Personal Injury · Germany
Find a personal injury lawyer in Germany
An accident can leave you facing medical treatment, lost income and unfamiliar German court procedure at the same time. Tell us what happened and we match you with a lawyer who handles personal injury matters in Germany.
- Lawyers specialised in German civil damages claims
- Clear picture of courts, deadlines and statutory fees
- Free matching, no obligation to instruct
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What a personal injury claim involves in Germany
A road collision, a fall in a shop or an accident at work can leave you with medical costs, lost earnings and a long recovery. In Germany these are civil claims and they run through the ordinary civil courts governed by the Code of Civil Procedure (ZPO). Whether your case starts before a local court (Amtsgericht) or a regional court (Landgericht) depends largely on the amount in dispute. A personal injury lawyer in Germany can assess jurisdiction, gather the medical and factual evidence and explain what your claim may be worth. Finding that lawyer should not be the difficult part: tell us what happened and we match you, free of charge, with a lawyer who handles personal injury matters in Germany.
Germany in practice
How personal injury claims move through the German system
German civil justice is codified and structured, so the path your claim takes is largely determined by its value and by whether an appeal becomes necessary. The points below explain the courts, representation rules, deadlines, costs and legal aid that shape a damages claim in Germany.
Which court hears your claim
Germany’s ordinary civil jurisdiction has four tiers: local courts (Amtsgerichte), regional courts (Landgerichte), higher regional courts (Oberlandesgerichte) and the Federal Court of Justice (Bundesgerichtshof) in Karlsruhe. Local courts are the first instance mainly for smaller civil claims up to around €5,000, while regional courts hear larger claims and also sit as the appeal court for local-court judgments.
When a lawyer must represent you
Before the regional courts and higher regional courts, parties must be represented by a lawyer, and before the Federal Court of Justice only specially admitted lawyers may appear, as set out in Section 78(1) ZPO. In other civil matters before the local court, parties may generally represent themselves. Family-law matters before the local court also normally require a lawyer.
Time limits and why they matter
The regular limitation period for most civil claims in Germany is three years under Section 195 BGB, running from the end of the year in which the claim arose and the creditor knew, or ought to have known, of the facts and the debtor’s identity (Section 199 BGB). Special periods apply to certain claims, including 30 years for claims established by final judgment, so limitation analysis is fact-sensitive.
What it costs and who pays
Court fees are set by statute under the Court Fees Act (GKG) on a fixed scale tied to the amount in dispute, and in civil litigation the losing party generally bears the court fees and the opponent’s statutory lawyer fees under Section 91 ZPO. Lawyer fees follow the statutory Lawyers’ Remuneration Act (RVG), which fixes a rate per procedural step, calculated from the value in dispute.
Legal aid for lower-income claimants
German legal aid distinguishes advisory assistance (Beratungshilfe) for out-of-court advice from legal aid for court proceedings (Prozesskostenhilfe). Prozesskostenhilfe is available in civil, voluntary-jurisdiction, labour, administrative, social and fiscal proceedings to parties who cannot afford the costs, subject to an income and personal-circumstances test, with repayment if circumstances improve. It is not available to criminal defendants or to debtors in insolvency proceedings.
Who is allowed to act as your lawyer
Admission to the German bar requires the qualification for judicial office, obtained by passing two state examinations after university legal study and a practical traineeship (Referendariat), under Section 5 of the German Judges Act. Every admitted lawyer is automatically a member of the regional Rechtsanwaltskammer in whose district they practise, and the 28 regional bars are coordinated by the federal Bundesrechtsanwaltskammer (BRAK).
The country information on this page is drawn from official German and European Union sources — the e-Justice portal, the German federal statute book and the Federal Bar Association — last reviewed in 2025.
Common concerns
What makes a German injury claim hard to handle alone
Most people we hear from are dealing with recovery, insurers and an unfamiliar legal system at the same time.
Which court and which deadline apply
German civil claims follow fixed procedural rules, and the amount in dispute decides whether a local or a regional court hears your case. Missing a limitation period can end a claim before it properly starts.
Costs that are hard to predict alone
Court fees follow a statutory scale tied to the amount in dispute, and lawyer fees are largely fixed by the RVG. Without advice you may not know which figure applies or who ultimately pays.
Language and unfamiliar procedure
Court proceedings in Germany are conducted in German, and correspondence, expert reports and filings follow local conventions. Handling insurers and courts in a foreign system adds stress while you are still recovering.
How we help
Matching you with the right German lawyer
We are not a law firm. We listen to your situation and connect you with a lawyer who works in this field in Germany.
Lawyers in the right practice area
We match you with lawyers who handle personal injury and civil damages claims in Germany, so you speak with someone familiar with the courts and the procedure that applies to your case.
Free matching, no obligation
Describing your situation costs nothing. You decide whether to instruct the lawyer you are matched with, and you stay in control of every decision about your claim.
Clarity on costs from the start
German lawyer fees are largely set by statute, so your lawyer can explain the statutory fee framework and whether legal aid options such as Prozesskostenhilfe may be relevant to you.
Support beyond the first instance
If a first-instance decision does not go your way, we can help you find representation for the later stages, including appeals to the higher regional court or a review on points of law.
Across Europe
Other jurisdictions we cover
Our network reaches lawyers in several European countries. If your matter is connected to another jurisdiction as well as Germany, we can still help you find appropriate representation.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a lawyer for a personal injury claim in Germany?
Not in every case. In civil matters before the local court (Amtsgericht), parties may generally represent themselves, but before the regional courts and higher regional courts representation by a lawyer is mandatory under Section 78(1) ZPO. Before the Federal Court of Justice only specially admitted lawyers may appear. A lawyer will confirm what applies to your claim.
How long do I have to bring a personal injury claim in Germany?
The regular limitation period for most civil claims is three years under Section 195 BGB, running from the end of the year in which the claim arose and you knew, or ought to have known, of the facts and the debtor’s identity under Section 199 BGB. Certain claims have different periods, so the analysis is fact-sensitive.
What does a personal injury lawyer in Germany cost?
German lawyer fees are largely governed by the statutory Lawyers’ Remuneration Act (RVG), which fixes a rate for each procedural step calculated from the amount in dispute, so fees are predictable and largely independent of hours worked. Hourly or success-based fees are permitted only within narrow statutory limits. In civil litigation the losing party generally reimburses the winner’s statutory fees under Section 91 ZPO.
Can I get legal aid for an injury claim in Germany?
Possibly. Prozesskostenhilfe covers court and lawyer fees in civil, voluntary-jurisdiction, labour, administrative, social and fiscal proceedings for parties who cannot afford the costs, subject to an income and personal-circumstances test, with repayment if circumstances improve. Beratungshilfe covers out-of-court advice. Legal aid is not available to criminal defendants or to debtors in insolvency proceedings.
Which German court will hear my case?
The ordinary civil jurisdiction has four tiers: local courts, regional courts, higher regional courts and the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe. Local courts are the first instance mainly for smaller civil claims up to around €5,000, while regional courts hear larger claims and act as the appeal court for local-court judgments. The Federal Court of Justice reviews only points of law.
Will my case be handled in German?
German is the language of the courts, and proceedings are conducted in German. When we match you with a lawyer, you can ask directly about the languages they work in and how they will keep you informed about documents, expert evidence and hearing dates throughout your case.
Next step
Tell us what happened and get matched
Describe your accident and the losses you have suffered in a few lines. We use that information to match you with a lawyer who handles personal injury matters in Germany, at no cost and with no obligation to instruct.