top of page
Road Traffic Accident in France
We provide legal advice for English-speaking clients
Compensation claim against French third parties and their insurers
David LIZANO,
Solicitor at the bar of Nantes
My law firm deals with Road Traffic Accident claims.
We act on behalf of English-speaking clients who have been involved in an accident where a French third party is found liable and where French courts are competent.
Like anyone else, we travel the world and we are aware that it is quite a difficult experience to be injured in a country whose language or law is unknown, especially France.
If our experience can be useful to you, we will be honored to advise you.
Experience and Qualifications
I have over a decade of experience representing foreign victims coming from the UK, the USA, South Africa, Australia and many other European countries.
My law firm never represents or works for insurance companies.
I have two highly valued certificates in French Personal Injury Law :
DIU « Legal compensation for personal injury »
DU « Medical Accident litigation » (1st Prize in 2023)
I am a member of APIL, the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers in the UK.
Checklist and first advice after and accident in France
Securing evidence
If possible, fill in the accident report with the third party. That form is called "Constat Amiable d'Accident" in which you can outline the circumstances of the accident and draw a sketch.
Take the name, adress, phone number, email, number plate and insurance details of the third party who is involved in the accident.
Take the contact details of witnesses, take pictures or videos of location and weather.
Report the accident to the police.
The limitation period
On principle, the limitation period is 10 years after your injuries are healed or consolidated.
Meanwhile, in some cases (lack of insurance for instance), the limitation period can be 1 or 5 years after the date of the accident, which is very short.
It's better to seek legal advice ASAP.
Get your medical records
These documents are very important when it comes to causation and quantum.
Therefore, ask a copy of all your medical records (discharge report, surgery report, doc certificates, etc.).
Ask a medical certificate stating your injuries.
Keep all your medical costs receipts, overall if there are not paid back by your welfare benefits.
+ Our English-speaking clients come from California, Texas, NYC, England, Scotland, Canada, South Africa, the West Indies !
+ Damages awarded from 10.000€ to up to + 2.000.000€
The Claim Process
Out of Court Settlement
Road traffic accidents are generally subject to the French statutory provisions on no-fault liability and insurance companies are required to make an offer to victims within a very short period of time after the accident.
In any event, even if they offer to deal with the road traffic accident claim, independent legal advice should be sought to ensure the claim is investigated properly and that all damage and losses are taken into account and suitably compensated.
Proceedings
In regard to injuries sustained, the Courts will often appoint an expert witness, who is a medical practitioner specialised in this field, and his or her opinion as to the medical condition of the patient and the quantum damages is binding on all parties and is generally rubber stamped by the Court.
The Court will be called upon to hand down a decision as to guilt or otherwise of the accused motorist and thereafter will hand down a decision as to amount of civil damages to be awarded to the victim(s) of the road traffic accident.
The Fees
In France the "no win, no fee agreement" is possible but is different from the US or the UK template. The French laws compell the lawyer to bill fixed fees, but on the other side the result fees must be limited. In our law firm it is 10%, not more.
What's more, we always ask for the third party to refund what you may have been compelled to pay due to the accident including your legal fee
One of the best reasons to choose our law firm is because we are experienced in dealing with all kinds of claims, from the simple to the complicated.
bottom of page