An apparatus for detecting impact of a moving object, in particular of a vehicle, having a first sensor device for acquiring an acceleration in a direction of motion of the moving object, an evaluation device for evaluating the first acceleration signal, and at least one second sensor device for acquiring an acceleration in an acquisition direction that is different from the direction of motion of the moving object, a classification of an impact by way of a classification signal being made available as a function of accelerations in at least two directions of motion or three acceleration directions.