Hi, I'm attorney Anna Soto with DM Injury Law, and today I'm going to walk you through what a demand letter is, what goes into it, and why getting it right matters so much. A demand letter is a formal written document that your attorney sends to the party's insurance company. A demand letter generally lays out three things: the facts of the accident establishing liability, the full scope of your injuries and treatment, and the amount of compensation you're demanding to settle the claim. The timing of sending out the demand letter is very important. If you send it too soon, the at-fault insurance may not take into account all your damages. At DM Injury Law, we generally don't send a demand until you've reached maximum medical improvement, which is a point where your treatment is complete or stable enough to know your future medical needs. A strong demand includes your complete medical records, all medical bills, documentation of lost wages or lost earning capacity if applicable, photographs of the accident and/or incident and your injuries, any applicable expert opinions, and detailed accounting of your non-economic damages. Once the demand is received, the insurance company has time to review it and respond. They can accept the demand, reject it, or most commonly make a counteroffer. This is the start of the negotiation phase. The number in your demand letter is not a random figure. It is supported by documentation and calculated to reflect your actual damages. Plus, room to negotiate a well-prepared demand with complete documentation significantly improves your ability to resolve your claim for fair value. To get the settlement you deserve, call DM Injury Law today at (816) 888-7500, and we'll make sure that all your losses are accounted for in your demand letter.
What is a Demand Letter?