Injuries can commonly occur from car accidents, and they can leave innocent people with lifelong effects. If you were in an accident and are suffering from injuries, you have the right to seek compensation for these, and a good place to begin is by negotiating with the insurance company that will be paying the claim. If you would like to try to settle in this manner, you will need to write a demand letter to the insurance company, and here are some of the main points you should include in your letter.
Basic Information
The beginning of the letter should include basic information about the case. This includes your name, address, phone number, and claim number. You should also include the insurance adjuster's name and contact information if you have it. This will ensure that the right person receives and reads this letter. Include any other basic details that are important for the adjuster to know as he or she reads the letter.
Description Of The Accident
At the point in which you write this letter, you will have already spoken to the adjuster about the accident. The adjuster may have asked you a lot of questions about it, and he or she may have even recorded the conversations. If so, it's vital to stick with your story so there are no discrepancies between the conversations and the information within your demand letter.
In this letter, you should reiterate the basic facts of the accident, and you should make it very clear that the other party was at fault. If possible, include the names of any eyewitnesses just to reemphasize that you have evidence proving you are not the at-fault driver.
When you send this letter, include a copy of the police report and any other documents that serve as evidence for your case. Including pictures of the accident scene is also a good idea if you have them.
Clear Description Of Injuries, Treatment Options, And Money Spent
The next thing you must include is a clear description of all your injuries and the treatment you received. You can include the number of times you sought help, information about any hospitalizations, and the money you have spent. Along with this letter, you can include statements from your doctors and medical bills if desired.
You may also want to include information about how this accident and the injuries have affected you emotionally and personally. You can seek compensation for trauma and emotional distress from an accident, and it's important that you give an explanation of these things so the insurance adjuster fully comprehends the effects this accident had on you, your health, and your life.
Other details you may want to write about in this letter are details relating to lost wages, money spent on rental car fees, and invoices from other accident-related bills.
A Total Amount You Are Asking For
One of the last things you will need to include on your demand letter is a grand total of the amount you are asking the insurance company to pay you for your inconveniences, injuries, and trauma. You may want to break this down first by writing in each category you are seeking compensation for, and you can then write the amount next to the category. At the bottom, it should state the total compensation you would like to receive to settle this matter.
The amount you ask for should exceed the amount you really expect to get. This is a standard practice and is designed to allow some room for negotiating with the insurance company.
If you wrote a demand letter and are having trouble settling close to the amount you want, you should consider hiring an auto accident attorney for help. Hiring an attorney will not require settling the matter in court, but it can result in receiving a larger settlement package.
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