Now that you have suffered serious damages as a result of another’s careless action or inaction, you are faced with the legal matter of bringing an injury claim against them. To start the process, you will need to send a demand letter to the opposing party, or their insurance company, revealing all damages and losses, and beginning the negotiations for a fair settlement amount. But do you write this letter? Or should you hire someone to do it for you? This is a vital question to ask yourself, and the answer is to always seek professional legal assistance for all stages of an accident claim.
Continue below to learn more about demand letters in personal injury cases, as well as who to trust for superior civil litigation fir personal injuries in Indiana.
Hire an Injury Lawyer Before the Accident Claim Process Begins.
Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer Right After Your Accident
As soon as you are capable, it is the right step to hire a personal injury lawyer right after your accident, far before even thinking about writing a demand letter. They have the knowledge and experience to guide your case in the direction of a successful outcome, all while protecting you and your liability along the way. So, when it comes time to send your demand letter, whether an initial one or one for personal injuries, think carefully about who you appoint to get it done.
Although it is legal and perfectly possible to write this letter yourself, it is not recommended, especially of your claim is worth a lot of money. After all, can you imagine a large insurance company taking you seriously when asking for a large sum of money without any legal backbone to enforce it through? For this reason, it is strongly encouraged to retain professional legal counsel for help navigating your personal injury claim, including writing your injury demand letter.
Initial Demand Letters Versus Injury Demand Letters
A demand letter is basically a formal memo that begins the compensation negotiations for the accident. Depending on the circumstances of your accident, you may need to send two demand letters, the first being an initial demand letter for property damages, and then an injury demand letter for your personal injuries once you have finished your immediate medical care. Car accidents are common personal injury cases in which both types of demand letters are sent.
Common Points Included in a Claimant’s Injury Demand Letter:
► Employment – Name of employer, place of work, and current earnings, etc.
► Physical Injuries – Actual physical damages to body and/or mind.
► Medical Records – Official diagnoses, summary of treatment, etc.
► Personal Efficacy – Post-accident difficulties, prolonged physical therapy, ability to work, ability to do things around the house, impairment to personal life, etc.
► Lost Wages – Time spent off work, lost earnings, lost promotion opportunities, etc.
► Pain and Suffering – The extent of which the accident and all post-accident circumstances have caused you to suffer.
Reservation of Rights Letters
Many personal injury claimants confuse demand letters with reservation of rights letters. Fortunately, with a skilled and certified personal injury lawyer working your claim, you will not have to worry about these letters at all. But for your own understanding, the difference between a Reservations of Rights letter and a demand letter is that demand letters are sent by claimants to insurance companies, while reservation of rights letters are sent by the insurance company to the claimant before the negotiations process begins.
Are you looking for an experienced and qualified civil litigator to recover the maximum settlement for your injury claim? Contact Carl Brizzi LAW at 317-636-7497 to schedule a free case evaluation with a seasoned Indianapolis Indiana personal injury lawyer you can trust.
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