This week is the UK’s Road Safety Awareness Week. Road Safety Week is a national campaign run by road safety charity Brake. The theme of this year's campaign is SPEED. The charity is pushing for the introduction of 20mph speed limits on more roads in residential and built-up areas throughout the UK. Shockingly, on average five people are killed on UK roads every day.
There are steps we can all take as road users to stay safe on the roads. Drivers, cyclists and pedestrians all have a duty to take care for the safety of themselves and others on the roads. For drivers, complying with the speed limit is paramount and taking extra care when driving around schools or in built-up areas can reduce the likelihood of accidents occurring. In addition, in the winter months, reducing driving speed and increasing braking distance will help drivers keep control of their vehicles and reduce the risk of collisions.
For pedestrians and cyclists, visibility on the roads is key. Risk factors such as pedestrians or cyclists in dark clothing, and low levels of light, or rain, make it difficult for vehicle drivers to see clearly and can increase the risk of accidents.
The consequences of road traffic collisions can be extremely serious. Anyone who is injured in a road traffic accident that wasn’t their fault or those who are bereaved following the death of a loved one have a legal right to claim compensation. The right to claim compensation survives for three years from the date of injury. However, taking legal advice as early as possible is recommended in order to secure the best evidence such as witness statements and medical reports. Thorntons' specialist Personal Injury team deals with all types of claims arising from road traffic accidents in Scotland. These range from whiplash injuries to fatal accidents, and the types of clients we act for includes vehicle users, pedestrians and cyclists.
The best outcome for all is to prevent accidents happening in the first place. However, if you find yourself in a situation where you or a family member have been injured or killed on the roads, then contact our specialist personal injury team for advice.
