Everyone, myself included, seems to be dabbling in AI. On one hand it seems so revolutionary and helpful, and on the other it seems like it’s taking away our ability to be curious, analytical creatures. With AI answers so readily available, why do we need human analysis?
This got me thinking about how my injured bicyclists are using AI to answer legal questions about their bicycle personal injury cases. Are there injured cyclists out there who would benefit tremendously from the advice and guidance of a trial lawyer working up their insurance claims with the help of ChatGPT and Gemini?!? Increasingly, the answer to that question is YES! And while AI tools are amazing at answering questions quickly and can help cyclists understand basic legal concepts, AI has its limits. For example, ChatGPT cannot give legal advice for your specific situation. And even if you ask it to, my experience playing around with queries about legal issues has shown that it often times doesn’t get the answers right – yikes! So while AI can be helpful to spot issues that might arise in your case, it can’t replace legal analysis and strategy from an experienced trial attorney who knows the rules of the road, how they apply to your specific case, and the risks you face dealing with an insurance adjuster on your own.
Why? Because legal strategy is not just about knowing the law. It’s about understanding humans. It involves reading witnesses, assessing credibility, knowing how insurance adjusters operate, and anticipating how a jury of humans is likely to view your specific case. These skills all require intuition, litigation experience, and human insight. For example, AI will never understand the uniquely human experience of chronic pain and the draining impact it can have on daily lived experience, both emotionally and physically. AI will also never understand the real-world stakes of accepting a small settlement for an injury that may progress to disability as your body ages. And since insurance companies are using AI and big data to minimize settlement offers across the board, the reality is that someone partnering with AI to work up their bicycle personal injury will never maximize their case value even with AI at their side. Hiring a lawyer buys you strength, confidence and (most importantly), leverage, not just sound legal advice and case strategy.
So while some tech-savvy cyclists may choose to navigate their bicycle personal injury case using AI, remember that AI is not accountable to their “client” like a human lawyer. As a lawyer representing injured cyclists, I have ethical duties including confidentiality, diligence, professionalism, honesty and your best interest as my North Star. So while it is entirely possible to use AI to open your claim with an insurance company and get a settlement offer, AI won’t protect you from the pitfalls of relying on AI (e.g., missed deadlines, not knowing the real value of your claim, saying something that destroys your case, missing insurance coverages you didn’t know exist, etc.). Hiring a qualified trial attorney, especially if you are seriously injured or may have chronic injuries as a result of your bicycle accident, will ensure the right questions are asked, the right information to given to the insurance company, the right insurance coverages are available to pay for your damages, and the right settlement demands are made for your specific injuries and damages. And, after all of that, if the insurance company still refuses to honor your lived experience with pain, injuries and recovery, you will already have your lawyer on board to present your case to a jury of actual humans who will decide what your case is worth rather than an insurance company. So, while AI can definitely answer questions, it cannot (and never should) take the wheel in your case.
If you’re ready for advice from a qualified, trial-tested lawyer, you can call me at (206) 257-6559. Consults are always confidential with no obligation and I can help you understand the nuances of your case and the landscape of dealing with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Don’t just get advice, get the right advice!
