Golden Pear Blog

AI in Injury Law—Friend or Foe?

Written by Golden Pear | Aug 11, 2025 2:22:05 PM

Artificial intelligence isn’t a distant concept for personal injury law anymore—it’s here, it’s active, and it’s shaping the way claims are evaluated, negotiated, and settled.

In the past two years, insurers have quietly integrated AI into nearly every stage of their claims process. On the other side, plaintiff attorneys are experimenting with AI tools for research, evidence organization, and client communication.

The result? A race to see who can use the technology more effectively—and ethically.

But the question remains: Is AI a friend or a foe to injured plaintiffs?

Where AI Is Already Showing Up in Personal Injury Cases

Whether you realize it or not, AI is already influencing outcomes in ways that aren’t always visible to clients—or even attorneys.

On the insurance side, AI tools are being used to:

  • Scan accident reports and medical records in minutes.
  • Predict settlement ranges based on historical data.
  • Flag claims likely to be settled quickly for lower amounts.

On the plaintiff side, law firms are using AI for:

  • Automating document review and sorting evidence.
  • Conducting rapid legal research on relevant case law.
  • Drafting demand letters and case summaries faster.
  • Tracking case status and automating client updates.

In short, AI is touching nearly every part of a personal injury case—and it’s doing it at unprecedented speed.

The Potential Benefits for Attorneys and Plaintiffs

When used responsibly, AI can be a genuine ally.

  • Efficiency: Hours of document review shrink to minutes, freeing attorneys to focus on strategy.
  • Thoroughness: AI can flag overlooked precedents or inconsistencies in defense arguments.
  • Accessibility: Smaller firms can access research power once reserved for large practices.
  • Client service: Chatbots and automated updates keep clients informed without constant phone tag.

These advantages can level the playing field—if attorneys control how the AI is used and ensure it serves their client’s best interests.

The Risks—And Why They Matter

The flip side is that AI can also introduce risks, especially when the other side controls the technology.

  • Algorithmic bias: If an insurer’s AI is trained primarily on past insurer-favorable settlements, it can undervalue a claim from the start.
  • Speed over scrutiny: An AI can spit out a “fair value” in seconds—without considering the human impact of an injury.
  • Data privacy: Plaintiffs’ sensitive medical and financial information is now passing through automated systems that can be vulnerable to breaches.

When these risks combine, plaintiffs may face stronger pressure to settle early—and for less.

A Tale of Two AIs: Insurer vs. Plaintiff-Side Use

The goals of insurer AI and plaintiff AI couldn’t be more different:

  • Insurers use AI to close cases faster and reduce payouts.
  • Plaintiff attorneys use AI to build stronger cases and secure maximum compensation.

The imbalance is clear: insurers can afford to deploy vast, data-driven systems at scale. Plaintiffs often rely on smaller teams with fewer resources. Without a strategy to close that gap, attorney advocacy can be undermined before negotiations even begin.

The Funding Connection: Why AI Can Pressure Early Settlements

When an insurer’s AI flags a case as “low resistance” due to the plaintiff’s financial stress, it can trigger a quick lowball offer. For a client struggling to pay rent or keep up with medical bills, that offer can be tempting—even if it’s far below the claim’s true value.

This is where pre-settlement funding changes the game.
By providing plaintiffs with the financial stability to cover essentials, funding removes the urgency to accept the first offer and gives attorneys the time to counter AI-driven undervaluations with a fully developed case.

At Golden Pear, we’ve seen firsthand how a well-timed funding advance allows attorneys to push for the settlement their client truly deserves—without the ticking clock of financial hardship.

Golden Pear’s Perspective on AI

We view AI as a tool, not a decision-maker. In our own operations, AI helps us process funding requests quickly and efficiently—but every approval still goes through experienced human review.

Our commitment is simple: technology should enhance fairness and speed without replacing the judgment, strategy, and empathy that personal injury law demands.

Practical Advice for Attorneys Navigating AI in Injury Law

  1. Ask for human review: If an insurer presents an AI-generated settlement valuation, request a human adjuster’s detailed assessment.
  2. Educate your clients: Make sure they understand how AI might be influencing the offers they receive.
  3. Leverage plaintiff-side AI tools: Use technology to organize evidence, model settlement ranges, and speed up case prep.
  4. Secure financial stability early: Partner with a funding provider who understands the pressures of AI-driven negotiation timelines.

Conclusion: Friend, Foe… or Both?

AI is here to stay in personal injury law. The question isn’t whether it’s good or bad—it’s how you position yourself and your clients to benefit from it.

When insurers control the AI narrative, plaintiffs can be pushed into settlements that don’t reflect the true cost of their injuries. When attorneys and funding partners work together to balance that equation, AI can be transformed from a silent adversary into a powerful ally.

At Golden Pear, we help level the playing field—so technology works for your clients, not against them.