What is a Demand Letter?
A demand letter is a document that is used to outline specific requests in a legal case. It contains very specific information that presents your case clearly and signals your intent to recover your losses while avoiding court involvement. Our personal injury attorneys in Newnan can help draft strong demand letters that get results.
Purpose of a Demand Letter
A demand letter can be a powerful tool in your efforts to recover compensation for your losses from at-fault parties. This letter is often used during negotiations to communicate your specific circumstances and what they are asking for as a result. Oftentimes, this document helps victims avoid litigation, which can be an expensive and lengthy process.
What to Include in a Demand Letter
There are several key pieces of information you should include in a demand letter. First, you must provide objective and detailed information about the context of the dispute or incident that incited your request. Next, you should outline all of your losses and how much they are worth. You should include supporting evidence to back up your explanation of losses and demonstrate what you have suffered. Finally, you should present your request and outline exactly what you are asking for. Be sure to communicate a response deadline and what steps will be taken if the other party does not respond favorably or in a timely manner.
What to Expect After Sending a Demand Letter
After submitting a demand letter, the ball is in the opposing party’s proverbial court. However, there are a few responses that you could receive. First, the opposing party may agree to your terms, which will lead to a quick settlement. Another potential response may be a counteroffer that requires some negotiation between both sides to reach an agreement. Conversely, an opposing party may not respond to your demand letter or may respond but be unwilling to agree to your terms altogether. If either of these situations occurs, you may need to take the next step and pursue litigation to resolve your case.
Demand Letters and Insurance Companies
When submitting a demand letter to the insurance company, they generally have 30 days to respond to you. They are obligated to act in a timely manner to your request and resolve your case swiftly, per Georgia Code § 9—11-67.1. However, insurance companies may act in bad faith and completely disregard or reject your letter.
When this happens, your lawyer can submit another demand letter on your behalf. If the action still does not yield results, then you may have to sue to get compensation for your losses. It is also important to be aware that the time it takes to respond to a demand letter or resolve your case can vary depending on the complexity of the case and other variables.
Work With an Experienced Lawyer in Texas to Draft Your Demand Letter
To make sure you have an effective demand letter and are prepared for any response, it is important to work with a lawyer. They can not only help you draft it, but they will also help with the initial steps of cataloguing and calculating the value of your losses so you can clearly communicate them. Consult Kam, Ebersbach & Lewis today and contact us to get started with your case and drafting your demand letter.