In a method for detecting a collision between a vehicle and an object using a mobile user terminal which is able to be coupled to the vehicle, a user terminal signal for detecting the object is read in, which user terminal signal represents a signal which is provided by an image sensor of the user terminal; a driving state signal is read in to detect a driving state of the vehicle, which driving state signal represents a measured variable output by a vehicle sensor via an interface between the user terminal and the vehicle and/or output by an acceleration sensor of the user terminal; and a collision signal is ascertained to indicate an imminent collision between the vehicle and the object, based on the user terminal signal and the driving state signal.