A day to remember those affected by road collisions
One of my roles as a Complex Injury Solicitor is assisting victims and families who have been involved in road crashes. Not only do I have professional experience within this area, I too know what is like to have a family member directly affected by a road traffic collision.
My brother was a victim of a hit and run incident, in which he suffered significant and life threatening injuries. He now has to live with the consequences of his injuries, as does my family. It was an extremely difficult road to recovery for all involved. At some points, we did not know who or where to turn to for support.
At the time, it would have been extremely beneficial for us to know about the charity RoadPeace.
Who are RoadPeace?
RoadPeace is a charity that helps victims and bereaved families who have been affected by road traffic collisions. They provide support through peers, local group networks and trauma support programmes.
In addition to this, RoadPeace works to reform the justice system, aiming to reduce harm posed to others and treat road crime as seriously as its victims deserve.
RoadPeace recognises that the sudden, unexpected and traumatic experience of a road death or serious injury is overwhelming and isolating. That is why they, as a charity, encourage everyone to commemorate the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.
The World Day of Remembrance
The World Day of Remembrance, observed on the third Sunday of November. Created by European Federation of Road Traffic Victims (FEVR) in 2000, it is a day for highlighting the impact on victims, their families, communities and countries who have all been affected by a road traffic collision.
Not only are the victims remembered and recognised, this day is also to pay tribute to the dedicated emergency services and medical professionals whose job it is to deal with the traumatic aftermath of a road death and injury.
“A common Day of Remembrance offers solidarity and friendship to our fellow bereaved, draws attention to the devastation caused by road danger and calls for an end to the carnage.” – Brigitte Chaudhry MBE, founder & president RoadPeace, past FEVR president (2004-2010), author and editor of the World Day website.
This day has also become an important tool for governments and all those whose work involves crash prevention and post crash response, as it offers the opportunity to demonstrate the huge scale of road casualties and the need for action to address this disaster.
Each year, more people are killed or seriously injured from a road traffic collision than a terrorist attack. On Sunday 19th November 2017, please take a moment to remember the many millions killed and injured on the world’s roads together with their families and friends and the emergency services that have to deal with these horrors on a daily basis.
An annual World Day of Remembrance service for Road Traffic Victims will take place at St James’ Church, Piccadilly, on Sunday 19th November 2017 at 2:30pm.
Ben Pepper is a solicitor in the Personal Injury team at Bolt Burdon Kemp. If you or a loved one have suffered an injury as a result of someone else’s negligence, contact Ben in confidence on 020 7288 4815 or at benpepper@boltburdonkemp.co.uk. Alternatively, complete this form and one of the solicitors in the Personal Injury team will contact you. Find out more about the Personal Injury team.
