First Consultation After an Accident in France

What does the free initial consultation cover?

The first discussion is an opportunity to put the available information in order: what happened, where the claim stands and which questions need attention. It may help identify documents to gather, an upcoming medical examination or an offer that requires closer review.

You are not obliged to instruct the firm after this discussion. Nor does the first contact guarantee that the firm can accept the case, that a claim will succeed or that a particular amount of compensation will be obtained.

Read about legal fees and the terms of engagement.

When should you contact the firm?

You can contact the firm after a road traffic accident, an accident in everyday life, an assault, a medical accident or another event causing personal injury. You may also be supporting an injured or bereaved family member.

A first consultation may be useful when you are unsure where to begin, when an insurer requests documents or is not responding, or when a medical examination or compensation offer raises questions. Time off work, loss of earnings, expenses and difficulties in everyday life can also be discussed.

You do not need to wait for an expert report, a final offer or a complete set of records before making contact.

What information helps explain your situation?

A short account is enough to start. Useful points include:

• the approximate date, place and circumstances of the accident, and your role in it;
• the main injuries, treatment and practical consequences, without unnecessary medical detail in the contact form;
• the steps already taken and any correspondence with an insurer or compensation body;
• an upcoming examination, an existing expert report or a compensation offer;
• time off work, expenses, loss of earnings or assistance needed in daily life;
• the main question you would like to discuss and any approaching date or deadline.

The aim is not to reach immediate and definitive conclusions from incomplete information. It is to understand the current position and identify what should be examined next.

Which documents should you prepare?

Keep the documents you already have in an organised file. Depending on the case, these may include the accident declaration or police report; the initial medical certificate and principal medical records; insurer correspondence; an examination notice or expert report; any offer; and evidence of expenses, time off work or lost income.

A short chronology of the accident, treatment and main correspondence can also help. There is no need to obtain every document before contacting the firm.

Do you need to wait until your medical condition has stabilised?

No. Medical stabilisation, known in French as consolidation, is the stage at which the condition is regarded as sufficiently stable to assess lasting effects. It does not necessarily mean complete recovery.

Before that stage, it may already be useful to preserve evidence, prepare for an examination, document losses, consider whether an interim payment can be requested or examine the insurer’s response.

An examination is planned or an offer has arrived?

Preparing for a medical examination

The initial discussion can help identify the available records, the chronology of treatment, the daily difficulties and the questions to prepare. Depending on the severity and complexity of the case, the role of an independent doctor advising the injured person can also be considered.

A medical examination is a separate stage of the claim. The first legal discussion is not a medical diagnosis or a substitute for the examination. Understand the medical examination for a personal injury claim.

Reviewing a compensation offer

The total amount is not the only point to consider. The scope of the offer, the expert findings, the documented losses and the wording of any settlement may need examination. An initial discussion can identify the need for a more detailed review; it does not amount to an exhaustive valuation of the claim.

For French road traffic claims, Article L. 211-9 of the Insurance Code sets specific rules on the timing and content of offers, including the distinction between interim and final offers. Their application depends on the circumstances. Read Article L. 211-9 (French).

Can you contact the firm from abroad?

Yes. If you were injured in France and now live abroad, you can make an initial enquiry in English. The first discussion can take place remotely where appropriate; you do not need to travel to Paris simply to send the initial information.

What happens after the first consultation?

Depending on your circumstances, the firm may identify additional documents to gather, priority steps, points to prepare for an examination, the need to review an offer or the possible terms of further assistance.

Some situations require only initial guidance. Others call for a more detailed examination of the file or ongoing representation. Any further engagement and applicable fees are discussed separately, before that work is agreed.

Fees depend on the work involved, the stage of the claim and whether examinations, negotiations or proceedings are required. See how legal fees are discussed.