If you suffered an injury due to the negligence of another, you may be eligible to pursue compensation for your damages. One of the most important steps in pursuing compensation from the liable party is sending that party or that party’s insurance company a demand letter to notify them you are seeking compensation and plan to pursue legal action unless your demands are met.
Our experienced personal injury lawyers in Fort Worth have drafted countless demand letters. Below, we discuss what is written in these letters. If you need assistance with a personal injury claim, give us a call today to schedule a free consultation.
Facts About the Accident
Demand letters should include the victim’s narrative about the accident. That way, if your claim ends up in court, you have documented your account of events to challenge the insurance company’s claims. Your narrative should provide clear context to someone who is not familiar with the situation and is hearing about the accident for the first time.
The demand letter needs to provide the date and time of the accident and where and how it happened.
Extent of Your Damages
A demand letter should also include the damages you suffered. Damages include, but are not limited to:
- Property damage
- Medical bills for diagnosis, treatment, ambulatory transport and hospitalizations
- Lost wages due to injuries that prevent you from working
- Funeral and burial expenses if your accident resulted in a fatality
Unique facts about your damages should also be included in your letter if they apply. For example, if you were an active person who was a regular at the gym, but you cannot exercise or play sports as much as you did before, it may be a good idea to include this in the letter.
Evidence to Support Your Claim
Referring to evidence that may help support your claim is also an important part of a demand letter. This helps establish credibility and proof that your injuries were caused by someone else’s negligence.
In your demand letter, you may refer to a police report if you were hurt in a motor vehicle accident and the police were called to the scene. If your injuries were caused by a slip and fall in a store, and you were able to obtain surveillance footage of the accident, you may also refer to the video in your letter.
The clearer and more concise you are when referring to the evidence to support your claim, the better off you may fare if your claim ends up before a jury.
Your Specific Demands for Compensation
Lastly, a letter without a clear statement of your demands may be perceived as a list of grievances instead of a demand letter.
The letter should include your expectations for monetary compensation in a professional and courteous way and ask the insurance company for a response within a reasonable time. Demand letters often say the victim intends to file a lawsuit if his or her demands are not met.
Call Today for Help with Your Claim
Our lawyers have many years of combined experience securing compensation for our clients and are prepared to help you. We do not charge you anything up front and only get paid if you do.
While many claims are resolved through an insurance settlement, it is also important to be prepared to go to court. Our attorneys have secured many insurance settlements and have also gone to court numerous times to recover compensation.
Call today for a free consultation: (817) 920-9000.