Auto Accident Demand Letter - Delaware

DEMAND FOR SETTLEMENT — MOTOR VEHICLE COLLISION

STATE OF DELAWARE

[________________________________]
Attorneys at Law
[________________________________]
[________________________________], Delaware [____]
Telephone: [________________________________]
Facsimile: [________________________________]
Email: [________________________________]

DATE: [__/__/____]

VIA CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
AND VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL

[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________], [____] [____]

RE: SETTLEMENT DEMAND — MOTOR VEHICLE COLLISION
Our Client: [________________________________]
Date of Loss: [__/__/____]
Your Insured: [________________________________]
Policy Number: [________________________________]
Claim Number: [________________________________]

Dear [________________________________]:

This firm represents [________________________________] ("Claimant") in connection with the motor vehicle collision that occurred on [__/__/____] in [________________________________] County, Delaware. This letter constitutes a formal demand for settlement of all claims arising from this incident.

I. DELAWARE-SPECIFIC LEGAL FRAMEWORK

A. Statute of Limitations

Under 10 Del. C. § 8119, the statute of limitations for personal injury actions is two (2) years from the date of injury.

The limitations period in this matter expires on [__/__/____].

B. Modified Comparative Negligence (51% Bar)

Delaware follows modified comparative negligence under 10 Del. C. § 8132. A plaintiff cannot recover if the plaintiff's negligence is greater than the combined negligence of all defendants. Where recovery is permitted, damages are reduced by the plaintiff's percentage of fault.

Our client bears no fault whatsoever for this collision.

C. No-Fault Election

Delaware has an optional no-fault system under 21 Del. C. § 2118B. Motorists may elect PIP (Personal Injury Protection) coverage, which provides first-party no-fault benefits regardless of fault. However, Delaware does not impose a tort threshold — even motorists who elect PIP coverage retain the right to pursue tort claims against at-fault drivers.

Our client's PIP status: ☐ Elected PIP ☐ Did not elect PIP

D. No Damage Caps

Delaware does not impose statutory caps on compensatory damages in automobile accident personal injury cases.

E. Minimum Insurance Requirements

Delaware requires minimum liability coverage of $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident for bodily injury and $10,000 for property damage under 21 Del. C. § 2118(a). PIP coverage of $15,000 per person / $30,000 per accident is available as an election.

II. PRESERVATION OF EVIDENCE DEMAND

☐ Complete claims file, including all adjuster notes and evaluations
☐ All photographs, videos, and surveillance footage
☐ All recorded or written statements
☐ Vehicle inspection reports, repair estimates, and salvage records
☐ Event Data Recorder (EDR) / "black box" data
☐ Cell phone records of the insured driver
☐ All insurance policy documents

III. STATEMENT OF FACTS

On [__/__/____], at approximately [____] [a.m./p.m.], our client was [________________________________] on [________________________________] in [________________________________] County, Delaware. At that time, your insured, [________________________________], was operating a [____] [________________________________] (VIN: [________________________________]).

[________________________________]
[Describe the collision in detail]
[________________________________]

The [________________________________] [Delaware State Police / Municipal Police] responded to the scene and prepared Crash Report No. [________________________________]. The report [________________________________] [describe findings, citations issued, fault determination].

IV. LIABILITY ANALYSIS

A. Defendant's Negligence

Your insured breached the duty of care owed to our client by:

☐ Failing to maintain a proper lookout — 21 Del. C. § 4176
☐ Following too closely — 21 Del. C. § 4123
☐ Failing to yield the right of way — 21 Del. C. § 4131 et seq.
☐ Speeding or exceeding a safe speed for conditions — 21 Del. C. § 4168
☐ Running a red light or stop sign — 21 Del. C. § 4155
☐ Improper lane change — 21 Del. C. § 4122
☐ Distracted driving / texting while driving — 21 Del. C. § 4176C
☐ Driving under the influence — 21 Del. C. § 4177
☐ Other: [________________________________]

B. Comparative Fault Analysis

Under 10 Del. C. § 8132, our client bears zero percent (0%) fault. The evidence conclusively establishes sole responsibility on the part of your insured.

C. Negligence Per Se

Violation of the Delaware Motor Vehicle Code constitutes evidence of negligence. Your insured's violation of 21 Del. C. § [________________________________] is prima facie evidence of negligence.

V. MEDICAL TREATMENT SUMMARY

A. Emergency / Immediate Treatment

B. Ongoing Treatment

C. Diagnosis Summary

☐ [________________________________]
☐ [________________________________]
☐ [________________________________]

D. Prognosis

[________________________________]

VI. ITEMIZED MEDICAL EXPENSES

Estimated Future Medical Expenses

VII. LOST WAGES AND EARNING CAPACITY

Employer: [________________________________]
Position: [________________________________]
Rate of Pay: $[________] per [hour/week/month/year]

☐ Employer verification letter enclosed
☐ Tax returns / pay stubs enclosed

VIII. PROPERTY DAMAGE

IX. PAIN AND SUFFERING / NON-ECONOMIC DAMAGES

☐ Physical pain and suffering (past and ongoing)
☐ Mental anguish and emotional distress
☐ Loss of enjoyment of life
☐ Inconvenience and disruption of daily activities
☐ Scarring and/or disfigurement
☐ Fear and anxiety
☐ Sleep disruption

Non-Economic Damages Claimed: $[________]

X. LOSS OF CONSORTIUM

[If applicable:]

Claimant's spouse, [________________________________], has suffered a loss of consortium.

Loss of Consortium Claimed: $[________]

XI. TOTAL DAMAGES SUMMARY

XII. SETTLEMENT DEMAND

Based upon the foregoing, we hereby demand the sum of:

$[________________________________]

This demand is open for thirty (30) days from the date of this letter, expiring on [__/__/____].

XIII. BAD FAITH WARNING

18 Del. C. § 2304 — Unfair Claims Settlement Practices

Under 18 Del. C. § 2304, an insurer that engages in unfair claims settlement practices is subject to regulatory penalties. Unfair practices include misrepresenting policy provisions, failing to promptly investigate claims, refusing to pay without reasonable investigation, and not attempting in good faith to effectuate fair settlements.

Delaware courts recognize a cause of action for bad faith denial of insurance claims. Where the bad faith is egregious, punitive damages may be available if the plaintiff establishes willful or malicious misconduct. Tackett v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Ins. Co., 653 A.2d 254 (Del. 1995).

Your company is on notice that failure to respond to this demand in good faith may result in bad faith liability and punitive damages.

XIV. ENCLOSED DOCUMENTS

☐ Medical records and bills from all treating providers
☐ Police/crash report
☐ Photographs of vehicle damage and injuries
☐ Employer verification of lost wages
☐ Property damage estimates
☐ Witness statements (if available)
☐ [________________________________]

XV. RESPONSE REQUESTED

Please confirm receipt and provide a substantive response within thirty (30) days.

Respectfully submitted,

[________________________________]
Attorneys for [________________________________]

By: _________________________________
[________________________________]
Delaware Bar No. [________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________], Delaware [____]
Telephone: [________________________________]
Email: [________________________________]

DELAWARE PRACTICE NOTES AND CHECKLIST

☐ 51% Bar Rule: Plaintiff barred if fault greater than combined defendant fault (10 Del. C. § 8132)
☐ No Damage Caps: Full compensation available
☐ No-Fault Election: PIP is optional in Delaware; verify client's election status under 21 Del. C. § 2118B
☐ Seat Belt Evidence: Admissible but limited in impact; analyze effect on damages
☐ Punitive Damages: Available for willful or wanton conduct; no statutory cap
☐ Joint and Several Liability: Applies to defendants whose fault exceeds plaintiff's (10 Del. C. § 8132)
☐ Government Claims: Delaware Tort Claims Act (10 Del. C. § 4001 et seq.) — notice requirements
☐ Minimum Insurance: $25,000/$50,000/$10,000 (21 Del. C. § 2118)

SOURCES AND REFERENCES

• 10 Del. C. § 8119 (Statute of limitations)
• 10 Del. C. § 8132 (Comparative negligence)
• 18 Del. C. § 2304 (Unfair claims settlement practices)
• 21 Del. C. § 2118 (Insurance requirements)
• 21 Del. C. (Delaware Motor Vehicle Code)
• Delaware General Assembly: https://legis.delaware.gov