Defender counsel victims and member of the Group of experts for the reform of the scale

in Spain have a system of appraisal that was born in 1995 and which, unlike the rest of European countries, was set up with only the participation of the insurance industry, not called associations of victims, so it turned out a scale very insurance pro and unfavorable to the victims. In 2003, when reform this yardstick, he returned to the same happen, that it participated very actively to that sometimes is called the "legislator in the shade", i.e., the insurance industry, but neither was with the victims.

A year ago, the then director-general insurance Ricardo Lozano, as it was necessary to initiate another reform of the scale, which is very little European and very little conversational for victims, had the courtesy and always be so please, call for the first time in the history of Spain nine associations of victims that he considered to be more representative in terms of traffic accidents and that you were facilitated by the General direction of traffic. These associations had to appoint a spokesman and representative, and left I chosen. The Directorate General of insurance, by order of the Ministry of economy and the Ministry of Justice, which are the two ministries is made this change in law, created a Committee of experts consisting of seven persons. One of them am I representing the victims; a Professor of law, who is representing the University World; a lawyer representing the legal profession, a Prosecutor, representing the prosecution, a magistrate, which represents judges, and by insurance companies, a Unespa person to person of the insurance compensation Consortium. Together we are working to create a schedule that is more European and more to protect the victims. Benchmark we must deliver the seven July 2012, according to a ministerial order.

Want to avoid that, as it is the case now, life is so little valued in our country, while the insurance companies earn much money. For example, in this time of crisis we are going through, insurance industry entered the year 2010 more of 800 million euros. You cannot consent to pay 169,000 euros for a death, estimated the scale, as it is the well-known case of José Ortega Cano, when it is sometimes less than what it's worth a car of which lead the millionaires. In 1995 when the Schedule came into force, there were 18 million cars, and currently, there are 31 million, which is why companies have increased, during this period, 65 per cent the number of clients. And, paradoxically, at this same time, the dead road has been by 76 per cent.

For ten years, victims associations we have been concerned by accidents, that had less deaths and wounded, but it is time that we worry that those affected have European compensation, and more when the majority of insurers we have in Spain are European. The Commission met several times a month, offer ideas and see how the rest of the EU countries. When we finish the job, will be sent to Parliament, which has the last word. Given that this is the first time that they have with us and listening to us, we are confident that all this comes a fairer, and more European law to ensure the rights of victims. We will continue to fight to reduce road deaths - ten years ago occurred 4,200 deaths while now there are 1,400-, and also that if someone suffers a disaster like this, who can at least live with dignity. Other information, for example, is that we now have the same accident in Spain than in 1961 when the country drove and half a million vehicles compared with the 31 million vehicles that make it today. These are figures that are there and we are going to submit. Because the good news is that, on this occasion, the book to reach the Parliament will not have a part as had been usual, but will have seven parts, one for each of them that they integrate the Commission, with our ideas, contributions and opinions. And also, remember that insurance is called compulsory insurance because she thought as a way of raising funds to carry out precise compensation to those affected, but this seems to you have been forgotten. Ultimately, what we want is that the Spanish victims are European victims and not of any other continent and that, therefore, they also have European rights.




10 POINTS MAIN OF REFORM CALLING FOR THE ASSOCIATIONS OF VICTIMS: