- Antoine ALLENO Association
It is with great pleasure that we agreed to make our modest contribution to Antoine’s parents, offering our expertise to support them in their efforts to establish a support program for families facing the sudden loss of a child or young adult as a result of acts of violence and dangerous behavior by third parties. As a reminder, the association was founded by Yannick ALLENO, one of France’s greatest chefs, following the death of his son Antoine, a rising star of French gastronomy, who was struck and killed by a reckless driver.
- Season's Greetings from the Île-de-France Region
Mr. Frédéric PECHENARD invited us to the New Year’s reception for law enforcement, emergency response, and security personnel. Mr. PECHENARD is Vice President of the Île-de-France Regional Council for Security and Victim Assistance. A police commissioner by training, he was subsequently promoted to the rank of divisional commissioner and appointed to the position of Comptroller General, then Director of Active Services for the National Police. He was appointed Special Prefect and placed at the head of the General Directorate of the National Police from June 11, 2007, to May 31, 2012; he is therefore a man with hands-on experience who understands what “victim assistance” truly means.
- Our Communication
We launched our weekly press review at the end of last year. This press review compiles 10 accidents that occurred in France each week. The press review is sent weekly to the newsrooms of the media outlets mentioned in the article. For now, feedback has been very scarce, so these accidents, injuries, and deaths continue to be classified under the “News in Brief” section. We have also launched our YouTube channel, which will be regularly updated with legal advice, among other content.
- The press
The so-called PALMADE case has shocked the public, yet tragedies like this happen every day—and all too often under the same circumstances. We have tried to raise awareness of this through appearances and interviews on BFM TV, M6, TF1, and Le Point. We also met with writer Mathieu MENEGAUX to answer all his questions on this subject, which will be the focus of his next novel.
- The Government
Florence GUILLAUME, the Interministerial Delegate for Road Safety, met with us and a delegation of experts. We attended the meeting alongside the “Justice for Road Accident Victims” Collective and presented our proposals regarding road safety prevention, victim support, the arduous process victims face after an accident, and the justice system. Paul CATOIRE, Deputy Head of the Office of Insurance Products and Markets at the Ministry of the Economy, Finance, and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty, met with us. We discussed the cost of uninsured drivers and the cost of personal injury accidents to insurance companies and the state. We made several proposals. As if it were a ritual, we have written again and again to the Ministers of the Interior and the Minister of Justice. Always with the same requests, and also following the announcements made by Gérald DARMANIN after Pierre PALMADE’s accident. Will these announcements be followed by action?
We have also reached out to Elisabeth BORNE and, for the first time, to Marlène SCHIAPPA.
- Members of Parliament
Following up on our previous discussions, we met with Representative Nicolas TURQUOI, as well as Representative Éric PAUGET, in connection with his draft bill, which came to light in the wake of the PALMADE case. We also met with Agnès EVREN, a Member of the European Parliament, who is deeply concerned about the victims’ well-being and the care they receive.
- Our recipes
23 donor members, including 2 individuals not directly affected and 2 companies: PMS, which was involved in the accident, and the NESTENN real estate agency in Mandelieu-la-Napoule. It is therefore primarily the victims and their families who are stepping up to ensure we can continue to provide assistance. An event in Gironde was organized by the company GTRS to benefit the association. Three municipalities have renewed their support: the town halls of RÉAU, RAMPILLON, and MAGNY-LE-HONGRE, all three located in the 77 (Seine-et-Marne) department.
As for grant applications, Department 77 is no longer responding to us, and the Île-de-France Region has reduced its 2022 allocation, though we don’t know by how much and still haven’t received a single euro.
Despite everything, the call for grant applications for 2023 is now open!
- Our expenses
Operating costs, travel expenses, time—a lot of time—still no pay, and the feeling that we aren’t being heard or listened to. A feeling that makes us think victims are “just victims” and that their plight doesn’t matter!
- The victims
There are still far too many "cases" pending, including one that has been going on for 19 months with no end in sight.
We received requests from 23 victims of personal injury accidents from 13 different departments, including 2 property damage accidents, 2 workplace accidents, and 2 medical accidents.