Episode 130: In today’s episode, Calloway County injury attorney Jeff Roberts explains several potentially hidden risks of letting AI handle your injury claim. There are a number of ads running on social media offering this service. AI might be good for office work, but handling your injury claim? It might not be that easy…or worth the risks. Listen to this episode and then decide for yourself.
If you’re watching this episode, welcome to our first video podcast episode. We’re still publishing the audio-only version, but we’re excited about this new format for Jeff Roberts and the Roberts Law Office Injury Podcast.
Can AI Replace an Attorney if You’ve been Injured?
There are various companies claiming that their AI-enabled platforms could get you more money, without having an attorney involved in representing you. Jeff can see some serious problems developing for the injured individual. This isn’t an unqualified opinion. Jeff has over 30 years of experience representing people injured in car accidents, motorcycle wrecks, trucking collisions, workplace injuries, and those filing for social security disability.
Are You Exposing Your Sensitive, Personal Information?
Many consumers don’t realize AI can use the information, chats and other interactions you provide to train itself. This means unless there are safety precautions selected, your private information could be exposed, unfortunately by your own hands. Are they sharing or selling your information? Do you have to pay a premium to limit the exposure?
Yes, you have the right to try to settle your claim on your own (“pro se”).
AI Can Hallucinate by Making Up Facts
One of the risks of using AI is figuring out if it’s providing actual facts or making it up. This is called “hallucinating.” However, in a legal situation, this can have serious consequences for your injury claim. Attorneys have been sanctioned for submitting inaccurate information produced by AI programs.
If you submit incorrect information in documents, based on AI-generated forms, Jeff explains that many states will consider that to be insurance fraud. Among other negative consequences, this could lead to criminal charges. Imagine facing that situation because of an AI-produced hallucination that you didn’t catch.
The jury in a case strongly looks to the credibility of the plaintiff. The insurance company will be sure to cast doubt on your credibility and honesty, in court. Do they believe what they are being told about the injuries and how those injuries are affecting that person? If they already have to question why you submitted inaccurate facts, they will most certainly remember that when deciding on the value of your case.
Will AI be able to Represent You in an Appeal?
In Episode 116, Jeff addressed the question, “Should I Let a National Social Security Disability Company File My Claim?” He was joined by a client who discussed several issue that developed, including the fact that representatives from this company weren’t able to file their appeal in federal court, because they weren’t actually lawyers. Do you know if the AI company has lawyers there to represent you with an appeal? Will you have to hire a new attorney who’s unfamiliar with your case? Wouldn’t you feel more confident having the attorney who’s spent months working on your case continue fighting for you? It’s definitely a hidden risk of letting AI handle your injury claim.
To an insult to injury, it may be difficult to find an attorney who’ll be willing to handle the appeal for a case they didn’t originally handle, especially at the federal level.
Will AI Keep You from Missing Your Statute of Limitations?
The statute of limitations is a specific period of time during which you must file your claim. If you miss it, you may be barred from pursuing your claim. Jeff discussed Understanding Your Statute of Limitations in Episode 55. How will AI ensure that you don’t miss this critical deadline? While AI has its uses and benefits, it also has its limits.
If you miss your statute of limitations, because you’re using AI, you may not have any further legal recourse. On the other hand, if your lawyer was the one who missed the deadline, or made another type of mistake, you’d be able to sue him/her for legal malpractice.
Do You Know All of the Facts and Issues AI Needs to Handle Your Claim?
An experienced attorney will understand your type of injury and can dig deeper to uncover other related issues that might have a significant impact on your claim. AI only knows what you provide it.
This is even more complicated by medical terminology and complicated language. What if auto-correct changes one of the medical terms such as a herniated disc with radiculopathy, for example? Have you ever had a text message sound garbled because it didn’t understand what you or the other person was saying? An attorney would catch this error. Unfortunately, you might not, especially if it’s buried in a very long document.
Legal Documents Are Long and Complex for a Reason
Jeff comments that he’s submitted demand letters to insurance companies that are 50-60 pages, not including the medical records and other supporting documentation. They layout the specific reasons as to why an attorney is placing a certain value on the claim and why the insurance company should pay it. It’s a very methodical document with complex terminology and legal procedures.
If you are going to be responsible for reading through each word, on each page, is it possible you might not understand when some term or reference is incorrect? All the while, you’re under the pressure of that ticking clock called a statute of limitations. Once again, if you miss something, it could have a devastating impact on your claim. As stated earlier, it’s a risk of letting AI handle your injury claim.
In Episode 104, Jeff addressed 7 Benefits of Hiring an Attorney if You’ve been in an Accident. There are certain mistakes that can prevent your ability to file additional claims. At the same time, an attorney can help you understand and prepare to deal with any health insurance liens that may impact your settlement (Episode 107).
In closing, Jeff comments how he believes you need to have an experienced attorney who knows what they’re doing, understands the law and knows how to handle your case correctly. When it comes to AI, “It has its place. Being your attorney in your case is not the place for it, in my opinion.”
We hope you found this episode insightful and helpful.
Thank you for listening!
What Do Other Clients Think About Jeff?
We always encourage listeners to read the Google Reviews Jeff Roberts has received from many of his clients. A 5-Star rating and the comments are earned recognition and demonstrate Jeff’s commitment to his clients. As a solo attorney, he has more Google Reviews than some firms with multiple attorneys. Jeff shares the credit with his staff at the Roberts Law Office. Successfully representing injured clients is a team effort. It’s why Jeff likes to say his firm offers “Small Town Service with Big City Results.”
Jeff Roberts Represents Injured Clients Throughout Kentucky
With offices located in Calloway County (Murray) and now in Christian County (Hopkinsville), Jeff has a history of representing personal injury clients, workers’ compensation clients and social security disability clients across the state. He’s represented clients from Paducah, Bowling Green, Louisville, Covington, Whitesville and many other Kentucky locations. He’s not just a Western Kentucky injury attorney.
Is It Time to Speak with an Attorney about Your Injury Claim?
The office phone number is (270) 753-0053 or toll free at 800-844-5108. For more information, visit www.JeffRobertsLaw.com. This podcast is meant to provide information and is not legal advice. Jeff’s principal office is located at 509 Main Street, Murray, Kentucky. Co-host Jim Ray is a non-attorney spokesperson. This is an advertisement.
