If you have been involved in an accident, you have suffered damages. To recover compensation for those damages, you will need to pursue a personal injury claim against the liable party. While you can write your own demand letter, there are several reasons to get your personal injury attorney involved with this aspect of your case.
A demand letter is your formal announcement of your intent to pursue legal action against the other party. When your letter is sent by an attorney, it is going to be more effective and get a better response. Here are some reasons to get your attorney involved with writing a demand letter.
How an Attorney Helps
- First, a lawyer will make sure that the letter is written using clear and intentional wording. About one-third of disputes can be resolved through a demand letter without additional action being pursued. When that letter is written, you are making the other party aware of your grievances and that you have a legitimate claim for requesting payment. You are also letting them know you will pursue legal action to be paid if it becomes necessary to do so. You can then use the letter to get a settlement underway or to show that the other party was aware of your grievances concerning the matter.
- Secondly, legal letterhead can speak volumes. Usually, neither party will want to go to court. When that demand letter arrives on the letterhead of an attorney, it makes it clear to the other party that you mean business. This should clearly state to the other party that if a settlement cannot be reached, you will be filing a lawsuit. This will get the other party to address the issue rather than throw the letter to the side.
- Third, this allows planning ahead for action. If the other party doesn’t agree to settle, your interactions and contact with the other party will be examined in court. The demand letter will be key evidence. It will show that you clearly stated your issues and that you wanted to attempt to resolve those matters before they had to advance to court.
Your lawyer will set a timeframe for the other party to respond. If there is no response by the deadline, he or she will follow through with the promise and file the lawsuit in court. At this point, all the documentation will be in order and the case will be put together and ready to file. A copy of the letter, along with the evidence of delivery, will be included in the evidence, so the court will see that you have attempted to resolve the issue in a timely and professional manner.
Consult With a Personal Injury Attorney
If you have been injured in an accident, consult with a personal injury attorney. Complete the Free Case Evaluation Form, so your details can be shared with an accident injury lawyer who will help you with your demand letter and other aspects of your case.
