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Here are 32 tips gleaned from over 20 years experience that comprise a checklist or template to make sure your booklet is as complete as possible.
(Note: in this checklist the "settlement brochure" is sometimes called the "demand.")
1. Order PIP/MedPay payments ledger from your insurance company (the company of the car you were in at the time of the accident.)
2. Receive the PIP/MedPay payments ledger.
3. Check the ledger for any other doctors, clinics, prescriptions, etc. that you had overlooked.
4. Make a complete list of all of your doctors, hospitals etc.
5. Request impairment rating or final narrative report letter from one of your treating doctors.
6. Obtain all Medical Bills.
7. Obtain all Medical Reports and records.
8. Mail or fax to your employer a LOST WAGES REQUEST LETTER. This asks your employer's human resources department for 1) your hourly wage at time of accident, and 2) how many hours were missed because of the accident.
9. Once you have received lost wages information from employer calculate lost wages.
10. Check dates of service on ALL med. bills, presc., reports,records,etc. Make sure bills are current & include all services to date.
11. Arrange medical bills in chronological order, keeping all of one dr's/clinic's bills together, then list each dr/clinic, and total expenses from that clinic, on MEDICAL SPECIALS SUMMARY in same order. Note: in injury cases, medical bills are known as "medical specials."
12. Check for prescriptions. Add to MEDICAL SPECIALS SUMMARY.
13. Have any of the doctors predicted a specific need for future treatment? If so, add to bottom of MEDICAL SPECIALS SUMMARY. (Place a copy of future medicals documentation in future medicals section of demand.)
14. Read medical records & reports to identify any problem areas. (In reading, if another dr./clinic is mentioned check on it to see if there are more med. bills.
15. Organize medical records & reports in reverse chron. order.
16. If this is an uninsured/underinsured motorist case, gather information that is evidence of uninsured/underinsured motorist.
17. Obtain liability or jury verdict research. Note: if there is an issue as to liability it is helpful to enclose legal research that supports your position. This may be obtained from a law library.
18. Draft DEMAND LETTER. This is the cover letter for your brochure that summarizes all of the information.
19. Type DEMAND LETTER; MEDICAL SPECIALS SUMMARY, FUTURE MEDICALS SUMMARY, and LOST WAGES SUMMARIES.
20. Proofread DEMAND LETTER; MEDICAL SPECIALS SUMMARY, FUTURE MEDICALS SUMMARY, and LOST WAGES SUMMARY. Check date of accident on accident report against the date in letter.
21. Check verdict amounts in comparable verdicts with what is typed in demand letter.
22. Check spelling on medical terms, doctor's, client and adjusters names.
23. Check to see that all dollar amounts and numbers are correct numbers.
24. Check all dollar totals with adding machine. This may seem trivial but your accuracy will reflect on your credibility.
25. Check names and amounts on MEDICAL SPECIALS SUMMARY with the bills.
26. Place divider sheets in appropriate places within documents in folder.
27. Finalize DEMAND LETTER; MEDICAL SPECIALS SUMMARY, FUTURE MEDICALS SUMMARY, and LOST WAGES SUMMARY.
28. Make sure letter is signed before copying. Copy entire demand package, make EXACT copy of what you send to the insurance company.
29. Make sure divider tabs are "in" for each section & labeled in demand & copy.
30. After copying "demand" go thru page by page, to see that every page got copied, and that pages are facing out. Be sure highlighted items get highlighted on copy.
31. Mail or hand deliver the demand package/settlement booklet to insurance company.
32. Calendar for follow up in five days with adjuster.
Summary
The care and thoroughness of your settlement booklet will be reflected in the size of the offer. Build credibility and trust by being complete and accurate. Good luck!
Disclaimer
This article does not constitute legal advice but is merely a summary of the experience of one attorney in one jurisdiction. Seek legal advice from a competent attorney in your state or perform your own legal research as to any relevant legal issues.
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