Today (01 August) marks the start of National Road Victims Month, an initiative organised by charity RoadPeace to remember those killed or seriously injured in road traffic collisions on British roads.

Launched in 1998, the campaign aims to raise awareness of the devastating impact road collisions can have on individuals and their families.

Events will be hosted throughout the month, which has historically seen higher levels of road collisions due to higher levels of summertime traffic and more schoolchildren playing outside.

As part of the campaign, the charity will host its annual afternoon of remembrance in RoadPeace Wood at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire on Saturday 13 August, where a memorial with lines of trees remember victims of road collisions.

On Wednesday 31 August, a ceremony will also be held on the steps of Liverpool Anglican Cathedral to mark the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, who died in a car crash in 1998, and to commemorate the lives of others killed on UK roads.

Latest statistics released by the Department For Transport (DfT) revealed there were 1,732 reported road fatalities in the UK in 2015, and more than 20,000 people suffered serious injuries in road traffic collisions.

Thompsons Solicitors’ specialist road traffic collision solicitor and chair of RoadPeace North East, David Robinson, said: “Campaigns like National Road Victim Month are hugely important in providing people affected by collisions on the roads with an opportunity to share their experiences with others, so that more and more people hear of the devastating consequences caused by dangerous driving.

“While it is positive that the number of road collisions has dropped in recent years, it is concerning that the rate of decline has started to stagnate.

“It is vital that improved road safety strategies are campaigned for and information about road safety is continually communicated, so that we can try to make Britain’s roads safer for drivers and pedestrians.”

Injured on the roads? Help and compensation is close at hand.

If you’ve been injured on the roads in the last three years, our expert road traffic accident solicitors can support you. Whether you were injured as the driver or passenger in a vehicle, or as a pedestrian or cyclist, you may be able to claim for damages.

Unlike other firms, Thompsons only ever acts for the injured person – never for insurance companies. This means we will fight harder to secure the maximum level of compensation for your injuries, and not try to please motor insurance paymasters.

Contact us today for a free, no obligation assessment of whether you have a claim for compensation following a road accident.

For further information, visit our How to Make A Compensation Claim page.