gg g or anyone with french legal experience...have got a letter, but do I have to go to court?

[Nighbynight]

last year, ex h hit me in the face and smashed my car when I went to pick the children up in france. it has finally come to court, and I have got a letter, but it is just headed "Avis a victime". (language not an issue)
no mention that I am a witness, just invitation to submit a claim for costs (which were not small - car repair, return journey etc)
It is classified as violence against a spouse, which is as we divorced years ago.
it seems to be optional if I go or not. is this normal?? Will it prejudice the result if I dont go (long journey)?

have little hope of getting anything back from ex h, but feel that I should put the claim for compensation in anyway, as my suffering doesnt seem to be measured in any other way.

any experiences welcome!

DH still at work, so no use. I have gastroenteritis, or I'd have seen this sooner.
Put up a fight for an interpreter; you are entitled to one.

Are you leaving for France now? You only got the letter last week, didn't you???

Agree that cheapo hotel is psychologically miles better than sleeping in the car.

P.S: if you have ggg's phone number, you can ask her to put us in touch. She knows my full name and I'm the only person in the Vaucluse (I believe) with that name, so should be easy to find in pages jaunes. I'd post my number here, but am v wary...
DH will be around tomorrow, so if you phone I'll ask him for instant advice.

ggg - just tried to call you, no success. Thank you for your message - yesterday was v interesting, learned a lot, ex got 200 euros fine + order to pay compensation + 2 months suspended. french was not a problem, judge and prosecutor were both women.

next time he will get prison, that is my main aim, to build a wall block by block against his violence.
He is completely out of touch with reality, and cannot accept responsibility for anything, even small things. (psychopathic? not sure)

Am just going to hosp with ds2, whose absess is back.

AuldAlliance - thank you. I'll try and call you later to say thanks in person.

Oh, great! Sounds as if it all went pretty well, though 200 euros seems a piddling amount, but I expect that's a more or less set rate for specific offences.
The suspended sentence is good news.
I sent ggg my number, though there's no need for thanks, was glad to try and be of help.

That's good news NN, hope there is an end to this whole nightmare soon.