If you’ve been involved in an accident involving a commercial truck, one of the steps you will need to take is draft what’s called a demand letter to the relevant insurance carrier. You should work with an attorney to do so in such a way that maximizes your chances of receiving a favorable settlement offer.
Here are a few tips:
- Provide information: Whenever you make a demand to an insurance company, you should make sure you also provide all your medical records and bills. As such, it’s important to wait until you’ve finished treatment so you have
- Keep liability discussions short: Don’t provide more details than necessary when discussing liability. The more information you provide, the more you run the risk of accidentally damaging your claim. Stick to the most simple version of the facts and leave it at that in your letter.
- Avoid using the word “accident:” Instead, say “collision” or another similar word. The word “accident” could imply there was no one at fault, which undercuts the message you’re trying to get across, which is that there was clearly a party at fault (and it was not you).
- Concisely explain injuries and suffering: Do not exaggerate or use flowery language when describing your injuries and how much you suffered. Explain the injuries and their effect on your life. Sob stories will not influence insurance adjusters—they’ve almost certainly heard it all before.
- Include records: Always attach copies of medical records in an organized manner to make sure you’re giving evidence of your statements.
For more tips about communicating with insurance providers after an accident, contact an experienced Bradenton, FL personal injury lawyer at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez & Walsh.