What Does a Car Accident Demand Letter Look Like

Body

The body of your letter should begin with an introduction stating that you are ready to negotiate a claim settlement.

Relate the Facts

Start your letter by recounting the facts surrounding your accident including the weather, road conditions, the direction you were heading and where the at-fault driver was going, and any defensive maneuvers taken by you to avoid the collision.

This may seem pointless to include circumstances of the accident in your letter, but it’s essential to have a clear explanation of the physical facts of the accident and offer the insurance company your version of events and give the adjuster the type of testimony the jury would hear if the case proceeds to trial.

This should also indicate that the adjusters insured is liable for your injuries and damages. Police reports, any witness statements, and accident photos would help back up your version of events.

It would be better if you include a police report containing a citation against the other driver if possible as this information would be strong evidence of that their insured party’s negligence resulted in the accident that caused your injuries and any property damages.

Injuries and Medical Treatments

Explain in detail the list of injuries you’ve suffered as a result of the accident and all the medical treatment from the date of injury until you stopped actively treating the injury.

When describing your physical pain, begin with any pain or symptoms you felt at the scene of the accident and whether you received medical care from emergency services at the accident site.

Your description of diagnosis and treatment should also use appropriate medical terminology as you want the insurance adjuster to take you seriously. Also, include the names of physicians or clinics visited, the dates of the visits, and what occurred at those visits.

It’s always important to provide documentation of your claims for your medical treatment, including your medical records or correspondence from your medical doctor. It should specify any partial or total disability and its duration, including whether these injuries are long-term.

Your physician should also include in his or her report if you start to have trouble performing specific functions such as bathing or dressing as well as if the treatment for your physical problems is still ongoing.

Medical Expenses

You should also provide a detailed account of medical costs related to your medical treatment. Even if your health insurance company paid for your medical bills, an itemized lists of all medical bills such as the prescribed medication, devices like crutches, and even the ambulance should be included in your letter.

The medical expenses are a reason why demand letters shouldn’t be sent to insurance companies until the end of your treatment or at least until the doctors inform you that your condition is sufficiently stable. You may not have a full account of the total costs of your medical treatment if the demand letter is sent too early.

To back up your claim, attach copies of any medical bills which you can obtain from your treatment providers.

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Emotional Damage

Emotional distress damages are typically only awarded in cases of severe injuries. As part of pain and suffering damages, a statement describing emotional distress that has resulted from the accident such as anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) should be part of your claim.

Like any other claim, your emotional damages must be supported by relevant documentation and evidence like medical records and a doctor’s note.

Lost Wages

Provide information on the total amount of income you lost because of your inability to work. You may be entitled to recover the wages you lost because of the accident. Your employer can give you the wage information needed to verify your income and amount of days of work missed.

If you’re a temporary worker or self-employed, you can provide detailed information on the calculation of the amount of wages lost.

Your Settlement Demand Amount

Once you’ve explained in detail the facts and circumstances of the accident, injuries and emotional damages, medical treatments and expenses as well as the lost wages, sum up the letter with a specific demand of compensation for all your combined losses.

It’s only natural for your demand amount to be significantly higher than the reasonable amount you can expect to recover. Your initial demand needs to be high, so you’ll have room to negotiate.

Once you’ve already outlined the elements you plan to address in your demand letter, consider using language and detailed accounts to emphasize the seriousness of the accident, but make sure it doesn’t exaggerate your injuries or the accident itself. Your demand letter should also be free from errors and easy to understand.

As mentioned earlier, your claims should be supported with documentation. Whether it’s the medical bills or police report, make sure to send copies with your demand letter, but keep the originals. The chances you will get the money owed to you will be higher if your claim is reliable, reasonable, and documented.