Writing Effective Car Accident Demand Letters

If you were in a car accident, you may have significant medical expenses. You probably also need money to repair your vehicle, compensate you for time missed from work, pay for items destroyed in the vehicle, and compensate you for the pain and suffering caused by the accident.

Writing a demand letter is the first step in seeking compensation from the party that caused your injuries. However, you need to ensure that you properly plead your case in your demand letter or you may be waiving your rights to compensation that you deserve. JustCallMoe has experienced Florida car accident attorneys who can prepare and submit a demand letter on your behalf.

The Purpose of a Demand Letter After a Car Accident

The primary goal of a car accident demand letter is to outline the damages you seek from the liable party through their insurance company. Sending this document indicates that you have all the relevant facts about the crash and the value of sustained losses, including the medical expenses. It also serves as a way to place the at fault party on notice of the claim in the event that the insurance company acts in bad faith.

Settling a Claim After You Send a Demand Letter

When an insurance company receives a car accident settlement letter, they will likely respond within the deadline you provided or they may ask for an extension. It is important to give them all of the information they need to properly evaluate the claim when submitting the demand. The time to settle the case may vary from weeks to months, depending on various factors.

These include:

• The time needed to review your case
• The amount of evidence you provided
• The number of parties involved in the crash
• The workload of the insurance company

Things an Effective Car Accident Demand Letter Should Contain

When writing a demand letter, highlight its purpose by detailing how the accident occurred. Further, mention all the parties involved and relevant facts, like if the other motorist was driving when intoxicated or distracted. If you can show that the other driver should be punished for their bad acts, you may be entitled to punitive damages, which are damages to deter drivers from repeating such egregious conduct.

Other critical details to add in an effective letter of demand for a car accident are:

• The date and time of the crash
• A description of all sustained damages
• A statement or fault or discussion about liability
• Deadline to respond
• The exact compensation amount you want
• A breakdown of the expenses incurred due to the accident
• Your future medical expenses to complete the treatment you may require
• Consequences that may follow if the insurance company fails to meet the conditions in the letter

Tips for Writing an Effective Car Accident Demand Letter

Demand letters are vital since they are the basis for claim settlements. An ideal document should have a firm, but polite tone. Further, it must only outline facts about the crash and provide essential details about all injuries. The demand should also humanize the victim and show the insurance company how the crash has impacted his or her life.

More practical tips to use when writing a demand letter are:

• Type the letter
• Provide a response deadline
• Write a short, but detailed demand letter
• Create at least two copies; send via regular mail and certified mail
• Avoid exaggerating damages
• Provide context to the value of non-economic damages

Contact JustCallMoe to Handle Your Car Accident Claim Negotiations

Writing an effective car accident demand letter is the first step in fighting for fair compensation. At JustCallMoe, we can help you assess the value of your injuries, while making a determination as to the amount of compensation you may be entitled to recover. Our attorneys always start by writing an organized demand letter, requiring a response within a reasonable period of time, and demanding that the insurance company respond to avoid settlement delays. Call us today for a free injury consultation.

Demand Letter FAQs