If you have ever been personally injured by someone, chances are you will need to write a demand letter to the opposing party’s insurance company. This needs to be done before you can receive any type of compensation regarding your injury. A demand letter will allow you to explain the accident, injuries you have received, and what settlement of money you’d consider settling on without further litigation. Here are elements that should be incorporated into the demand letter:
Tell your story: Start by writing everything that happened in the accident — how it happened, what happened to you. You should refer to police reports and any other records that will support your claim. It is highly recommended that you just tell the story and leave all emotions out of the demand letter.
Why the fault is on the other person: Go into detail about why and how the accident was caused because of the other party. Be respectful and use proper language in your letter, but also don’t hold back. If you were abiding the law and the accident was sudden and clearly their fault, make that clear.
Describe your injuries: Like everything else, go into detail about what injuries you have. You should concentrate on any injuries that are going to be long-term and will affect your daily activity because you will be given more compensation based on those injuries. It is critical to not lie or over exaggerate your injuries because you will be asked to see a doctor if you haven’t already. If needed, use the proper medical terms to describe injuries that you have.
Medical costs: List out all of the medical expenses that you have had to cover so far as well as where you were treated, who was the doctor, and what that treated you for. The insurance company may ask for an examination from their doctor as well.
Income that has been lost: If your injury has affected your potential to perform daily activities such as work, then this is an important detail to mention. If your injury is long-term, you will be able to receive disability benefits as well. Include a letter from your job that confirms the time you’ve missed and your hourly rate.
Other expenses: If this accident and injury has resulted in you losing more money that what was previously stated, please state those as well. This can include the simple fact that the accident has been inconvenient and has even caused anxiety.
The settlement: Based on your injury and all of the expenses, physical, and mental injuries that you have had because of the accident, state a compensation of money that you’d like to receive. Make the settlement higher so you have room to do some negotiating with the insurance company.
Any other documents: Use any documents that will be able to support your settlement and assist you in winning your claim. A demand letter needs to include important documents such as medical records, police reports, and bills.
