What You Need to Know About Car Accident Claim Demand Letters

After sustaining serious injuries in a wrongful auto accident, you may be entitled to pursue legal action against the negligent party to obtain compensation for medical bills and similar economic damages.  If you obtain a settlement or judgment against the negligent party, their insurance carrier will pay the settlement of judgment, up to the negligent party’s liability insurance limits. 

The best strategy for obtaining a full and fair car accident injury settlement is to hire a licensed and experienced personal injury attorney who specializes in motor vehicle accident claims. From there, they may implement an effective strategy to support the full value of your claim that involves creating a solid letter of demand to the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier. A demand letter is a formally written document that becomes the basis for negotiating compensation for your resulting damages and losses.

Continue below to learn what you need to know about car accident claim demand letters, including what they entail, why most cases require one, and why you should never attempt to write your own.

Personal Injury Claim Help Indianapolis Indiana 317-881-2700
Personal Injury Claim Help Indianapolis Indiana 317-881-2700

The General Template for a Demand Letter

Demand letters are written with a strict focus on facts first, followed by opinions. Facts that are generally included in a demand letter are as follows:

Description of why the claimant believes the other party is to blame. Did they run a red traffic light? Or maybe they neglected to stop at a stop sign?  Whatever the violation or cause may be, it should be included in the demand letter.

Description of ALL injuries sustained by the claimant, how they were sustained, how they are being treated, and how the injury or wound is healing or is healed.

A breakdown of all medical-related financial losses associated with the accident, including hospital bills, medical expenses, and any other evidence and documents showing missed time at work, physical therapy, counseling, medical equipment and supplies, fuel costs traveling to and from medical appointments, and similar losses.

Information about an IUM claim, if applicable.  This is when the other person does not have insurance, or their insurance wasn’t enough to cover the medical expenses and other damages and losses.

This typically completes the introduction of a demand letter. Next is the actual demand section. The demand segment of the letter requires a different set of guidelines that should be followed by the claimant and their legal team. In this section, claimant’s demand compensation for:

Medical Expenses – The hospital can provide documents proving a claimant’s injuries and the treatments that followed.  Claimants can also provide bank statements, invoices, and other forms of billing evidence that shows the dollar amount associated with the medical treatment.

Liability – Description of how the accident happened and why the other driver was at fault.  This should include police reports, photos and witness statements to support the allegations.

Lost Income – All information on the total amount of lost wages incurred because of the injury.  Description of how the injury affected the victim’s ability to work and make money, plus proof on how much time they had to take off from work.

Comparative Negligence – If the defendant’s insurance company attempts to argue comparative fault on the party of the plaintiff/claimant, the plaintiff/claimant’s attorney can argue the facts to the insurance adjuster on why such an argument is without merit.

Emotional Distress and Pain and Suffering – Description of injuries sustained and how they have affected the victim’s everyday life, including pain and suffering and relationships, and more.  Also, a detailed description of the injuries and accident and how they have caused the victim suffering and trauma. 

What to Keep in Mind as You Proceed With Your Auto Accident Claim

Demand letters are important ways to begin the negotiation process of a car accident claim.  They can be complicated and could possibly make or break your compensation claim all together.  It is strongly encouraged to hire a seasoned Indiana personal injury law firm to navigate all elements of your claim, including writing your demand letter.

Are you looking for a qualified Indiana auto accident lawyer who can represent your best interests in a car accident claim? Contact the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to schedule a free consultation with a seasoned car accident attorney in Indianapolis, Indiana who knows how to obtain the maximum settlement or verdict for your claim. We represent victims all throughout the state and Indiana residents injured in other states.

Related Posts:

What is a Reservations of Rights Letter?
The Difference Between a Reservations of Rights Letter and a Demand Letter
The Importance of Documentation in a Personal Injury Case

The Difference Between a Reservations of Rights Letter and a Demand Letter

After being hurt in an accident that was no fault of their own, an injured victim will likely make a claim against the at-fault party’s insurance carrier in order to collect compensation for their damages, including property damages. Upon doing so, the first document they will send to the insurance adjuster is called a demand letter. Likewise, the first document they might receive in return from the insurance provider is called a “reservations of rights” letter.

Continue reading to learn the difference between these two documents, and how to ensure your claim is on the right track to a successful outcome.

Personal Injury Law Firm 317-881-2700
Personal Injury Law Firm 317-881-2700

Demand Letters

Initial demand letters are for property damages.  Once an injured party has finished their medical care, a demand letter for personal injuries is sent.

After sustaining injuries associated with an auto accident that was the other driver’s fault, you may need to take charge fast in order to receive compensation for property damages, medical bills and emotional suffering.  One strategy is to develop a solid letter of demand to the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier.  A demand letter is a formally written memo that becomes the catalyst for negotiating compensation for the accident.

Demand letters are important ways to begin the negotiation process of a car accident claim. They can be complicated. Hiring a professional personal injury attorney who will write this demand letter is strongly advised for anyone involved in a personal injury auto accident case. 

In the introduction of a demand letter, often times, stone-cold facts are the focus, rather than hear-say, opinions, and accusations.  Facts and evidence are necessary to a personal injury auto accident case and any other case for that matter.  Once the introduction segment of the letter is complete, the demand section follows.  In the demand segment of the letter, facts and injuries, supported by the evidence, are set forth as well as a demand amount.

Reservations of Rights Letter

Once a personal injury victim files a claim with or against an insurance company, the first document they might receive from the insurance provider is called a “reservations of rights” letter. This letter is sent by the insurance company before the negotiations process begins. When victims receive a Reservations of Rights letter from the insurance company they are filing a claim with, they can feel a sense of anxiety due to misconception of its contents.

Many believe that the insurance carrier is claiming they are not going to cover a victim’s damages, when in fact, this is not the case. A Reservations of Rights letter simply conveys to the claimant that the insurance provider for the at-fault party “reserves the right” to not pay for anything if the accident is not covered under the at-fault person’s or entity’s insurance policy. It also informs the claimant that they are still going to investigate the case to assess liability.

Insurance companies send these letters to claimants in order to protect themselves from future legal conflicts. This informs claimants that although they are starting an investigation, they are not acknowledging fault or promising coverage. They also express that remuneration is not guaranteed at all unless their investigation proves the accident is covered under their particular policy.

How to Learn More About Your Indiana Accident Claim

Call the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to learn the best course of action for your unique Indiana personal injury claim. Our seasoned Indianapolis accident lawyers are ready and able to recover the full and fair compensation you deserve after suffering serious injuries in an accident that was not your fault. Not only does our law firm offer free consultations, we never collect lawyer fees unless we prevail for you!  We represent injured persons and the surviving loved ones in wrongful death cases throughout Indiana.

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