3 important steps for making a strong claim for compensation in a personal injury case.
Have you been injured due to someone else’s reckless or negligent actions? Whether you were hurt in a car accident, a slip and fall accident, or some other type of traffic or premises accident, you are probably going to need to open negotiations with an insurance company in order to secure compensation for your injuries and suffering.
Here are the steps you will need to follow:
Step 1: Hire an Attorney.
While it is possible to write your own notification and demand letters, it is not recommended. Instead, you should entrust these tasks to an experienced personal injury attorney such as Michael A. Kahn.
Why?
Because Attorney Kahn is not going to make mistakes in your case due to inexperience, confusion, or ignorance of the law, as you very well might on your own. Instead, Attorney Kahn will help you create the strongest possible notification and demand letters that will present your case clearly and advantageously and pave the way for fair compensation.
Step 2: Send Your Notification Letter.
Notification letters should be written quickly after your accident. Their primary purpose is simply to notify the at-fault party and/or their insurance company that you have been injured, you consider them liable, and you plan on seeking compensation. You do not need to go into any details about the circumstances of the accident, your injuries, or the compensation you plan to seek.
However, don’t let the simplicity of the letter trick you into believing you can get by without professional help. Often, insurance companies tend to take notification letters more seriously when they come on the letterhead of an experienced personal injury attorney. The insurance company knows that an attorney will not fall for the tactics typically used to intimidate victims into dropping or reducing their claims.
Step 3: Send Your Demand Letter.
The demand letter is your opportunity to lay out your most persuasive and powerful arguments in support of your claim for compensation. Specifically, the letter should address the following questions:
- How did the accident occur and why is liable party legally responsible?
- What injuries did you sustain in the accident?
- What types of medical treatment did you receive, at what cost?
- How much, if any, income you did you lose due to your injuries?
- What other damages (such as pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of consortium, etc.) did you suffer as a result of the accident?
At the close of the letter, the total amount of compensation you are requesting should be included. It is important to remember that the demand letter is just your opening salvo and you should leave room for negotiations in this figure. Your attorney can help you arrive at an appropriate figure.
Need to Initiate a Claim?
If you have been injured in an accident, you don’t need to go through this process alone. Call us at (310) 209-1600 now and request a free consultation with Attorney Kahn where you can learn more about his services.
