What is a Demand Letter?
In personal injury cases, a demand letter is a written statement sent to an insurance company or to a wrongdoer if there is no insurance available. The demand letter outlines the damages you suffered, provides documentation to support your damages and sets forth the legal principles upon which your claim is based.
Your Demand Letter is Often the Starting Point in Settlement Negotiations
When you have been injured in an accident and are considering filing a claim to collect damages related to your injuries, the drafting and sending of a demand letter is an important step in the process. You will need documentation sufficient to support your claim for past damages and to support any claim you may have for future damages.
Past damages include all damages you incurred from the date of the accident through the date of settlement. This can include emergency and hospital bills, wage loss verification, past medical records and documentation on how the accident has affected you from the date of the accident through the time of settlement.
Future damages are those damages you will incur in the future. Future damages generally must be supported by a medical opinion or other expert opinion. Future damages are those damages you are reasonably expected to incur from the date of settlement (or date of trial) through the remainder of your anticipated life. Future damages can greatly increase the value of your case.
Evaluating Damages Before Drafting the Demand Letter Often Requires Expert Opinions
If you suffer a serious injury, such as a serious neck or back injury or a traumatic brain injury, your personal life and work life will be forever changed. Your settlement must take into account not only past damages but future medical expenses, future wage loss and future pain and suffering.
Medical experts can help determine whether your injuries are permanent. They can also provide a medical-legal opinion on your future prognosis and the cost of any future treatment necessary as a result of your accident. Vocational experts and economists can provide an opinion regarding your future loss of earning capacity from the accident. With an experienced personal injury attorney from Mingo & Yankala, S.C. representing you, you can focus on recovering from your injuries while we handle all legal aspects of your case and collect all necessary documentation to obtain a great settlement for you.
Connect with a Personal Injury Attorney Now
Working with an experienced personal injury attorney who knows what must be included in a demand letter to recover the full damages you are entitled to takes the stress out of your life. Your personal injury attorney will work hard to obtain the best possible outcome for your case while you concentrate on recovering from your injuries.
To discuss how an award-winning personal injury attorney can recover the compensation you deserve for your injuries, schedule a consultation with Mingo & Yankala, S.C. today!