Lifting the insult from injury

9.23.02am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 1st Feb 2007

The European Parliament is today expected to adopt a recommendation by a Liberal Democrat MEP that 'limitation periods' - the time limits within which any claim on a personal injury case must be brought - could be aligned for claims relating to cross-border accidents in the EU.

London's Liberal Democrat Dem MEP Baroness Sarah Ludford said:

"As our citizens become more and more mobile across the European Union, there is an increase in people suffering cross-border accidents who become victims not only of their injuries but also of the differences in national legal systems. This adds insult to injury."

"In France the limitation period for bringing a claim arising from an accident is 10 years while in the UK it is just 2 years. So if French and British drivers are involved in a car crash while on holiday in Spain, any one of three different deadlines could apply!"

"There are many obstacles impeding cross-border access to justice. But by aligning these time limits in cross-border accidents we would remove one potentially major stumbling block."

"This is what Europe should be about: offering practical assistance that really makes a difference to people as they exercise their right to be workers, students, tourists or residents in other EU member states."