Were you or your loved one injured due to another party’s negligence? Chances are, you may be eligible to seek and receive compensation for your personal injuries from the at-fault party or their insurance company. One of the first things that you need to do to make this happen is to send a demand letter.
A demand letter is a document sent to an insurance provider to inform them that you have a personal injury claim and are open to negotiate the settlement to close the case. Usually, a lawyer sends a demand letter containing the following:
- Your identity and the at-fault party’s
- Reason for sending the demand letter
- Details about the accident-related injuries
- Evidence proving the at-fault party’s liability for the damages you sustained
- Your demand for compensation to be paid within a reasonable time frame
Unfortunately, in many instances, the insurance company will try to make this process complex to minimize the payment as much as possible. Getting the assistance you need from a personal injury lawyer will be pivotal in ensuring you get maximum compensation.
Why Do You Need to Send a Demand Letter?
The physical and emotional trauma you can get from an accident can be devastating, especially if someone else is responsible. Seeking compensation to cover the costs needed to recover will prevent you from draining your savings account.
To grant your claim, the insurance company will require adequate documentation to prove your entitlement. To this end, the demand letter reduces the time for the documentation process and ensures nothing is left out regarding your claim. Not sending a demand letter increases the risk of getting a lower amount than what you really deserve.
Hiring a personal injury lawyer helps avoid missing crucial steps or providing inaccurate information that will cause a denial of your claim. They can also shorten the process and prevent the insurance company from having full control. Instead of having the insurer investigate the claim and give an offer, the lawyer can take charge of the investigation.
How Long After Sending a Demand Letter Will I Receive Settlement Offers?
The insurer will take their time in reviewing your demand letter, and the only thing you can do is wait. It may take a few weeks or even months before you get a response. The timeline depends on the nature of your case. This can become frustrating, especially when your medical bills are already starting to pile up.
What Happens After the Insurance Company Accepts the Demand?
The long waiting time is due to the investigation being done. They will not immediately agree to your demands and will usually consult with experts and talk to witnesses.
Several factors may affect the settlement timeline:
- The insurance company’s size determines the number of people assigned to work on claims. Some of the bigger and popular insurers streamline the claims process, making their processing timelines shorter.
- Having a personal injury lawyer doing constant follow-ups to the person handling the claim helps in keeping the process moving forward.
- Claims that are smaller in size are easier to manage. Some may only involve some doctor’s fees and other medical expenses. Others may include long periods of treatment records that the insurance company needs to review.
- The insurance adjuster may be acting in bad faith and is simply trying to delay the process.
Insurance companies will try to exploit plaintiffs getting impatient while waiting for their claims. They will try to convince you to accept a lowball offer and persuade you to save your time and energy. Having a lawyer by your side can help ensure that you aren’t coerced into accepting a settlement less than you deserve.
What to Do If the Insurance Company Doesn’t Respond to Your Demand Letter
Your demand letter can lead to three different outcomes: acceptance, denial, or, worst of all, you won’t get any response.
Not getting a response is frustrating. You can request your lawyer to follow up if there is no update after 2 to 4 weeks. You will only receive a response to the follow-up after a week or so. Depending on the situation, it could take 1 to 2 months before you can confirm whether the insurance company is deliberately ignoring your claim.
You must treat this situation like a denial once you confirm that the insurer is not responding. However, unlike the usual denial, you don’t know why you are being ignored. This makes it harder for your personal injury lawyer to make some progress on your case.
Some of the things you can do to move things forward are:
- Collect documentation of all contact made about your insurance claim.
- Contact the insurance agent’s supervisor to escalate. Show all the documentation you’ve gathered to support your complaint.
- Report the insurance carrier to the state’s Department of Insurance and Financial Services. Although this will not resolve the issue, the insurance carrier will be subjected to scrutiny.
- File a lawsuit and defend your case before a court. The process can take months or even longer.
How a Personal Injury Lawyer Could Speed Up the Settlement Process
Personal injury lawyers can speed up the timeline of your demand letter’s settlement. Although the insurance company already knows the amount of compensation for your case, they’ll still try to fight the claim. This is common in personal injury cases where the amount involved is large.
The attorney will guide you in getting the best settlement offer possible. He’ll help you get through the legal process involved in a demand letter.
Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney for a Free Consultation Today.
As the injured party, it might be tempting for you to take matters into your own hands when trying to seek compensation. However, you may not be fully equipped to handle the insurance company’s strategy to undervalue your claim.
If you suffered injuries in an accident in Michigan, hiring a competent and trustworthy lawyer to protect your interests may be wise. Our lawyers at The Clark Law Office have developed a strong reputation for their personalized approach to handling personal injury cases. Contact us today for a free consultation.
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