Keys to an Effective Car Accident Demand Letter

If you were recently in a car crash and need to obtain compensation from the liable party, you will have to send the insurance company a demand letter. If you have not written a car accident demand letter before, you may find the process intimidating and overwhelming.

A car accident demand letter is one of the most important steps when trying to obtain compensation for your injuries. While writing a demand letter may seem daunting, writing an accurate and effective letter is critical to ensure you receive the fair compensation you are entitled to. If you have been hurt in a crash that was the fault of someone else, our Riverside car accident lawyer can help you write a demand letter to the insurer.

Outline Your Version of Events

Car accident demand letters must be factual and accurate. It is important to remember this when outlining your version of events.

Provide details from your perspective about how the crash occurred, including factors leading up to the accident, such as weather and traffic conditions. These details are important but it is also important to remain concise and avoid elaborating more than is needed. This part of the car accident demand letter to the insurance company is simply informing them of what happened.

List Your Expenses

One of the most important elements of a car accident demand letter is informing the insurance company of the amount of damages you are seeking. For this reason, you must organize your expenses and understand your total amount of losses before writing your demand letter. These may include:

• Medical expenses
• Lost income
• The cost of repairing or replacing your car
• The cost of renting a car

Not only should you organize your expenses and know the total amount of damages you sustained, it is also important to collect evidence of them. This can include invoices, medical reports, and receipts for expenses you have already paid.

Calculate Future Expenses

Just as you should calculate the expenses you have already incurred, it is just as critical that you calculate any expenses you may incur in the future. The injuries suffered in a car accident can impact you for years to come. Permanent disabilities can require a lifetime of medical treatment and care. You may also have to modify your home or vehicle to accommodate the injury.

It is of the utmost importance that you account for future therapies, surgeries, and replacement vehicles in your car accident demand letter. Although it may not be possible to calculate an exact amount of future costs, you can obtain a fairly accurate estimate of how much compensation you may require after speaking with a lawyer and your doctors.

Outline the Impact the Crash Has Had on Your Life

Not all injuries suffered in a car crash are physical. You may no longer be able to enjoy the things you once did, and the accident may have left you with trauma that causes anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. You should include these in your car accident demand letter to the insurance company. Even though these injuries may not be visible, they are still losses and you deserve compensation for them.

This part of your demand letter requires you to convey your losses and emotions. Still, it is important to convey them in a manner that is detailed, factual, and organized.

Outline Your Road to Recovery

A car accident demand letter will include the cost of treating your injuries. However, it is also important to outline what your road to recovery will look like. You should list every doctor visit you have attended, as well as the cost of them, and any surgery you have had to undergo. Regardless of the type of treatment you receive, you should detail when, where, and what it entails.

For example, you should inform the insurance company that you have had to go through a number of surgeries, doctor visits, extensive rehabilitation, therapy, and trips to the emergency room. All of these details can show the insurer how difficult it has been to put your life back together after the accident.

Include a Reasonable Amount of Compensation You are Demanding

Car accident demand letters tell the insurance company the amount of compensation you are demanding for your injuries caused by the negligent party. While this number needs to be reasonable, it also needs to be fair.

The amount you demand must be higher than the amount you are willing to settle for. After you demand this amount, the insurance company will negotiate with you for a smaller amount.

Including an amount that is slightly higher than you need in your demand letter provides you with some room to negotiate.

Our Car Accident Lawyers in Riverside Can Write Your Demand Letter

At The JLF Firm, our Riverside car accident lawyers can write your demand letter and handle all legal details of your claim so you can focus on your recovery. Contact us to schedule a free review of your case and to learn more about how we can help.