After a car accident in Charlotte, NC, you typically file for damages with an insurance company. An important part of this process is actually sending the company a demand letter. This letter essentially contains your claim. The strength or weakness of your claim largely depends on this letter.
If the letter is poorly drafted, the insurance company will see through it and determine that you have a weak claim. On the other hand, if you draft an effective letter and make a solid claim, the insurance company will see that you know what you are doing. The company is then less likely to dispute the claim or bring up unfair objections.
Ideally, you should consult a good Charlotte car accident lawyer when you are drafting the letter. However, you can also draft and send the letter on your own. When doing so, it is vital that you understand what makes a demand letter effective. Here are some handy guidelines you can use to ensure that you write up a good demand letter.
Stay With the Facts
When writing a demand letter, it is important to stick to the facts. You can go into as much detail as you like, so far as you are sticking with the facts. Important details may include the date, time and location of the crash, the vehicles involved, the position, speed and angle of the vehicles just before the accident, any traffic signs nearby, and so on.
Knit up the facts to present your version of how the accident happened. This gives the insurance company a fair idea of how you think the crash occurred. The more facts you present to support your narrated version, the less is the insurer likely to counter it. Make sure you also clear up the issue of liability. You should clearly state that the other insured driver is liable for the injuries and the losses related to the crash you suffered.
Provide Details of Damages
The facts you present in the letter essentially help you establish the fault or negligence of the other driver. It is now time to show exactly what kind of losses you have suffered as a result of this negligence.
In this portion of the letter, you must show all the losses incurred as a result of the crash. These can include medical costs, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, and so on.
It is typically easier to prove tangible losses such as medical costs or lost wages. You must include the relevant documentation to support claimed losses in these areas.
For intangible losses, such as pain and suffering, you must be able to provide a detailed and thorough description. This is possible by taking the reader through your process of recovery and treatment in a detailed and thorough manner. You can use this sample demand letter as your guide.
Talk about the procedures you underwent, the pain you suffered, the hardships you bore during the path to recovery, the social, personal, and work opportunities you had to miss, and so on. Your claim to intangible losses depends greatly on how well and thoroughly you can describe these losses.
Include Relevant Documentation
When you send a demand letter to the insurance company, you must include other relevant documents as a part of the packet. The packet itself is usually about 30 pages. In addition to the letter itself, the packet should include your medical bills, proof of lost wages, bills to back your claim of property damage, and so on. Include as many relevant bills and receipts as possible so that the insurer has little room to object.
Make a Specific Demand
Towards the end of the letter, it is time to make a formal demand for money. You must make a specific demand that is dependent on the extent and nature of your damages. The damages you have previously listed in the letter must be able to justify this demand. The amount you quote must be significantly higher than the settlement you are actually looking for. This is because the insurance company will surely try to dispute the settlement amount. You will then have some room to negotiate without losing your fair compensation.
Hiring a Reliable Charlotte Car Accident Lawyer
If you have suffered a car accident in Charlotte, North Carolina, you must seek professional legal assistance. Such legal help will be valuable from the very start of your claim when you have to draft the demand letter. Here at Ted Greve & Associates, we help you draft an effective demand letter, seek the right amount of damages, and negotiate effectively so that you don’t lose your claim. Get in touch with us today to discuss your case.
