In personal injury claims negotiation with insurance companies, the demand letter is your most powerful tool.
A well-written, convincing demand letter can actually help you obtain a fair settlement for your injuries.
A good demand letter must contain your strong arguments regarding issues such as: othe nature of your injury owhy the other person is legally responsible for your injuries owhat your medical treatment was and how much it cost owhat your income loss was owhat other damages you suffered, and owhy you qualify to make a claim against someone else.
In writing the draft, concentrate on the following elements of your letter: Liability Describe how the accident happened and why the other person was at fault.
Do not fail to mention the testimonies of other people who were at the scene of the accident like the police and the witnesses.
Comparative Negligence Do not admit any fault in your letter even though you felt you were being careless during the incident.
Raise the issue of negligence of the other person by denying that you are at fault in the accident.
Injuries and Treatment Describe your injuries and the treatment made.
Without being too dramatic, give the details of treatment, the agony of pain, and the possible long-term effects of your injuries.
Medical Expenses Mention in your letter the names of each medical professional who treated you and the amount charged by each one.
Also, include the amount of medical expenses you incurred from treatment, rehabilitation and recovery.
Lost Income State how much income you lost as a result of the injury, including statements from your employer about the time you missed worked and the amount of wages lost.
If possible, an official letter from your employer, stating your work status would help a lot.
If you are self-employed, explain how you computed for the lost income.
Other Losses Mention other losses in your demand letter such as discomfort, irritation, inconvenience and embarrassment caused by the accident and how it affected you.
Amount of Settlement In the last paragraph of your letter, demand a specific sum of money as compensation for all the losses, pain, and suffering you experienced as a result of the injuries you sustained in the accident.
The amount should be higher than the actual amount of your claim to make room for negotiations.
Together with the demand letter that you have written, attach the necessary papers such as letters, receipts, bills, and other supporting documents.
For more information regarding the potential outcome in your personal injury settlements please contact our Los Angeles personal injury claims lawyer