If you were injured by an auto driver while riding on your motorcycle, you may want to consider filing a personal injury claim. The first step to filing a claim is writing a demand letter and sending it to the insurance company of the responsible party. The demand letter should be as detailed as possible, as it will be used as a reference throughout the claims process.
Sample Demand Letter for Getting Hit by a Car While on a Motorcycle
Use this sample demand letter while writing your own. It includes all of the details and information you will need to include.
[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],
Please accept this letter as a formal demand for compensation in the matter mentioned above, in response to our previous correspondence on January 6, 2015.
I finished medical treatment after the injuries I suffered because of the negligent driving of your insured, Jim Francis. Mr. Francis hit me with their car as I was riding on my motorcycle on Highway 3A in [insert location]. Mr. Francis swerved into my lane on the three-lane highway, knocking me off of my motorcycle. I fell to the side of the road and rolled for thirty feet, spraining my neck and breaking a knee and wrist. Mr. Francis had failed to check his mirrors before switching lanes; otherwise he would have seen me, as I was not driving in his blind spot. Therefore, Mr. Francis demonstrated negligence and is responsible for my injuries.
On November 3, 2015, I was riding my motorcycle in the middle lane of Highway 3A. Mr. Francis was driving alongside me in the right lane, nearly parallel, in his pickup truck. Mr. Francis passed me on the right lane, which is illegal for the traffic laws in [insert location], failed to check behind him, and caused the collision to occur. The crash also destroyed my expensive, custom-built motorcycle.
I was taken by ambulance to Frederick Memorial Hospital at [insert address], where I was treated by ER Physician Dr. Melanie Michaels for my broken bones and sprained neck. I was given x-rays, my wounds were dressed, and I was prescribed a pain medication [name the medication]. She also recommended that I stay home from work for one month to rest and recover from my severe injuries.
The expenses for my medical treatment are outlined in the list below and are also detailed in attached medical bills:
Ambulance: $209.00
Frederick Memorial Hospital: $500.00
Dr. Melanie Michaels: $299.00
X-Rays: $144.00
Prescription Pain Medication: $103.00
Crutches: $42.00
TOTAL: $1,297.00
Due to the negligence of your insured, Mr. Francis, I lost a month’s worth of wages at my full-time job at Gregory Mills, Inc. Because of these damages and the outlined medical costs, I am seeking compensation in the amount of $4,000.00.
I appreciate a timely response of no more than 30 days from the date of this letter.
[Your Signature]
[Your Name – printed]
You should ask for an amount of compensation that is larger than the total amount of your medical bills. This leaves room to negotiate a fair settlement amount.
Getting Help with a Personal Injury Claim
You should consider hiring a personal injury lawyer to help you file a successful claim. A lawyer will assist you in writing a detailed demand letter and gathering your medical evidence to ensure that the overall claims process goes smoothly so that you are able to get the compensation you deserve.
