An accident with a mail truck can leave you with a variety of damages. You may be injury, have to miss work, have medical bills on top of any property damage to your vehicle.
To recover these damages, you may want to file a personal injury claim. The first step for the a personal injury claim is to submit a demand letter to the offending party and their insurance.
Sample Demand Letter
Here is an example of how to write a sample demand letter to the party responsible:
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your City, State, and Zip Code]
[The Date]
[Name of the Claims Adjuster]
[His or Her 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 if a claim number has already been assigned and you have received correspondence on the matter)
Date of Loss: [Date of the Accident or Incident that Caused Your Injuries]
Dear Mr./Ms. [Name of Claims Adjuster],
Please refer to my previous communication with you with respect to the accident caused by your driver, Mr. John Prescott, who is insured with your company. Please treat this letter as a formal demand for compensation as a result of injuries caused by your client.
As mentioned to you by phone on October 12th, 2018, Mr. Prescott was the cause of an accident in which I suffered a broken thigh bone and severe lacerations to my upper torso. The accident happened at 8.12 a.m. on July 19th 2018 at the intersection of Broad Street and 17th Avenue. I was in the process of crossing the intersection after the lights turned green, when Mr. Prescott’s vehicle crashed into the left side of my car. According to the police report made after the accident at the scene of the crash, Mr. Prescott had ignored a red light and continued to cross the intersection at the same time that I was crossing at right angles to him. Mr. Prescott’s negligence caused my injuries, together with a permanent disability to my leg, considerable emotional distress, loss of wages and damage to my car, which could not be repaired.
Mr. Prescott was charged with reckless driving by the police as a result of the incident. Please refer to the attached police report and witness statements given by two eye witnesses who can confirm that Mr. Prescott hit the side of my car after failing to stop at a red light.
I had to be taken by ambulance to St. Mary’s Hospital where surgery was performed on my leg as well as immediate treatment for loss of blood, cuts on my chest and severe bruising. Because of the fracture in my leg it has lost some of its former strength and this means that I cannot return to the same job as I had before. As I was not at work at the time I cannot claim workers’ compensation and therefore have lost not only wages to date, but have been offered another job at a lower pay scale because of my disability.
Please refer to the accompanying documents that provide details of the treatment I received at St. Mary’s Hospital as well as follow up treatment at the same hospital, my doctor’s report on my prognosis and suitability for return to light work.
Please also refer to the bill from the wrecker who took my totally damaged car away for disposal.
Medical compensation claimed as follows:
Ambulance: $275.00
Hospital treatment including x-rays: $3,560.00
Doctor’s report: $190.00
Medication: $375.00
Lost earnings to date (6 weeks): $7,200.00
Future loss of income potential due to disability (10 years at $21,200): $212,000.00
Replacement of car by same model: $28,000
Compensation for pain and suffering: $110,000
Total claimed: $331,600.00
I expect to receive a formal response to this letter within 30 days of its receipt.
[Your Signature]
[Your Name – printed]
Note: it is sensible practice to claim a significantly higher amount than due to medical bills and loss of wages alone as this allows you and your attorney a chance to negotiate a suitable amount in settlement.
Seek Additional Help from an Experienced Lawyer After an Accident Which Was Not Your Fault.
A serious accident can leave you crippled, or at least facing substantial financial distress. The personal injury process can be lengthy and complex. For the best results you are advised to seek legal help from an experienced personal injury attorney.
*Disclaimer: The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against UPS, or any other party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
