While the insurance company wants to minimize the size of any settlement made with a claimant, the claimant hopes to win as much money as possible. How can a claimant work to increase the size of a proposed settlement?
Preparation of the demand letter
The claimant/victim must study the cost of all the received medical treatments, along with the loss of income, if the injury forced the need to request time-off from work. Based on that examination, the claimant should decide on a minimum settlement figure.
Still that figure should not be mentioned in the demand letter. Instead, the victim/claimant should state a figure that is close to, but a higher than the minimum settlement figure. After sending that demand letter to the adjuster, the claimant needs to await the reply.
Responding to that reply:
If the adjuster replies by commenting on the adjuster’s offer. If it was reasonable, the claimant should acknowledge that fact. Then that acknowledgement should be followed with a counter offer, one that is lower than the amount in the demand letter.
If the adjuster has sent a low-ball offer, the claimant’s response should be different. Rather than responding in writing, the claimant should call the adjuster and seek justification for such a low offer. As the adjuster gives that justification, the claimant’s hands should be busy, taking notes.
By using those notes, the claimant’s job of responding to that call becomes a bit easier to fashion. That response should be placed in writing. The letter ought to address each of the adjuster’s justifications. Of course, the Personal Injury Lawyer in Edmonton claimant must realize that each justification reflected the influences on the adjuster’s decision.
The claimant’s case might be strengthened by mention of certain evidence. For example, perhaps other vehicles got involved in a collision at the same location. Furthermore, if the demand letter did not include a picture of the damaged vehicle, that could be sent at this point in the negotiations. A picture of the plaintiff’s injury might also be sent to the adjuster, along with an itemized bill from a doctor or a treatment facility.
How to end the negotiations satisfactorily?
Ideally, the adjuster and the clamant can eventually come to an agreement. If those 2 disputing parties decide to settle, then the adjuster should be asked for details on the settlement. Those details should be part of a written document, along with a date for when the promised settlement money will be sent to the plaintiff’s lawyer.
Once the adjuster’s confirmation of the details has arrived, it becomes the plaintiff’s responsibility to acknowledge its receipt. The plaintiff should send a letter of thanks to the adjuster’s office. That should make arrival of the awaited funds all the more certain.