Road Safety Week begins on November 17th this year and marks the beginning of the most important week on British roads.
We all think we know about road safety, but everyone needs a reminder every now and then of the dangers of being on the road and how to be a better driver, pedestrian, and cyclist. Highlighting road safety and teaching us how to be good road users are just two aspects of this critical week on the road safety calendar.
Road traffic accidents happen, and most accidents are avoidable. Usually someone is responsible for the dooring of a motorbike rider, the knocking down of a runner who is crossing the road or the car crash on the roundabout.
Every car driver, cyclist, and bus driver needs to be aware of other road users. They must avoid accidents by driving carefully when on the motorway, the high street or when coming to the traffic lights.
Road Safety Week starts on November 17th 2024, and every road user will have something to learn.
What is Road Safety Week?
Road Safety Week is an annual event that makes people aware of how to be safe on British roads. The week highlights the dangers of not being careful when out walking, driving and cycling on the road.
Bad driving, poor safety standards and not paying a duty of care to other road users are responsible for the majority of British road traffic accidents. Recently released government figures show that there were over 1,600 fatalities on British roads in 2023, which works out to five people losing their lives every day. There were more than 132,000 injuries in road traffic accidents in that time, with over 29,000 serious injury victims reported.
Road Safety Week is dedicated to getting people to be safe when using the road. It involves school safety visits, media campaigns and encouraging drivers to slow down, consider other road users, and follow road safety guidelines.
Road users all learn the Rules of the Road when starting out, but bad habits slip in, and accidents happen. During every Road Safety Week, road users are made aware of how accidents happen and how to avoid one happening when they are on the road.
Knowing how to be safe on British roads can help reduce road traffic accidents.
How to be safe on British Roads
To be safe on British roads you need to follow the Rules of the Road and hope that other users give you a duty of care when on the road. Many road traffic accidents can be avoided if road users follow the rules.
During Road Safety Week, the authorities try to raise awareness of safe road use and how to avoid accidents.
Common ways to be safe on the road:
Road traffic accidents happen when road users breach their duty of care to others when on the road. The bus driver does not look before pulling out, the car driver does not stop at a crossing, or the truck driver goes too close to the cyclist in the bike lane.
An accident can happen in a second, but its effects can last a lifetime. Road Safety Week aims to reduce road traffic accidents by making people aware of what can happen when on the motorway or the local high street.
The increase in road traffic accident personal injury claims only shows how many accidents still happen on British roads.
Common Road Traffic Accident Claims
The common road traffic accidents happen every day on British roads. The cyclist is knocked off their bike by a passing bus, the motorcyclist is hit by a car coming out of a side street, and the truck rear-ends a learner driver at the traffic lights.
If you are in a road traffic accident, you could have a road traffic accident compensation claim.
Types of road traffic accident injury claims in England:
Public transport accident injury claims
Public transport accident claims can involve the train, tube, taxi, bus, tram, or any other form of public transport.
Injuries can happen easily; if they are not your fault, you may have a valid road traffic accident claim.
You may be injured in an RTA involving:
A public transport accident claim can get you compensation for the injury.
Pedestrian road traffic accident injury claims
Pedestrian road traffic accident injury claims are very common and may leave the road accident victim seriously injured.
Pedestrians can suffer an injury when:
Pedestrians can suffer significant injuries, such as soft tissue injuries, broken bones, head or spinal injury or internal organ damage.
You could have a road traffic accident compensation claim if injured in a pedestrian accident.
Motorcycle road traffic accident injury claims
Motorcycle accident claims are often the result of carelessness or negligence by other road users.
Road traffic accidents involving motorcyclists happen a lot and, given the vulnerability of motorcyclists, often lead to severe injuries.
Typical accidents for motorcyclists:
If you are in an accident as a motorcyclist that is not your fault, you could have a road traffic accident claim.
Bicycle road traffic accident injury claims
A bicycle rider is a vulnerable road user who is likely to suffer severe injury if the victim of an accident.
When knocked off your bike, there is nowhere to go except onto the road or the pavement and maybe in front of a car or bus.
The passenger in a parked car may open a door right in front of a cyclist, causing a severe impact injury like a broken clavicle. A pothole or badly kept road could unseat you, causing severe soft tissue damage.
Bicycle accidents are widespread, especially in cities and built-up areas. Any accident involving a bicycle has the potential to cause the rider severe injuries.
An accident as a cyclist may leave you able to make a claim for injury compensation from the negligent party.
Passenger road traffic accident injury claims
Passenger road traffic accident claims are usually injuries to someone travelling as a passenger in a car, bus, train, or motorbike.
As a passenger, the accident will very rarely be your fault, and the passenger in any vehicle may suffer a severe injury.
Passengers in road accident claims suffer injuries such as:
You can claim compensation when injured in a road traffic accident, even as a passenger.
E-scooter road traffic accident injury claims
An E-scooter road traffic accident can cause injury to the pedestrian, car driver or the driver of the E-scooter.
E-scooter drivers need to follow the rules of the road, but often, accidents happen when they breach their duty of care to other road users. Other accidents can occur when car drivers go too close to the E-scooter.
E-scooter road traffic accident injuries can be:
E-scooter accidents happen, and you may be able to claim compensation if you suffer a personal injury in a road traffic accident.
Traffic accidents happen daily, and you could claim compensation for any injuries suffered in a road accident that was not your fault.
Compensation for injury in a road traffic accident claim
If you are unfortunate enough to be the victim of an accident on a british road, you are entitled to make a personal injury claim for compensation.
You can seek more than £10,000 compensation in a road traffic accident claim. Some awards go above £10 million, depending on circumstances.
Road traffic accidents often happen unexpectedly and at speed, and injuries can be devastating for the victim.
Our Personal Injury Compensation Calculator may give you an idea of what is possible in a road traffic accident injury claim. Every claim is different, but you may get an idea of what is possible for your injury compensation claim.
An injury in an RTA can be a broken limb, nerve damage, severe lacerations, and internal organ damage. You may be unable to work or care for yourself, and you may lose your ability to exercise and play sports.
You can claim compensation for the effects of the road traffic accident today and in the future. The amount awarded depends on the severity of your injury and the impact on your life.
Amounts of compensation seen in road traffic accident claims are:
(The figures given here are for General Damages amounts only. You will also receive compensation for any financial losses you suffer due to the personal injury. Figures are taken from Judicial College Guidelines 16th Edition and are accurate as of April 2023.)
There is not one fixed amount for a road traffic accident claim, and the compensation awarded for your injury will be tailored to the circumstances of your claim.
A No Win No Fee personal injury solicitor can tell you what to expect from their experience with road traffic accident compensation claims.
Contact the Personal Injury Team today
Contact the Personal Injury Team today for advice and help on forming your compensation for personal injury compensation.
We have a team of solicitors and legal experts in place to guide you through what can be a complex legal process.
Our No Win No Fee team deal every day with road traffic accident injury claims.
Road Safety Week is all about learning how to be safe on the road but when another road user breaches their duty of care to you, you could suffer a personal injury.
Contact the Personal Injury Team for all you need to know about getting a road traffic accident injury claim for compensation up and running today.
