Writing a demand letter is a central part of the process of making a personal injury claim. Once you have outlined your case and presented information about how much you are claiming it will be hard to retract it or change it.
These tips are designed to help you understand more about writing a demand letter. Your chosen personal injury attorney will be indispensable in getting your demand letter right.
Tip#1: Outline Liability For Your Injuries
The first part of any demand letter outlines what happened and who you think was responsible and why. Go into details of where you were immediately before the accident happened and how it happened.
Give details of any evidence you have that makes you think that the person you are describing was responsible for the accident and for your related injuries.
Tip#2: Describe Your Injuries and How They Have Affected You
Here you need to describe your physical injuries and how they have affected your life, whether it is your family life, your job, your career prospects and so on. You can also describe the pain you have suffered, the inconvenience you have experienced and the emotional and psychological suffering you have experienced.
Also include what sort of treatment you have had, surgery you have had, and whether the injuries have healed or whether they are going to affect you in some way in the future.
Tip#3: Provide Details of Financial Costs Related to Your Injuries
Outline how much the injuries have cost you. Give a total amount and then break this down into its components. The usual components are:
- medical expenses;
- lost earnings;
- property damage;
- pain and suffering.
Your attorney will advise you what to include in your claim.
Tip#4: Do not Admit to Fault On Your Part at This Stage
Even if you think that you may have been partly to blame for the accident, this is not the time and place to admit it. Let this be debated at a later stage when the insurance adjuster working for the defendant meets with you and your attorney to discuss a settlement.
Be aware that in many states, your compensation payment may be reduced by the degree that you are judged to have contributed to the accident.
Tip#5: Attach Supporting Documents
Attach copies of all supporting evidence. This can include photos, witness statements, the police report, medical reports, bills for medical treatment, repair to your vehicle or other property, statements from your employer detailing absence from work and any lost earnings.
Tip#6: Work With an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney
Unexpected injuries can become very expensive, even financially crippling if you have very serious long term injuries. This is no time to try and negotiate serious issues with a defendant’s attorney or insurance adjuster all by yourself.
They will know the law much better than you and will work on their own client’s behalf, not yours. Make sure that you hire an experienced personal injury attorney to represent your interests and negotiate on your behalf.
