Today’s truly skilled Baldwin Park car accident lawyers say it takes more than a few phone calls to properly negotiate a car crash injury settlement. Among the most important item is the Demand Package. Before going into its contents, a quick overview of accident statistics for Baldwin Park, California might be in order.
Rise in Fatalities Underscores Tragedies in Baldwin Park Car Accidents
In 2006, Baldwin Park accident statistics by the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) revealed that four people were killed and 302 were injured in city car collisions. Those who drove while intoxicated were responsible for one death and 36 crash injuries. Bicycle accidents injured 14. Motorcycle collisions injured 21. Pedestrian accidents resulted in two fatalities and 17 injuries. In 2007, three car collisions ended in three deaths. The following year, four car crashes resulted in four deaths.
The Demand Package: Cover Letter & Summary of All Evidence
A knowledgeable Baldwin Park car accident lawyer will tell you that before you respond to the insurance company’s initial offer, you’ll need to put together a “Demand Package,” which you’ll send to the insurance adjuster. The package is a record of the evidence accompanied by a cover letter.
What should you say in the cover letter? It should include an evidence summary and a dollar figure for both economic and pain & suffering damages. The letter should detail how the accident happened and why the company’s insured person was at fault. You can also include information about the driver’s condition at the time of the accident. Baldwin Park car crash lawyers suggest you specify if the driver was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Or if the driver had “priors”–previous arrests for DUIs, citations for speeding, reckless driving, street racing, driving without a license or suspended license. These facts can raise your negotiating power, since adjusters are well aware that judges and juries view such infractions negatively. Finally, you should ask for more than you expect to receive.
By: J. Bisnar