Minors are still new to the rules of the road, and collisions are common. If you were injured in a car accident that was caused by a minor, you can file a personal injury claim for compensation to help cover your medical bills and other expenses.
The first step towards filing a personal injury claim is writing a demand letter and sending it to the insurance company of the other driver. More often than not, the minor will be covered by their parents’ insurance policy.
If you need to write a detailed and thorough demand letter, you should consider enlisting the help of a personal injury attorney. An attorney can help you write a strong demand letter and settle your claim quickly.
Sample Demand Letter for an Auto Accident with a Minor
Use this sample demand letter as a guide for writing your own. It includes all of the details and information that is needed in your letter.
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your City, State, and Zip Code]
[The Date]
[Name of the Claims Adjuster]
[Their Job Title]
[Address of the Insurance Company]
[City, State, and Zip Code of the Insurance Company]
Re: Your Insured, [Name of the Defendant]
Claimant: [Your Full Legal Name]
Claim Number: (Only include this number if a claim number has already been assigned to you, and you have already been contacted about the matter.)
Date of Loss: [Date of Accident or Incident in which the Collision Took Place]
Dear Mr./Mrs. [Name of Claims Adjuster],
In response to our previous correspondence, please accept this letter as my formal demand for compensation in the matter previously mentioned.
I recently finished medical treatment for my injuries caused by the negligent driving of a minor driver included on the policy for your insured, Mr. Donald Remick. The driver, 16-year-old Benji Remick, was driving on Francis Street in [insert location] when he rear-ended me in my vehicle. The younger Remick had admitted to sending a text message while driving, and therefore, he is negligent and responsible for the injuries I received.
On June 14, 2015, I was driving on Francis Street and had stopped at a red light. Mr. Remick failed to see both the red light and my car in front of him, and hit me from behind by a speed of about 40 miles per hour. The force of the collision caused me to hit my head and injure my neck.
I was driven by ambulance to King Pine Medical Center at [insert address], where I was treated for my injuries by the attending ER physician, Dr. Beth Ford. She treated my sprained neck and performed an x-ray scan to make sure there were no other injuries. She prescribed me a mild pain medication, [name the medication], and recommended that I stay home from work for one week to rest and recover.
The attached bills illustrate the full costs of my medical treatment resulting from the collision. They include:
Ambulance Transportation: $109.00
King Pine Medical Center: $540.00
Dr. Beth Ford: $200.00
X-Ray: $129.00
Prescription Pain Medication: $65.00
TOTAL: $1,043.00
Due to the negligence of the minor of your insured, Donald Remick, I experienced severe pain from my neck injury. I also missed six days of work from my job at Nelson’s Bakery, totaling in $988.00 in hourly wages and estimated tips. Because of this, I am requesting compensation in the amount of $3,000.00.
I hope to hear from you in a timely manner of no more than 30 days from the date of this correspondence.
[Your Signature]
[Your Name – printed]
By asking for an amount of compensation that is more than your combined medical bills and lost wages, you leave room to negotiate the fairest possible settlement.
Get Help with Your Personal Injury Claim
By retaining a personal injury lawyer, you can get help writing your demand letter, gathering the necessary medical evidence for your claim, and more. A lawyer will ensure that the claims process goes as smoothly as possible so that you can file a successful claim and get the compensation you deserve.
