Sample Demand Letters for Personal Injury Claims

Find demand letters for a variety of personal injury cases and negotiate a fair out-of-court settlement after an accident.

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If you're making a personal injury claim after any kind of accident, looking at a sample demand letter is a great way to put together your opening settlement demand to the other party (or that party's insurance company), or to frame your best case when making a counteroffer as part of settlement negotiations.

Below you'll find several kinds of demand letters covering some common types of personal injury cases. These letters will help you to:

  • effectively describe the facts of your claim—the who, what, when, and where
  • present common legal issues (like negligence, fault, and causation) in ways that highlight the strengths of your case
  • best summarize your "damages" (losses caused by the other party's wrongdoing), and
  • strengthen your side of the case so that you are in the best position to negotiate a fair personal injury settlement.

We are not your lawyer, and these sample letters are not a replacement for qualified legal advice. They are for illustrative purposes only. If you think you have a personal injury claim, you should consider hiring an experienced personal injury attorney. This is especially true if the facts are complicated, your injuries are serious, or there are difficult legal issues involved. An attorney can guide you through the process and help you to maximize the value of your case.

Car Accidents

Demand Letter for Car Accident ClaimMinor Injury

This is a sample demand letter for a simple car accident claim with minor injuries. The responsibility of the other driver isn't in doubt. The claimant has a bit more than $1,000 in medical bills, a few hundred dollars in lost wages, and minor lingering pain.

Demand Letter for Car Accident Claim—Serious Injury

This is a sample demand letter for a car accident claim with serious injuries. The responsibility of the other driver isn't in doubt. The claimant has over $6,700 in medical bills and around $900 in lost wages. In addition, the claimant has experienced lingering effects of the collision: long-term pain and ongoing emotional distress.

Personal Injury Demand LetterBicycle-Car Accident

This is a sample demand letter for an SUV-bicycle collision involving serious and likely permanent injuries to the bicyclist. The letter explains how the SUV driver, not the bicyclist, was at fault. The bicyclist has over $21,000 in past and future medical expenses and nearly $5,000 in lost wages. The claimant also has claims for long-term (probably permanent) pain and suffering and for ongoing emotional distress.

Other Common Kinds of Personal Injury Cases

Personal Injury Demand Letter—Slip and Fall Accident on Commercial Property

This is a sample demand letter for a slip-and-fall claim on privately-owned business property. The letter explains in detail the dangerous conditions that led to the claimant's fall. The claimant suffered torn knee cartilage, has medical bills exceeding $21,000, and lost $2,000 in wages.

Personal Injury Demand LetterSlip and Fall Stair Accident

This is a sample demand letter for a slip and fall claim on stairs in a department store. The letter details several ways that the stairs were dangerous, including two building code violations. The claimant suffered a badly broken elbow that needed surgery to repair. Along with past medical bills of almost $48,000, the claimant expects to recover future medical expenses and other damages.

Personal Injury Demand Letter—Accident Caused by Employees

This is a sample demand letter for a claimant who was hit in the face by a softball thrown or batted by a company-sponsored softball team member. The letter argues that the company itself was negligent for allowing the employees to practice softball on company property. The letter also claims that the company is responsible for the negligence of its employees under a legal theory called respondeat superior.

Next Steps

Once you've sent your demand letter, settlement negotiations will begin. Check out these articles to learn how the settlement "dance" works, and how to advocate for the best outcome for your personal injury case:

Make the Most of Your Claim
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There was a problem with the submission. Please refresh the page and try again
Full Name is required
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Please add a valid Email
Phone Number is required
Please add a valid Phone Number
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By clicking "Find a Lawyer", you agree to the Martindale-Nolo Texting Terms. Martindale-Nolo and up to 5 participating attorneys may contact you on the number you provided for marketing purposes, discuss available services, etc. Messages may be sent using pre-recorded messages, auto-dialer or other automated technology. You are not required to provide consent as a condition of service. Attorneys have the option, but are not required, to send text messages to you. You will receive up to 2 messages per week from Martindale-Nolo. Frequency from attorney may vary. Message and data rates may apply. Your number will be held in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

You should not send any sensitive or confidential information through this site. Any information sent through this site does not create an attorney-client relationship and may not be treated as privileged or confidential. The lawyer or law firm you are contacting is not required to, and may choose not to, accept you as a client. The Internet is not necessarily secure and emails sent through this site could be intercepted or read by third parties.

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