Traffic accidents
I defend victims of road traffic accidents.
These accidents may involve :
- Cars
- Motorcyclists
- Scooters
- Skateboarder(s)
- Tramways
- Cyclists
- Pedestrians
- Etc.
My intervention can cover :
- Amicable proceedings : I seek amaicable compensation of my Clients’ losses from the author of their accident or his/her insurer.
- Judiciary proceedings : I seek compensation of my Clients’ losses before French courts. Depending on the financial consequences of the accident, I can also seek payment of an advance on their compensation.
- Medical expert meetings : these meetings are often highly technical but also extremely stressful for victims, as their injuries are discussed in front of them, in medical terms. I attend these meetings alongside my Clients and make sure that each single of their losses is accounted for by the experts and, more generally, that they are being listened to.
- Assessing the amount of compensation my Clients’ are entitled to : I am trained in French law damage assessment techniques and competent to negotiate these amounts with the author of the accident or his/her insurer, based notably on pro-victim French case law.
- Filing a criminal complaint, if this makes sense in the light of the case.
- Criminal proceedings for unintentional injury or manslaughter, if this makes sense in the light of the case.
Are you looking for an English-speaking traffic accident lawyer in Nice?
FAQ
Contrary to popular belief, it is neither compulsory nor always useful to lodge a complaint when you are the victim of a road accident in France.
Under French law, we draw a distinction between :
- Criminal proceedings: these are aimed at convicting the person responsible for the accident. Criminal proceedings are initiated, in France, by the Public Prosecutor (and not by the victim, even if he/she lodged a complaint).
- Civil compensation proceedings: these are aimed at compensating the losses of victims of road traffic accidents. Victims benefit from a special compensation scheme set out by a law of 5th July 1985 (‘Badinter Law’), which established a no-fault pro-victim liability regime.
That being said, if, for instance, the driver of the vehicle that hit you has fled the scene of the accident, it will be worth filing a complaint.
As each situation is different, I advise my Clients as to whether they should lodge a criminal complaint: get in touch.
French insurers are required to send an offer within 8 months from the date of your accident.
If the victim's state of health has not been consolidated, this offer may be provisional (advance on the victim's final compensation).
Final compensation of the victim’s injuries will eventually occur within 5 months from the date on which his/her injuries will be consolidated.
WARNING : the date of consolidation of a victim’s injuries is set out by a medical legal expert, not by a lawyer, nor a judge.
Friends and relatives of victims of road traffic accidents may seek compensation for certain losses, provided that they are considered as indirect victims.
I assist my clients in determining who, around them, could be compensated, and what they could be compensated for : get in touch.
Under certain conditions, you will be able seek compensation of your losses before the French Insurance Guarantee Fund (FGAO)..
I assist my Client in determining whether they could seek compensation before the French Insurance Guarantee Fund : get in touch.
Under certain conditions, you will be able seek compensation of your losses before the French Insurance Guarantee Fund (FGAO).
I assist my Client in determining whether they could seek compensation before the French Insurance Guarantee Fund : get in touch.