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Glossary

Demand letter

For any attorney making a pre-litigation settlement demand — personal injury, contract, collections.

A demand letter is the formal written demand sent to an opposing party or their insurer before filing suit, laying out the facts, liability theory, damages, and a deadline to respond or settle.

Why it matters for a solo or small firm

A rushed demand letter, thin on damages documentation and vague on liability, gives the recipient's adjuster or counsel an easy reason to lowball or stall. For a solo running high matter volume, the letter's quality directly moves the opening settlement number.

Example

Facts: rear-end collision, $8,200 in medical bills, 3 weeks missed work. A structured demand letter organizes those into liability, special damages, general damages, and a demand figure with a response deadline, not just a narrative retelling of the accident.