Crafting A Comprehensive Letter To Your Insurance Adjuster

Writing a letter to an insurance adjuster can be a daunting task, but it is an important step in seeking compensation for personal injury or property damage. The goal of the letter is to inform the insurance company that you are demanding monetary compensation for damages and to provide a detailed explanation of the incident, including any relevant facts, your legal arguments, and the evidence you'll need to prove your claim. Here is a suggested introduction paragraph for your letter:

I am writing this letter to request compensation for damages incurred in an incident that occurred on [date of incident]. On this date, I was involved in an accident that caused significant damage to my property and resulted in personal injuries. I believe that the insured party, [name of insured party], is responsible for these damages, and I am seeking reimbursement for my losses. I have enclosed supporting documentation, including medical bills, repair estimates, and other relevant information, to strengthen my claim.

Remember to keep your letter professional and factual, avoiding any disparaging language or threats. Provide a clear and concise description of the incident and explain how it has impacted you financially and emotionally. By organizing your expenses and supporting your claims with evidence, you can effectively present your case to the insurance adjuster and increase your chances of receiving a fair settlement.

Organise your expenses

Organising your expenses is a crucial step in writing a demand letter to an insurance company. Here are some tips to help you get started:

• Gather all your receipts and expenses: Before writing your letter, collect all the relevant documents, including medical bills, repair bills, lost wage statements, and other out-of-pocket expenses related to the incident. These expenses are known as "special damages."
• Calculate your total expenses: Add up all your medical bills, including treatment costs, prescriptions, and any other healthcare-related expenses. Also, calculate your lost earnings due to missed workdays.
• Create a list or spreadsheet: Make a detailed list or use a spreadsheet program to organise your expenses. Include the date, description of the expense, and the amount for each entry. This will help you keep track of your expenses and provide a clear overview.
• Separate special and general damages: Special damages refer to out-of-pocket expenses like medical bills and property damage repairs. General damages include pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of consortium, which are more challenging to quantify.
• Include relevant documentation: When submitting your demand letter, attach copies of all relevant receipts, bills, and other supporting documents. This helps strengthen your case and provides evidence for your claimed expenses.
• Keep a log of all activities: Maintain a diary or logbook to record all activities related to your claim, including conversations, agreements, and expenses incurred. This ensures you have a comprehensive record of your claim-related activities.

Establish the facts

Establishing the facts is a crucial part of writing a letter to an insurance adjuster. This section should be a clear and factual summary of the incident, including any relevant details that could impact your claim. Here are some guidelines to help you effectively establish the facts in your letter:

• Begin by explaining the incident in detail, including the date, time, location, and any relevant circumstances. For example, if you were in a car accident, describe where you were, the street names, and what you were doing. If you have a copy of the accident report, use it to include exact dates, times, locations, and any other pertinent information.
• Provide a clear and concise description of what happened during the incident. Avoid including unnecessary details or opinions that may distract from the facts. Stick to the information that is relevant to your claim.
• If there were any witnesses to the incident, be sure to include their statements or testimonies in your letter. This can help support your version of events and provide additional context for the insurance adjuster.
• Include any relevant documentation or evidence that supports your claim. This could include medical records, police reports, photographs, or other types of evidence that can help establish the facts of the incident.
• Be thorough in your explanation, but avoid exaggerating or including irrelevant details. Stick to the facts as much as possible to maintain credibility.
• If there are any discrepancies or uncertainties in the information you provide, be sure to address them honestly. It is important to maintain transparency and not try to fabricate information.
• Remember that the goal of this section is to provide a clear and unbiased account of the incident. Focus on presenting the facts accurately and objectively.

By following these guidelines, you can effectively establish the facts in your letter to the insurance adjuster, supporting your claim and helping to ensure a fair outcome.

Share your perspective

Sharing your perspective is a vital part of your letter to the insurance adjuster. This is where you can describe what happened to you following the incident, and how it impacted you.

Firstly, let the adjuster know what you remember about the incident itself. For example, if you were in a car accident, did you remember hitting your head on the window, or your knee hitting the dashboard? It is important to include these details as they give a clear picture of what happened to you at the time of the impact.

Next, you should explain when you first started to experience pain and where. For some, this may be immediate, but for others, the pain may not register until hours or even days later, once the initial shock and adrenaline have worn off. Be sure to give a full account of the pain you experienced and how it affected your daily life. For example, were you unable to go to the gym, or carry groceries? This information will help to strengthen your case and increase the settlement offer.

You should also detail your road to recovery. Explain when and where you were seen by a doctor, and why you needed to seek medical attention. Give a full overview of your treatment, including any medication, physical therapy, injections, or surgery. If your injuries are likely to have long-term consequences, be sure to mention this.

Finally, share any emotional distress you experienced as a result of the incident. For example, did you experience anxiety, insomnia, or depression? This information will help to support your claim for pain and suffering.

Remember to be detailed and thorough in your account, and back up your claims with medical evidence where possible.

Detail your road to recovery

When detailing your road to recovery, it's important to explain when and where you were seen by a doctor, as well as the reasons for your visit and the treatment provided. You should do this for your entire course of treatment.

For example, you might have been treated by paramedics or taken to the emergency room via ambulance at the scene of the accident. Alternatively, your medical care might have begun days or weeks later if you were unable to see a doctor immediately.

Explain the symptoms that led you to seek medical attention. For instance, you might have experienced pain in a particular area of the body, or difficulty with certain functions, such as standing or bending.

Provide details of all treatments and medications you received, including:

• Surgeries
• Imaging scans (X-rays, CT scans, MRIs)
• Chiropractic visits
• Physical therapy
• Injections
• Prescription medications

If your injuries required long-term or ongoing treatment, such as multiple surgeries or physical therapy over several months, be sure to mention this. The duration and extent of your treatment are important factors in determining the value of your claim.

Also, mention any future medical care that has been recommended, such as ongoing physical therapy or future surgeries.

Acknowledge and emphasise your pain and suffering

The pain and suffering you experience can help increase the settlement offer presented by the insurance company. This is because they are examples of "general damages", which represent the types of losses that cannot be easily assigned a monetary value.

When writing your demand letter, it is important to emphasise your pain and suffering in detail. This includes any physical pain, emotional distress, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and the overall lowered quality of life you experienced as a result of the accident.

For instance, if you were unable to carry out daily activities such as going to the gym or carrying groceries due to your injuries, be sure to mention this in your letter. You can also include any relationships that were strained due to your limitations.

Additionally, if you sought professional help from a psychologist, social worker, or other therapist to deal with your emotional injuries, be sure to mention this in your letter as well. You can also include any medications you were prescribed as a result.

> "As a result of the accident, I have endured months of pain and stiffness, as well as significant impairment to my daily activities. I have been unable to sleep without pain and the constant pain and lack of sleep have caused me to become depressed. The tension from not being able to provide income for my family has negatively impacted my marriage and relationships with my children."

It is important to use vivid and descriptive language when explaining your pain and suffering. This will help the insurance adjuster understand the full extent of how the accident has affected your life.

Frequently asked questions