If you have been injured in an accident, one of the first things you will have to do is to write a demand letter to the defendant. Here are some of the things to keep in mind when writing a demand letter:
Be Precise and Accurate
You need to tell the defendant exactly what they need to know without holding back, but you shouldn't exaggerate anything either. In fact, it is advisable to word the demand letter as though you are writing to someone without any knowledge of the accident even though you are pretty sure they are aware of it. This is necessary because your demand letter will become a key piece of evidence if the matter ends up in court, which means it will be read by those without prior knowledge of the injury.
Make it professional
You don't need to, and you shouldn't, use emotional or abusive language in your demand letter; you should make it professional. You may be feeling angry with the defendant's behavior up to that point or frustrated with the slow progress of your recovery, but those should not find their way into the demand letter. Treat it like a business communiqué; indeed, there are demand letter templates you can use for the purpose.
State Your Monetary Demand
The demand letter is so named because you use it to demand compensation from someone who you are blaming for causing you harm. In most cases, the compensation people seek from defendants is monetary compensation. It's advisable, therefore, to quote the amount of money you are demanding in your demand letter. In fact, you should even give a brief account of why you have settled on that figure. Since you expect the defendant to negotiate the amount you have quoted, it's best to ask for a slightly higher figure so that you are still not too far off the mark at the end of the negotiations.
Demand a Response
Lastly, you should give the defendant a deadline within which they must get back to you; you shouldn't have to wait for months before getting a reply. Indeed, you should specificy your next course of action if you don't get the replay within the specified period. For example, you can tell the defendant to give you a replay within two weeks failure to which you will proceed with filing a lawsuit.
If you have never written a demand letter before, then its best to let an injury lawyer help you write one. The lawyer can also help you with other aspects of the case. For more information, contact a firm such as McKone & Unruh.
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