What is a Letter of Representation?

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If you or somebody you care about has been injured due to the careless or negligent actions of another party, you may be able to recover compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. However, securing this compensation can be difficult, and you should seek assistance from a skilled personal injury attorney who can help you with every aspect of your case. An attorney letter of representation is a document that will be sent by your lawyer to the other party in the lawsuit to let them know that they are representing you. A letter of representation will be the initial correspondence that begins the process of seeking compensation or a resolution to the personal injury claim. Here, we want to discuss a letter of representation, why it needs to be sent, and what it will say.

What Goes Into a Letter of Representation?

When an attorney wants to notify other parties that they are representing the client, they will send a short and concise letter to them indicating as such. A letter of representation will be sent on the attorney’s official letterhead and will be written in business format. The letter will list:

  • The attorney’s name, address, and contact information
  • The name, address, and contact information of the other party
  • Any insurance policy numbers associated with the incident
  • Any claim number associated with the incident
  • A brief paragraph or two advising the other party about the representation

A letter of representation will typically be sent through certified mail with a return receipt to ensure that the letter is received and so the receiver cannot claim they never received the letter.

What Happens After a Letter of Representation?

When an attorney takes your case, a letter of representation will only be the opening salvo of the process. The reality is that there will be plenty of things going on behind the scenes before and after a letter of representation is sent. An attorney will begin investigating in order to gather the evidence needed to prove liability.

A lawyer will be responsible for handling all communication and negotiation with other parties involved. While the ultimate goal will be to secure full compensation in an out-of-court settlement, that is not always how these cases work. It may be necessary for an attorney to file a personal injury lawsuit on behalf of their client in civil court. When this occurs, an attorney will fully prepare to take the case to trial while still negotiating with the other party to reach a fair settlement.

Contact an Attorney for Help With Your Case

If you or somebody you love has been injured due to the careless or negligent actions of somebody else, you need to contact a Long Beach accident attorney as soon as possible. A skilled lawyer can use their resources to fully investigate every aspect of the claim. This will include uncovering all evidence needed to prove liability. An attorney will handle all negotiations with the other parties involved in order to help their client receive full compensation for their losses.