After an accident such as a car crash, you need to take certain steps to recover financial compensation for your medical bills and property repairs. You must initiate a claim with the liable party’s insurance company. The document that starts an insurance claim is the injury demand letter. Find out how to write a winning injury demand letter, as well as when to hire an attorney for assistance.
What Does a Demand Letter Consist Of?
The injury demand letter is the note you will send to the insurance company receiving your claim after an accident. If you wish to claim benefits for an injury after an accident of any kind, you will need to submit a demand letter to establish your grounds for the claim and seek a specific amount in damages. A good injury demand letter covers several key topics.
- Your full name and address.
- The current date and the date of the accident.
- The defendant’s name and address.
- A brief description of the accident.
- Why you believe the defendant is liable.
- Relevant laws that establish the defendant’s liability.
- A description of your injuries.
- A list of all compensable damages sought, as well as their dollar amount.
- The total amount it will take for you to settle.
- A line explaining that you are willing to go to trial.
- Your signature or that of your attorney.
With these essential elements, you will have a strong demand letter that states your case and contains instructions for how you wish to settle the matter. You will submit the demand letter to the insurance company of the at-fault party. Then, you will wait for the insurance company to respond. The insurer will investigate your claim and reply with either an acceptance and a settlement offer or a notice of claim denial.
Tips for Writing a Good Injury Demand Letter
A strong demand letter is an important asset during a claim. A well-worded letter that contains all pertinent information can facilitate a more efficient claims process. It can increase your chances of the insurance company responding positively. Use a few tips to make sure your injury demand letter sends the right message.
- Be polite and respectful. Do not let any anger or frustration about the accident come through in your letter.
- Be clear and concise in your wording. Cut out any unnecessary words or phrases. Your letter should be one or two pages maximum.
- Mention the ability to go to court. The threat of taking the insurance company to court is what motivates it to offer a fair settlement.
Submitting evidence and documentation along with your injury demand letter can strengthen your claim. Send the insurance company proof of your injuries and losses, for example, such as medical records and pay stubs. Submitting evidence right away can cut out a lot of back and forth between you and the insurance provider, saving you time and energy.
Ask a Lawyer for Assistance
Do not take the injury demand letter lightly. It could be all that stands between you and the compensation you need to move forward. It is important for your demand letter to be succinct and professional. From small mistakes such as grammatical errors to major issues, the insurance company may change the way it handles your case based on your demand letter.
Give yourself the best possible odds of obtaining fair compensation by hiring a lawyer to write your demand letter for you. A lawyer will know exactly what to say and how to say it in a way that makes an insurance company take your claim seriously. If the insurance company still refuses to offer a fair settlement, your lawyer can take the case to trial instead. Either way, an injury lawyer will not allow you to settle for less than your injuries demand. Speak to a personal injury lawyer today for more information about an injury demand letter.