At Switalskis, we work with people, families and communities. Every case we handle is more than just paperwork, its about lives changed, futures protected and heartbreak prevented. That’s why, Beep Beep! Day, an initiative by Brake, the road safety charity, is so close to our hearts.

Katrina Elsey , Senior Associate within our firms personal injury team comments “If you’ve ever held a little hand in yours while crossing the road, you know the trust children place in us to keep them safe. The reality is heartbreaking, that accordingly to statistics, every single day, six children in the UK are killed or seriously injured on our roads. That’s six families devastated, six childhoods altered and six futures that should have been full of laughter, not loss.

"When my daughters were little, I tried to teach them the importance of road safety – holding hands, stopping, looking and listening. Beep Beep! Day helps make road safety second nature for children, so when they do grow up, they grow with the habits that could one day save their lives”.

Many of these deaths and injuries are preventable, and in order to help with this we all need to know about the dangers of traffic and about road safety including young children.

Beep Beep! Day is about more than teaching road safety; its about giving parents, carers, and teachers the tools to help little ones navigate the world safely. No parent should ever have to experience the unimaginable pain of a road traffic accident involving their child.

UK law recognises that pedestrians, especially children, are the most vulnerable road users. Drivers have a duty of care to ensure their safety, and when accidents happen, legal protections are in place to support families.

Some key points include:

1.     Drivers must stop for pedestrians who have stepped onto a zebra crossing or who have the green man at a signal-controlled crossing. Failure to do so can result in fines, penalty points, and liability in an accident.

2.     Child pedestrians cannot be expected to have the same level of awareness as adults. If a driver is speeding, distracted or fails to anticipate the presence of children, they can be held responsible.

3.     If you or your child are unfortunately involved in an accident it is important that you know what you should do. Your health is, of course, the main priority. Seek medical assistance and call an ambulance immediately if required. You should also consider calling the police to report the accident if necessary.

4.     Make a note of the details of the driver involved. If possible, obtain their name, address and insurance details as well as the registration plate of their vehicle. Even if you are unable to obtain any details or if they drive away, try to obtain details of the vehicles registration number. Take a photograph of the scene or vehicles involved if you are able to. 

5.     If there are any witnesses present who saw what happened, ask if they will provide their details.

At Switalskis, we support families whose lives have been impacted by road accidents, helping them to secure the compensation they deserve. Our deepest hope is that with initiatives like Beep Beep! Day, we can help prevent these accidents before they happen.

You can make a difference. Talk to your children about road safety. The lessons we teach today could be the ones that keep them safe tomorrow. Support charities like Brake which advocate for safer roads and provide help to families affected by accidents.

Know your legal rights. If you wish to put forward a claim to seek compensation, seek specialist legal advice.

At Switalskis we believe that no family should have to endure the pain of losing a child to a preventable accident. That’s why we stand with Beep Beep! Day, because every child deserves to grow up safely. Lets work together to protect little lives, support families and create safer streets and roads for everyone.

If you or someone you know has suffered an injury due to driver negligence, seeking legal advice can help ensure accountability and compensation for any harm caused. Call us on 0800 1380 458 or email help@switalskis.com