Compensation for accident victims
Personal Injury Claims in France
Personal injury claims in France involve more than an insurer’s offer. Pierre Nicolet assists injured people and their families in understanding the next steps, preparing for a medical examination and assessing the consequences of an accident.
Free initial consultation — no obligation. What to expect
Understand your position
Identify the circumstances, insurance cover and steps already taken before deciding how to proceed.
Prepare the evidence
Bring together medical records and evidence of the accident’s personal, professional and financial consequences.
Review the whole claim
Consider the different heads of loss before discussing an interim payment, an offer or further action.
Understanding a personal injury claim
A claim may involve notifying an insurer, attending a medical examination, identifying when the medical condition has stabilised, assessing lasting effects, requesting an interim payment or reviewing a compensation offer. The appropriate steps depend on the circumstances and the stage reached.
The firm assists injured people and their families in Paris, the Paris region and throughout France, including after road traffic accidents. The enquiry can be discussed in English.
Not sure where to start?
You do not need to have a complete file before making contact. A first consultation helps identify the main facts, the documents already available, the steps taken and any upcoming examination or offer that needs attention.
What is personal injury?
In this context, personal injury means harm to a person’s physical or psychological integrity. A compensation claim considers the resulting effects on health, work, family life, everyday activities and finances.
It may follow a road traffic accident, an accident in everyday life, an assault, a medical accident or a workplace accident. The consequences can include lasting impairment, disability or the death of a family member.
The claim must be considered as a whole: the circumstances of the event, liability, insurance cover, medical evidence, the development of the injuries and their practical effects.
The same compensation rules do not apply to every situation. The legal basis, insurance cover and available procedure must be identified for the particular case. The road traffic accident rules are not a general compensation scheme for every injury.
Why consult a lawyer after a personal injury accident?
You may need to deal with an insurer, a medical expert, a doctor advising the injured person, a social security body, a compensation fund, the responsible party or that party’s lawyer.
The firm can assist in coordinating the legal steps, preparing the supporting evidence and deciding how to respond. Depending on the agreed mission, this can include:
- analysing the accident and identifying possible claims;
- communicating with the insurer and gathering supporting documents;
- preparing for the medical examination;
- considering a request for an interim payment where appropriate;
- checking the different heads of loss and reviewing a compensation offer;
- negotiating or commencing legal proceedings where necessary.
The medical assessment and the legal valuation are different tasks. Medical findings help document the injuries and their effects; the compensation claim must also take account of the applicable rules and supporting evidence.
Situations in which the firm can assist
Road traffic accidents
The firm assists injured drivers, passengers, pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and e-scooter users. Their respective positions must be examined; they do not necessarily have the same rights to compensation.
Assistance may cover notifying and corresponding with the insurer, preparing the medical examination, assessing losses, requesting an interim payment or reviewing an offer.
Medical examination
The examination assesses the injuries, treatment, lasting effects and their impact on personal, family and professional life. Medical stabilisation, called consolidation in French, may also need to be assessed.
Preparation includes medical records, a clear account of symptoms and everyday difficulties, information about assistance needs and evidence of professional consequences.
Compensation offers
An insurer may make an offer following the examination or during discussions about the claim. Before accepting it, the amount and scope should be compared with the medical report, the evidence and the losses claimed.
The firm can identify losses that may have been omitted or undervalued and advise on the possible next steps. An offer should not be assessed solely by its total amount.
Family members of injured people
When an accident causes death or serious disability, relatives may also face emotional harm, financial losses, disruption to family life or a need to provide care.
The firm can help identify the relevant steps and the losses that may be claimed. The injured person’s needs and any claims made by relatives must be considered separately.
The main heads of loss
A head of loss is a category used to identify and assess a particular consequence of the injury. The claim must be considered individually, with evidence supporting each relevant category.
Financial and practical consequences
- Unreimbursed medical expenses and future healthcare costs
- Past and future loss of earnings
- Other effects on employment and career
- Care and assistance provided by another person
- Adaptation of the home or vehicle
- Financial consequences for relatives following a death
Personal and family consequences
- Pain and suffering
- Temporary or permanent functional impairment
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Loss of amenity, including effects on specific sporting or leisure activities
- Sexual impairment
- Emotional harm and other personal losses suffered by relatives
This is not an automatic entitlement or a price list. The Dintilhac nomenclature provides a reference for identifying different heads of loss. The applicable compensation rules, medical findings and evidence still need to be examined, without compensating the same loss twice.
The first consultation can help identify which consequences need to be documented, without promising a particular award.
When should you contact a personal injury lawyer?
Advice may be useful when an examination has been arranged, an offer has been received, the accident has caused time off work or loss of earnings, or the effects appear likely to be long-lasting. It may also be important when a family member has died or suffered a serious disability.
The firm can assist before the medical examination, during out-of-court discussions, when reviewing an offer or in connection with proceedings. The stage already reached helps determine what work is needed.
Assistance in Paris and throughout France
Based in Paris, the firm assists injured people in the Paris region and throughout France. Initial discussions can take place in English, including when you live abroad after an injury in France.
Meetings can be arranged at the office, by telephone or by video call, depending on your circumstances, health and the stage of the claim. Where appropriate, the firm can also assist in connection with medical examinations outside Paris.
Remote communication does not mean that every examination or procedural step can be completed remotely. The practical arrangements are considered for the individual case.
Legal fees and the first consultation
The initial consultation is free and without obligation. Its purpose is to understand the situation and discuss the first useful steps; it is not a commitment to undertake a complete review or handle the claim without charge.
If ongoing assistance is agreed, a written fee agreement sets out the scope and financial terms. Depending on the case, the arrangements may include remuneration for the work undertaken and an agreed additional success fee.
Read about personal injury legal fees in France and how to prepare for the first consultation.
Frequently asked questions
Should I contact a lawyer before the medical examination?
It is often useful. The examination assesses the injuries, lasting effects and everyday consequences. Preparing in advance helps gather the relevant records, explain the difficulties and identify the issues that need attention.
Should I accept the insurer’s compensation offer?
Before accepting, check its scope against the medical report, supporting evidence and different heads of loss. An apparently satisfactory total may still leave out or undervalue personal, professional or family consequences.
Does the firm only assist clients in Paris?
No. The firm assists injured people throughout France, with telephone or video discussions where appropriate and assistance in connection with medical examinations outside Paris. The practical arrangements depend on the case.
Which documents should I prepare for a first consultation?
If available, prepare insurer correspondence, medical certificates, hospital records, evidence of time off work, the examination notice or report, any offer and records of expenses or lost earnings. You do not need to send a complete medical file in the contact form; the firm will explain which documents are useful and how to transmit them. See the first consultation page.
Does the first consultation require me to start legal proceedings?
No. The first discussion helps identify the circumstances, the steps already taken and the questions requiring attention. Depending on the case, the next stage may involve an out-of-court claim, negotiation, another medical examination or legal proceedings. Any ongoing engagement is agreed separately.
Your situation deserves a clear answer
Have you been injured in an accident?
Whether an examination is scheduled, an offer needs to be reviewed or you are unsure about the next steps, you can tell the firm about the main features of your situation.
Begin with a brief enquiry. The firm can identify the documents that may be useful and discuss the appropriate next steps.
Useful resources
The following documents are in French. They provide background information and do not replace an assessment of the rules and evidence relevant to your claim.