Learn How to Write a Demand Letter to Settle an Insurance Claim
Posted by: DFX on Sep 08, 2017
If you’ve been injured on someone else’s property, by someone else’s negligence, or in a car accident, then you may be in a position where you have to write a demand letter to settle a claim. If you aren’t sure how to do this, you can always call the Florida Accident Attorneys for help. We offer a free consultation to help you learn what your options are. Otherwise, you can read on for the basics.
Start your letter by outline the incident and detailing your injuries
Start by explaining everything that happened, including the specific reason(s) that the other party should be held liable. Do not admit to any fault or wrongdoing. Be objective in this portion of the letter and stick to the facts, avoiding the urge to talk about how upset you are. Then list every injury you have – even the seemingly minor ones. Explain the treatments and medications required to treat the injuries.
Outline all your damages
In addition to the medical bills you’ll outline in your injury portion of the letter, you’ll need to outline your other injuries. For example, if you missed work, note how much money or vacation time you lost as a result. Add up all financial costs including rides to the hospital, things you’ve missed out on as a result of the accident, anxiety you’ve experienced, etc. At this point, it’s a good idea to talk to a personal injury attorney who can help you further make your case.
State your claim and attach proof
Once you’ve gone through and listed your damages, you’ll need to add them up for a settlement demand. This can be a complex process but essentially it involves calculating your overall costs. Then inflate that somewhat so that you have room to negotiate. Attach any proof you have, including police reports, receipts, medical bills, documentation from your employer, witness statements, etc.
This process can be hard – work with an attorney who can help
This may seem straightforward but even the single step of calculating your long-term costs can be difficult. For example, if you break your leg today, do you know how to consider the future cost of physical therapy? What if it affects your job performance in ways you hadn’t intended? Only when you speak to an experienced personal injury attorney will you be sure that you’ve written a good demand letter.