Car accidents have the ability to turn one’s life upside down. The victim will have to deal with numerous losses when an accident happens due to someone’s negligence. The only silver lining in this situation is that the at-fault party will have to pay for the damages sustained by the victim.

The victim must draft a demand letter to the other party’s insurance company for compensation. The more convincing your demand letter is, the better your chances of compensation.

It is important to be careful when drafting a demand letter. This is because it leads to the later stages like discovery and deposition in a car accident case.

This article provides the necessary information on how to write a killer demand letter.

Tips to Write the Perfect Demand Letter

Writing the perfect demand letter has lots of advantages. However, this can only happen with the assistance of an experienced car accident lawyer.

Certain details and formats must be considered. When they are applied, your chances of getting compensation go up.

That said, here are some tips for writing a perfect demand letter.

1. Follow the Template

Every document has a required format or manner of presentation. One major rule for demand letters is that they must be typed in the appropriate template. Ensure to type it and print a copy for submission. This is the only acceptable format. Don’t forget to email a copy to the at-fault party’s insurance company.

2. Make a Reasonable Demand

When explaining the details of the accident, ensure to make reasonable demands for the damages. For instance, if it costs $2000 to fix the car, don’t demand more.

In addition, when taking the car to the body shop, ensure to collect the invoice. It could be attached to the demand letter as evidence.

3. Be Formal and Direct

It is wise to state clearly the intent of the demand letter. Also, it would help to be formal and direct. There is no need to beat around the bush or mince words. The insurance company wants to know exactly what happened. They would also like to know why they are paying the amount you requested and why they should. Additionally, using a polite but firm tone wouldn’t hurt.

4. Explain the Damages Incurred

It will help to list and explain the details of the accident, including all the damages incurred. Additionally, giving a comprehensive breakdown of the defendant’s actions after the crash could help. For example, if they apologized because they knew they were guilty. This information could be the final straw that guarantees a signed check. It gives an estimate of the compensation you’re expecting.

5. Keep a Copy for Yourself

Having a copy of the demand letter is necessary. It would be best to make an extra copy just in case. Apart from the demand letter, keeping copies of emails or receipts sent during the deposition would also help. These documents come in handy if there is a problem in the future.

6. Set a Deadline

Including a deadline in the demand is a strong way to clarify your intentions. It ensures that the defendant provides the sum (or at least an answer) before the deadline. The deadline could be at most two weeks. This would give them ample time to decide and motivate them to take action. If they cannot do so, they can be dragged to court.

Wrapping Up

Drafting the perfect demand letter is not such a daunting task. Although it might seem so because of the things you may deal with in the wake of a car accident.

Don’t forget to seek the assistance of an experienced car accident attorney to draft the perfect demand letter with reasonable demands.