insurance
Civil Liability Investigation: Establishing the Circumstances
When a Liability Claim Requires Objective Assessment
A civil liability claim—whether involving personal liability, professional liability, or corporate liability—may be based on a version of the facts that is not objectively substantiated. Partial testimonies, conflicting statements between the parties, the absence of a joint report, and late reporting: there is no shortage of issues that need to be clarified.
A claims adjuster who must determine liability or assess a claim needs solid factual evidence. Whether it’s a fall in a store, an incident at a construction site, damage caused by an animal, or an accident related to a work-related activity—behind every claim, there are facts that must be established.
Our investigation is specifically aimed at objectively establishing the circumstances: who was present, what happened, under what conditions, and what is the causal link between the reported event and the alleged harm. The report is not intended to replace the legal assessment of the company or its counsel, but rather to provide them with a solid factual basis.
Warning Signs Regarding a
Case Involving Civil Liability
- A complete lack of eyewitnesses to an event that occurred in a public or semi-public place.
- Testimonies provided by the victim from relatives or associates (family members, employees).
- History of similar claims filed by the victim against other retailers or companies.
- Delayed reporting of the events, several days or weeks after they allegedly occurred.
- Inconsistency between the severity of the alleged harm and the lack of an immediate response after the incident (failure to call for help, failure to notify on-site personnel).
- A claim with a specific amount was submitted promptly, before any adversarial assessment took place.
What the civil liability investigation covers
Our role is to determine the circumstances and establish the factual basis for liability, while remaining strictly within the scope of our responsibilities.
Reconstruction of the circumstances surrounding the incident at the scene, with dated photographs.
Hearing of the parties involved and direct or indirect witnesses to the event.
Search for and identify witnesses not yet known to the case, in the neighborhood or among those present.
Verification of the relationships between the parties (pre-existing relationships, history of disputes, professional collaborations).
Verification of consistency between the claim, the circumstances, and the alleged harm.
Cross-checking of documents with the materials included in the file (report, statement, various certificates).
Check the victim’s background with other retailers or companies in cases of structural doubt.
Check the victim’s background with other retailers or companies in cases of structural doubt.
ANONYMIZED CASE STUDY
Fall
in supermarkets and background
A customer claims to have fallen in the fresh food aisle of a supermarket due to an unmarked puddle. Her attorney filed a claim for €18,500. Our investigation identifies a witness who was present that day, standing at the end of the aisle, who describes the fall differently: the victim allegedly stepped into the puddle on purpose before letting herself fall. A cross-check with two other retailers in the area reveals two similar claims filed by the same person over the past thirty months. The report documents the complete timeline and the pattern of claims, without prejudging the legal classification, which will be determined by the company.
The Process of a Civil Liability Investigation
Our five-step methodology applies to civil liability cases, with a particular focus on the traceability of interviews.
01
Reception
Receipt of the case file: statement, quantified claim, any report of findings, correspondence between the parties, supporting documents submitted.
02
Instruction
Identification and definition of priority audit areas, in consultation with the manager and, if necessary, the manager’s advisory board.
03
Deployment
Field deployment: visiting the scene, making observations, conducting interviews, and cross-checking information with neighbors and identifiable witnesses.
04
Hearing
Assessment of the evidence gathered with respect to the triggering event, the causal link, and the alleged harm.
05
Restitution
A detailed report within two weeks at most, including complete appendices and transcripts of the interviews conducted.
Our five-step survey methodology is detailed on the dedicated page.
Why entrust your investigation
RC at Groupe Aquila
Victor de Villeblanche, director of the Insurance Investigation Division, holds a law degree and has been working as a private investigator since 2012. His legal training is reflected in the rigorous causal analysis of the reports submitted to insurance companies, which is particularly valuable in liability cases where the distinction between the triggering event, causation, and damages must be maintained with precision.
Our firm is AFNOR pre-certified, affiliated with ALFA, and operates through an integrated national network covering five regions without subcontracting. Witness interviews, which are particularly crucial in civil liability cases, are conducted by professionals trained in factual interview techniques and in strict adherence to the principle of fair presentation of evidence.
Civil liability cases often end up in litigation. The report submitted to the court must be both substantively sound and procedurally airtight. Our rigorous adherence to procedural standards and our comprehensive documentation meet this requirement precisely.
- The division is led by a detective with a legal background who has been working as a detective since 2012.
- AFNOR pre-certification, ALFA membership.
- Integrated national network, serving all of France.
- A report written personally by the division director; to be submitted within two weeks.
- Facilitators trained to conduct fact-finding hearings that are admissible in court.
ALFA sets the methodological standards for insurance surveys.
To contact the firm regarding a liability insurance case, please use our dedicated contact form and reach out to our team.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Personal liability, professional liability, corporate liability, product liability, operational liability, post-delivery liability. Any liability claim where determining the facts or establishing a causal link requires on-site verification.
Yes. Our report may be submitted during the proceedings, provided that the due diligence complies with the principles of fair evidence. We regularly coordinate with the companies’ legal counsel.
A forensic investigation is ordered by a judge and focuses on specific technical issues. Our investigation is commissioned by the company to establish the facts of the case prior to any litigation decision.
No later than two weeks after receipt of the complete application. Complex corporate liability insurance applications may require specific guidance at the start of the review process.
By phone or email to the assigned manager. The company then sends the engagement letter along with the relevant documents from the file.
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