Passengers not covered

[NewsWhore]

Most passengers who use the well-known "voladoras" - those often- ramshackle minivans that serve as public transportation - ignore the fact that they are not covered by any insurance in the event of an accident. A total of 38,416 of these vehicles are currently on the roads, according to 2006 figures. According to a report in Listin Diario, one million passengers travel on public transport each day. A Spanish consultant says that the nation spends RD$4 billion on insurance payments and hospital treatment for accident victims. Raymundo Garcia Cuesta told the newspaper that indications are that the 2007 death toll will reach 2,200. Thousands are injured but receive no compensation from insurance, in violation of Law 241. Anyone who takes their case to court finds out that in most cases neither the driver nor the vehicle owner have sufficient coverage to compensate accident victims. The minimum required insurance is not sufficient to cover multiple accident victims, according to transport union leader Ramon Perez Figuereo.

More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#6)