French Insurance Law

French Insurance law complements the law of obligations, borrowing some of its rules but also extending its field of application.
Insurance contracts play a fundamental economic and social role in French society and are omnipresent in both private and business life.

This textbook begins by presenting the specific features of the insurance transaction, the classification of insurance, and the many parties involved in the insurance contract. Then it deals with the general law of the insurance contract, examining:
- the life of the contract (progressive conclusion and execution),
- the rights and obligations of the parties (in relation to the risk, premium and claim),
In addition, this textbook also covers the specific rules for damage insurance, such as the duration of the guarantee and the indemnity principle.
Finally, it deals with the biennal prescription, specific to insurance law.

The aim of this book is to enable students and professionals alike to master the concepts of insurance law in English.
This edition, 2025, this edition incorporates recent case law decisions on the major issues in insurance law, such as misrepresentation of risk, wilful misconduct and conventional exclusion of guarantees or forfeiture. And it is up to date with the latest legislation (French and European).

Sabine Abravanel-Jolly est professeure de droit privé à l’Université Lyon III, co-Directrice du Master 2 "Droit et gestion des risques émergents" et co-fondatrice du Bulletin Juridique Des Assurances (BJDA). Elle est également avocate au Barreau de Lyon.