye 2'de en çok hapis 3 yıl
Strafwetboek (W 29.2.2024) Boek I, art. 36 - Found in an official source
Hapis yerine kamu yararına çalışma gibi alternatif ceza
FOD Justitie – Hervorming Strafwetboek - Found in an official source
Hapis son çaredir; seviye 2'de hâkim werkstraf gibi başka bir ana ceza verebilir
Strafwetboek (W 29.2.2024) Boek I, art. 27, 36 - Found in an official source
Mahkûmiyet Strafregister'e kaydedilir; kişi bir uittreksel alabilir ve bu belge iş başvurusunda istenebilir
Sv. art. 590, 595 - Found in an official source
Suçla zarar veren kişi, mağdurun zararını ödemekle yükümlü olabilir
BW Boek 6, art. 6.5 - Found in an official source
Yardım çağrısına uymamak, seviye 2 (md. 300)
Code pénal livre II (Loi 29.2.2024), Justel FR konsolide metin, art. 300 (madde numarası: Justel NL inhoudstafel)
The checked statements are in Turkish, as in the source text. This check does not replace legal advice.
General information, not legal advice. For your own situation, ask a lawyer or free legal aid. How was this information prepared?