First Consultation After an Accident in France

After a personal injury accident, it can be difficult to know where to begin. The injured person may have to manage medical treatment, dealings with the insurer, time off work, administrative steps, an upcoming medical examination or a compensation offer already received.

The first consultation allows the circumstances to be considered in a logical order, the initial documents to be identified and the main points requiring attention to be reviewed.

It is not always appropriate to draw immediate and definitive conclusions. The first objective is to understand the current position, the steps already taken and the possible next stages.

When Should You Contact the Firm?

You can contact the firm when an accident has caused injuries, medical treatment, time off work, persistent pain or difficulties in everyday life. This may include a road traffic accident , an accident in everyday life, an assault, a medical accident or another event causing personal injury.

You do not need to wait until the file is complete before requesting an initial review.

A first consultation may be useful in particular if:

• you have been injured in a road traffic accident;
• you have suffered another type of personal injury accident;
• you are supporting an injured or bereaved family member;
• you have been called to a medical examination;
• you have received a compensation offer;
• the insurer has asked you to provide documents;
• you are unsure which documents should be sent;
• you have incurred expenses or lost earnings;
• your medical condition has not yet stabilised;
• you are uncertain about the next steps.

What Is the Purpose of the First Consultation?

The first consultation provides a clear overview of your circumstances. The firm will seek to understand, in particular:

• the date and circumstances of the accident;
• the nature of the injuries;
• the treatment already received;
• the medical documents available;
• the correspondence with the insurer;
• whether you have been unable to work;
• the expenses or financial losses already incurred;
• whether a medical examination is planned or has taken place;
• whether a compensation offer has been received;
• the practical difficulties experienced in everyday life.

The discussion also helps identify the initial steps that may be useful and provides an indication of how the claim may progress, depending on the medical position, the examination and the dealings with the insurer.

Depending on the case, the next step may be to gather particular documents, prepare for a medical examination , review an offer, apply for an interim payment or avoid accepting a proposal before the consequences of the accident are fully understood.

Which Information and Documents Should You Send?

You can send the documents that are already available. These may include:

• the initial medical certificate;
• hospital and medical reports;
• medical prescriptions;
• medical imaging and test results;
• evidence of time off work;
• correspondence with the insurer;
• the accident declaration;
• the accident report or police report;
• the notice convening a medical examination;
• the medical expert’s report, if one exists;
• any compensation offer received;
• receipts and evidence of expenses;
• payslips or other evidence of income;
• relevant photographs.

You do not need to have every document at the first contact. It is often possible to begin with the main items and complete the file progressively.

Do You Need to Wait Until Your Medical Condition Has Stabilised?

No. It is not always necessary to wait until medical stabilisation, known in French law as consolidation, before requesting an initial review.

Medical stabilisation is the point at which the condition is regarded as sufficiently stable for any lasting effects and permanent losses to be assessed more accurately.

Before that stage, several questions may already need attention:

• which documents should be kept;
• how the medical examination should be prepared;
• how to respond to the insurer;
• how to evidence loss of earnings;
• whether an interim payment can be requested;
• whether an offer has been made too early;
• how the documents should be organised.

Under French law, the general limitation period for a personal injury claim is generally ten years from the medical stabilisation of the initial or aggravated injury. This does not mean that action should be delayed: the evidence should be preserved and the useful steps should be anticipated.

Do You Have a Medical Examination Scheduled?

The medical examination is often an important stage of the claim. It may be used to assess the injuries, treatment, pain, lasting effects, care needs, professional consequences and other losses caused by the accident.

Before the examination, it may be useful to prepare:

• a chronology of the medical treatment;
• the relevant medical records;
• a description of current pain and symptoms;
• the limitations experienced in everyday life;
• the professional consequences;
• unreimbursed expenses;
• care or assistance provided by family members;
• the questions that should be raised.

A first consultation can help identify the points that should be prepared and any documents that may be missing. It can also help determine whether assistance from an independent doctor advising the injured person may be appropriate, depending on the severity and complexity of the case.

Have You Received a Compensation Offer?

If you have received a compensation offer, it is important not to look only at the total amount. An offer may appear satisfactory while omitting or undervaluing particular heads of loss.

The offer should be checked to determine whether it includes:

• pain and suffering;
• temporary functional impairment;
• permanent functional impairment;
• loss of earnings;
• the impact on employment and career;
• unreimbursed medical expenses;
• future expenses;
• care and assistance provided by another person;
• scarring or disfigurement;
• loss of amenity;
• psychological consequences.

In French road traffic accident claims, the insurer is subject to specific rules governing the timing and content of a compensation offer. Before accepting any proposal, it is useful to check its scope, the losses taken into account and any waiver or settlement wording that it contains.

What Happens After the First Consultation?

Depending on the circumstances, the firm may identify:

• additional documents that should be gathered;
• the priority steps that should be taken;
• the points requiring attention before a medical examination;
• whether a compensation offer should be reviewed;
• whether an interim payment may be requested;
• whether correspondence with the insurer should be resumed;
• the possible terms on which the firm could assist.

Every case is different. Some situations require only initial guidance. Others call for more structured assistance, particularly where a medical examination is planned, an offer must be reviewed or the consequences of the accident are significant.

What Legal Fees Should You Expect?

Legal fees can be discussed during the first consultation. They depend on the nature of the claim, the stage reached, the documents available, whether a medical examination or an offer already exists and whether negotiations or proceedings may be required.

The firm can explain the possible terms of engagement before any ongoing work is formally agreed. Further information is available on the legal fees page .

Common Situations Before Contacting the Firm

A first consultation may be useful where you do not know where to begin or where one particular aspect of the claim needs to be checked. This may include:

• a planned medical examination;
• a compensation offer already received;
• an insurer that is not responding;
• a road traffic accident involving an uninsured or unidentified driver;
• an accident involving a cyclist or e-scooter user;
• difficulty understanding the different heads of loss.

The English-language pages on personal injury claims in France , road traffic accidents in France and medical examinations provide further information on these stages.

Tell the Firm About Your Situation

Have you suffered personal injury, or are you supporting an injured family member? Do you have a medical examination scheduled, a compensation offer to review or questions about the first steps?

The firm can help you review the current position, identify the documents that may be useful and understand the possible next stages.

Before Contacting Us

You do not need to prepare a complete file before making contact. Begin with the main documents already available and a short chronology of the accident, treatment, time off work, medical examinations and correspondence with the insurer.

Useful Resources

Document Checklist After a Personal Injury Accident (French-language PDF)

French Civil Code — Article 2226 on Personal Injury Limitation Periods (French-language resource)

French Insurance Code — Article L. 211-9 on Road Traffic Compensation Offers (French-language resource)