PERSONAL INJURY DEMAND LETTER — STATE OF ILLINOIS

PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL — SETTLEMENT COMMUNICATION
PREPARED IN ANTICIPATION OF LITIGATION
Subject to Illinois Rule of Evidence 408 and Federal Rule of Evidence 408

ATTORNEY INFORMATION

Law Firm: [________________________________]
Attorney Name: [________________________________]
Illinois ARDC No.: [________________________________]
Address: [________________________________]
City, State, ZIP: [____________________], Illinois [________]
Telephone: [________________________________]
Facsimile: [________________________________]
Email: [________________________________]

CLAIM INFORMATION

Date of Letter: [__/__/____]

Sent Via: ☐ Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested ☐ Regular U.S. Mail ☐ Email ☐ Facsimile

To:
Insurance Company: [________________________________]
Claims Adjuster: [________________________________]
Adjuster Address: [________________________________]
City, State, ZIP: [________________________________]

Claim Number: [________________________________]
Policy Number: [________________________________]
Insured (Defendant): [________________________________]
Claimant: [________________________________]
Date of Loss: [__/__/____]
Date of Birth (Claimant): [__/__/____]
Type of Claim: ☐ Bodily Injury ☐ Wrongful Death ☐ Property Damage ☐ Uninsured Motorist ☐ Underinsured Motorist

I. INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE

This letter constitutes a formal demand for settlement on behalf of our client, [________________________________] ("Claimant"), for personal injuries, damages, and losses sustained as a direct and proximate result of the negligence of your insured, [________________________________] ("Defendant"), arising from an incident that occurred on [__/__/____] in [________________________________], Illinois.

This firm has been retained to represent Claimant in connection with all claims arising from this incident. Please direct all future communications regarding this matter exclusively to our office. Pursuant to Illinois Rule of Professional Conduct 4.2, no contact should be made directly with our client.

The purpose of this demand is to present the facts, applicable Illinois law, Claimant's injuries and damages, and to make a specific settlement demand. Our investigation confirms that your insured is fully liable for Claimant's injuries and damages.

II. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

A. Incident Description

On [__/__/____], at approximately [____] ☐ a.m. ☐ p.m., the following incident occurred:

Location: [________________________________]
City/County: [________________________________], Illinois
Weather Conditions: [________________________________]
Road/Surface Conditions: [________________________________]
Lighting Conditions: ☐ Daylight ☐ Dusk ☐ Dawn ☐ Darkness ☐ Artificial Lighting

Type of Incident:
☐ Motor vehicle collision
☐ Rear-end collision
☐ Intersection collision
☐ Head-on collision
☐ Side-impact / T-bone collision
☐ Pedestrian accident
☐ Bicycle accident
☐ Motorcycle accident
☐ Trucking / commercial vehicle accident
☐ Slip and fall / Premises liability
☐ Dog bite / Animal attack (Illinois Animal Control Act, 510 ILCS 5/16)
☐ Product liability
☐ Medical malpractice
☐ Other: [________________________________]

B. Narrative of Events

[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

C. Police Report / Incident Documentation

Responding Agency: [________________________________]
Report Number: [________________________________]
Investigating Officer: [________________________________]
Badge Number: [________________________________]

The official report documents the following:
- [________________________________]
- [________________________________]
- [________________________________]

Citations Issued to Defendant: ☐ Yes ☐ No
If yes, specify: [________________________________]

D. Witnesses

E. Photographic and Video Evidence

☐ Photographs of accident scene
☐ Photographs of vehicle damage / hazardous condition
☐ Photographs of Claimant's visible injuries
☐ Surveillance camera footage
☐ Dashcam / bodycam footage
☐ Cell phone photographs or video
☐ Other: [________________________________]

III. LIABILITY ANALYSIS UNDER ILLINOIS LAW

A. Negligence Standard

Under Illinois law, negligence is established by proving: (1) the defendant owed a duty of care to the plaintiff; (2) the defendant breached that duty; (3) the breach was a proximate cause of the plaintiff's injuries; and (4) the plaintiff suffered actual damages. See Ward v. K Mart Corp., 136 Ill. 2d 132 (1990).

B. Defendant's Breach of Duty

Your insured breached the applicable duty of care in the following respects:

☐ Failure to exercise due care and caution (625 ILCS 5/11-601)
☐ Failure to yield the right-of-way (625 ILCS 5/11-901 et seq.)
☐ Following too closely (625 ILCS 5/11-710)
☐ Excessive speed / violation of speed limits (625 ILCS 5/11-601)
☐ Violation of traffic control device (625 ILCS 5/11-306)
☐ Distracted driving / use of electronic device (625 ILCS 5/12-610.2)
☐ Driving under the influence (625 ILCS 5/11-501)
☐ Failure to maintain safe premises (Premises Liability Act, 740 ILCS 130)
☐ Violation of local building code or safety ordinance
☐ Negligent entrustment
☐ Respondeat superior / vicarious liability
☐ Other: [________________________________]

Specific breaches:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

C. Illinois Modified Comparative Negligence (51% Bar Rule)

735 ILCS 5/2-1116 provides:

"In all actions on account of bodily injury or death or physical damage to property... the plaintiff shall be barred from recovering damages if the trier of fact finds that the contributory fault on the part of the plaintiff is more than 50% of the proximate cause of the injury or damage for which recovery is sought."

Under Illinois's modified comparative fault system:
- The plaintiff is barred from any recovery if found more than 50% at fault
- If the plaintiff is 50% or less at fault, damages are reduced by the plaintiff's fault percentage
- The finder of fact assigns percentages to all parties

Application to This Case: The evidence conclusively demonstrates that your insured bears [____]% or more of the fault for this incident. Claimant was [not at fault / minimally at fault] and any comparative fault argument fails because [________________________________].

D. Joint and Several Liability (735 ILCS 5/2-1117)

Illinois retains joint and several liability with important distinctions:
- ALL defendants are jointly and severally liable for medical and medically-related expenses
- Defendants 25% or more at fault are jointly and severally liable for all damages (including noneconomic)
- Defendants less than 25% at fault are only severally liable for their proportionate share of noneconomic damages

Your insured's fault clearly exceeds 25%, making your insured jointly and severally liable for the full extent of Claimant's damages.

E. Negligence Per Se

☐ This case involves a statutory violation constituting negligence per se: [________________________________]

Under Illinois law, a violation of a statute or ordinance designed to protect a class of persons to which the plaintiff belongs constitutes prima facie evidence of negligence. See Kalata v. Anheuser-Busch Cos., 144 Ill. 2d 425 (1991).

IV. INJURIES AND MEDICAL TREATMENT

A. Summary of Injuries

As a direct and proximate result of this incident, Claimant sustained the following injuries:

☐ Traumatic brain injury (TBI) / Concussion
☐ Cervical spine injury (herniation, bulge, fracture)
☐ Thoracic spine injury
☐ Lumbar spine injury (herniation, bulge, fracture)
☐ Shoulder injury (rotator cuff tear, labral tear)
☐ Knee injury (meniscus tear, ligament tear, fracture)
☐ Hip injury (fracture, labral tear)
☐ Rib fractures
☐ Facial lacerations / scarring / disfigurement
☐ Dental injuries
☐ Wrist / hand / finger fractures or sprains
☐ Ankle / foot fractures or sprains
☐ Internal organ injury
☐ Soft tissue injuries (sprains, strains, contusions)
☐ Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
☐ Anxiety / Depression
☐ Chronic pain syndrome
☐ Other: [________________________________]

Primary Diagnoses (ICD-10 Codes):
1. [________________________________] — [________]
2. [________________________________] — [________]
3. [________________________________] — [________]
4. [________________________________] — [________]
5. [________________________________] — [________]

B. Chronological Treatment History

Emergency / Initial Treatment

Date: [__/__/____]
Provider: [________________________________]
Facility: [________________________________]
Arrived Via: ☐ Ambulance ☐ Self ☐ Other
Treatment: [________________________________]
Findings: [________________________________]

Primary Care / Follow-Up Treatment

Specialist Treatment

Specialist: [________________________________]
Specialty: [________________________________]
Treatment Period: [__/__/____] through [__/__/____]
Treatment Provided: [________________________________]
Findings/Recommendations: [________________________________]

Diagnostic Imaging

Physical Therapy / Rehabilitation

Provider: [________________________________]
Treatment Period: [__/__/____] through [__/__/____]
Number of Sessions: [____]
Treatment Modalities: [________________________________]
Progress / Outcome: [________________________________]

Surgical Treatment (if applicable)

Date: [__/__/____]
Surgeon: [________________________________]
Facility: [________________________________]
Procedure: [________________________________]
Outcome: [________________________________]

Pain Management (if applicable)

Provider: [________________________________]
Treatment Period: [__/__/____] through [__/__/____]
Treatment Modalities:
☐ Epidural steroid injections
☐ Facet joint injections
☐ Nerve blocks
☐ Trigger point injections
☐ Radiofrequency ablation
☐ Medication management
☐ Other: [________________________________]

C. Current Condition and Prognosis

Claimant's current condition:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

Treating Physician's Prognosis:
[________________________________]

☐ Claimant has reached Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI)
☐ Claimant continues active treatment
☐ Future surgery is recommended: [________________________________]
☐ Permanent impairment rating assigned: [____]% whole person

D. Future Medical Treatment

☐ A life care plan has been prepared by [________________________________] and is enclosed.

V. DAMAGES CALCULATION

IMPORTANT — NO DAMAGES CAPS IN ILLINOIS: The Illinois Supreme Court struck down noneconomic damages caps as unconstitutional in Best v. Taylor Machine Works, 179 Ill. 2d 367 (1997), and medical malpractice damages caps in Lebron v. Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, 237 Ill. 2d 217 (2010). There are no statutory caps on compensatory damages in Illinois personal injury cases.

A. Past Medical Expenses (Itemized)

B. Future Medical Expenses

C. Past Lost Wages / Income

Employer: [________________________________]
Position/Title: [________________________________]
Rate of Pay: $[________] per ☐ hour ☐ week ☐ month ☐ year
Period of Absence: [__/__/____] through [__/__/____]
Total Days Missed: [____]
Verification: ☐ Employer letter ☐ Tax returns ☐ Pay stubs

D. Future Lost Earning Capacity

Basis for Claim: [________________________________]
Vocational Expert: [________________________________]
Economist: [________________________________]
Projected Loss Period: [____] years
Present Value of Future Lost Earnings: $[________]

E. Noneconomic Damages (Pain and Suffering)

No Cap Applies. Illinois has no statutory cap on noneconomic damages for personal injury claims. Best v. Taylor Machine Works, 179 Ill. 2d 367 (1997).

Claimant has suffered and continues to suffer:

☐ Physical pain and suffering (past and ongoing)
☐ Mental and emotional distress
☐ Anxiety, depression, and PTSD
☐ Loss of enjoyment of life
☐ Loss of normal life
☐ Scarring and disfigurement
☐ Physical limitations and disability
☐ Loss of independence
☐ Interference with marital relationship
☐ Other: [________________________________]

Narrative of Impact on Daily Life:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

Noneconomic Damages Claimed: $[________]

F. Loss of Consortium (if applicable)

Spouse/Partner Name: [________________________________]
Description of Impact: [________________________________]
Amount Claimed: $[________]

G. Property Damage

H. Out-of-Pocket Expenses

I. Summary of All Damages

VI. INSURANCE COVERAGE ANALYSIS

A. Defendant's Liability Coverage

Carrier: [________________________________]
Policy Number: [________________________________]
Bodily Injury Limits: $[________] / $[________] (per person / per accident)
Property Damage Limits: $[________]
Umbrella / Excess Policy: ☐ Yes ☐ No ☐ Unknown — Limits: $[________]

Note: Illinois requires minimum liability coverage of $25,000/$50,000/$20,000 (625 ILCS 5/7-203). If your insured carried only minimum limits, the available coverage may be wholly insufficient to compensate Claimant.

B. Claimant's Coverage

Carrier: [________________________________]
Policy Number: [________________________________]

☐ Uninsured Motorist (UM): $[________] / $[________]
☐ Underinsured Motorist (UIM): $[________] / $[________]
☐ Medical Payments (MedPay): $[________]
☐ Collision Coverage: $[________] (deductible: $[________])

Note on UM/UIM: Under 215 ILCS 5/143a, Illinois requires insurers to offer UM/UIM coverage in amounts equal to the liability limits. The insured must reject in writing to have lower limits.

C. Other Potential Coverage

☐ Homeowner's / Renter's insurance
☐ Commercial general liability
☐ Workers' compensation
☐ Health insurance subrogation / lien: $[________]
☐ Medicare / Medicaid lien: $[________]
☐ ERISA lien: $[________]

VII. PREJUDGMENT INTEREST

Under 735 ILCS 5/2-1303(c), Illinois provides for prejudgment interest in personal injury and wrongful death actions:

"In all actions brought to recover damages for personal injury or wrongful death... the plaintiff shall recover prejudgment interest on all damages, except punitive damages, sanctions, statutory attorney's fees, and statutory costs, set forth in the judgment."

Key Provisions:
- Rate: 6% per annum
- Accrual: Begins on the date the action is filed
- Maximum Period: 5 years
- Exception: Not applicable against governmental entities

Calculation (if suit has been filed):
- Total compensatory damages: $[________]
- Date suit filed: [__/__/____]
- Rate: 6% per annum
- Accrued prejudgment interest to date: $[________]

WARNING TO INSURER: Failure to settle this claim in good faith will result in exposure to significant prejudgment interest. On a substantial verdict, 6% annual interest accruing over 5 years could add 30% to the total judgment amount.

VIII. PUNITIVE DAMAGES

☐ This case does involve conduct warranting punitive damages.
☐ This case does not currently involve a claim for punitive damages.

Illinois has no statutory cap on punitive damages. However, punitive damages must bear a reasonable relationship to compensatory damages under the constitutional due process framework established in BMW of N. Am., Inc. v. Gore, 517 U.S. 559 (1996), and State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Campbell, 538 U.S. 408 (2003).

As of August 11, 2023 (HB 219), punitive damages are now recoverable in wrongful death and survival actions under 740 ILCS 180/2.

If applicable, punitive damages are warranted because:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

IX. SETTLEMENT DEMAND

Based on the foregoing analysis of liability, injuries, damages, and applicable Illinois law, Claimant hereby demands the total sum of:

$[________________________________]

This demand is made in good faith and represents the full value of Claimant's damages under Illinois law. This amount includes all economic damages, noneconomic damages, and applicable prejudgment interest.

Response Deadline: This demand shall remain open for [____] days from the date of this letter, specifically until [__/__/____].

Method of Response: Please respond in writing to the undersigned at the address listed above.

X. STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS WARNING

IMPORTANT: Under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Illinois is two (2) years from the date of injury. The date of loss was [__/__/____], making the deadline [__/__/____].

If this matter is not resolved prior to the statute of limitations deadline, Claimant will file suit without further notice.

XI. RESERVATION OF RIGHTS AND LITIGATION WARNING

Claimant expressly reserves the right to:

1. File suit in the appropriate Illinois Circuit Court if this matter is not resolved by the stated deadline
2. Seek all damages available under Illinois law, including economic damages, noneconomic damages, prejudgment interest (735 ILCS 5/2-1303), costs, and attorney's fees where applicable
3. Seek punitive damages where the evidence supports such a claim
4. Pursue additional parties whose negligence contributed to Claimant's injuries, invoking joint and several liability under 735 ILCS 5/2-1117
5. Pursue UM/UIM benefits if the tortfeasor's coverage is insufficient
6. Seek bad faith remedies against the insurer for unreasonable delay or denial under Illinois common law (see Cramer v. Insurance Exchange Agency, 174 Ill. 2d 513 (1996))
7. Claim additional damages discovered after the date of this letter

This demand letter is a settlement communication and is not a complete statement of all facts, injuries, or damages. Investigation is ongoing.

XII. MEDICAL RECORDS AND EXHIBITS INDEX

Medical Records and Bills

☐ Emergency room records and bills — [________________________________]
☐ Hospital records and bills — [________________________________]
☐ Primary care physician records — [________________________________]
☐ Specialist records and bills — [________________________________]
☐ Physical therapy records and bills — [________________________________]
☐ Chiropractic records and bills — [________________________________]
☐ Pain management records and bills — [________________________________]
☐ Surgical records — [________________________________]
☐ Diagnostic imaging reports — [________________________________]
☐ Pharmacy records — [________________________________]
☐ Mental health treatment records — [________________________________]
☐ Medical narrative / causation letter — [________________________________]
☐ Life care plan — [________________________________]

Employment and Income Documentation

☐ Employer verification of lost wages letter
☐ Pay stubs / earnings statements
☐ Tax returns (prior 3 years)
☐ Vocational expert report
☐ Economist report

Incident Documentation

☐ Police report / incident report
☐ Photographs of accident scene
☐ Photographs of injuries
☐ Photographs of property damage
☐ Witness statements
☐ Surveillance / dashcam footage
☐ Expert reports (accident reconstruction, etc.)

Insurance Documentation

☐ Defendant's declarations page
☐ Claimant's declarations page
☐ UM/UIM information
☐ Health insurance lien documentation
☐ Medicare / Medicaid conditional payment information

Other

☐ Prior demand correspondence
☐ [________________________________]
☐ [________________________________]

XIII. SIGNATURE BLOCK

Respectfully submitted,

[________________________________]
Attorney for Claimant
Illinois ARDC No.: [________________________________]

[________________________________]
[Law Firm Name]
[Address]
[City], Illinois [ZIP]
Tel: [________________________________]
Fax: [________________________________]
Email: [________________________________]

Date: [__/__/____]

XIV. SOURCES AND REFERENCES

Illinois Statutes

• 735 ILCS 5/2-1116 — Modified Comparative Negligence (51% Bar Rule)
• 735 ILCS 5/2-1117 — Joint and Several Liability
• 735 ILCS 5/2-1303 — Prejudgment Interest (6% Per Annum, from Filing Date, Max 5 Years)
• 735 ILCS 5/13-202 — Statute of Limitations (Personal Injury — 2 Years)
• 740 ILCS 180/1 et seq. — Wrongful Death Act
• 740 ILCS 180/2 — Punitive Damages in Wrongful Death (Effective Aug. 11, 2023)
• 625 ILCS 5/7-203 — Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements (25/50/20)
• 625 ILCS 5/7-601 — Mandatory Insurance
• 215 ILCS 5/143a — UM/UIM Coverage Requirements

Key Illinois Cases

• Best v. Taylor Machine Works, 179 Ill. 2d 367 (1997) — Damages caps unconstitutional
• Lebron v. Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, 237 Ill. 2d 217 (2010) — Med mal cap unconstitutional
• Ward v. K Mart Corp., 136 Ill. 2d 132 (1990) — Elements of negligence
• Kalata v. Anheuser-Busch Cos., 144 Ill. 2d 425 (1991) — Negligence per se
• Cramer v. Insurance Exchange Agency, 174 Ill. 2d 513 (1996) — Insurer bad faith

Official Resources

• Illinois General Assembly: https://www.ilga.gov
• Illinois Department of Insurance: https://idoi.illinois.gov
• Illinois Courts: https://www.illinoiscourts.gov

This template is designed for use by licensed Illinois attorneys. It must be customized to the specific facts and circumstances of each case. All statutory citations should be verified as current before use. This document does not constitute legal advice.