The Impact of Technology on Personal Injury Law

Technological innovations are changing the way we live our lives. Not only is technology impacting our daily tasks and routines, but it is changing the way most professions and industries conduct business. The legal field is no different. In recent years, lawyers, insurance companies and courts have leveraged the benefits of technology to do their jobs more effectively.

At Findlay Personal Injury Lawyers, we readily embrace the technological innovations available to us in order to provide our clients with the best possible results. This is just one of the ways we strive to provide you with the top notch legal service you deserve.

Using Artificial Intelligence to Assess Personal Injury Claims

Assessing the value of personal injury claims can be a long, tedious process for lawyers and insurance companies. However, new technological advances may revolutionize the way this process is carried out over the next few years.

Zurich Insurance, one of the largest insurance companies in the world, has recently started using artificial intelligence to assist with their assessment of personal injury claims. Zurich Insurance has experienced a significant reduction in the time it takes to evaluate these claims - the amount of work that used to be done in an hour can now be completed in a matter of seconds.

Fukoku Mutual Life Insurance, a Japanese insurance company, has also begun using artificial intelligence to analyze images, documents, videos and audio files. The technology used by Fukoku Mutual Life Insurance has the capability to read thousands of medical documents, medical reports and motor vehicle accident reports in order to calculate the payouts for a claim.

This technology is still a work in progress, but as it's used for an increasing number of claims, the accuracy and reliability has improved exponentially. Due to the success experienced by Zurich and the Japanese, other major insurance companies around the world are in the process of adopting this technology. It appears that artificial intelligence is on the verge of becoming much more standard across the insurance industry.

The improved efficiency of evaluating claims using artificial intelligence is helping these claims move through the process faster than ever before. Lawyers will soon be able to take advantage of this streamlined process as well, enabling them to focus more time and energy on building their clients' cases.

The Use of Technology in the Courtroom

Lawyers have begun using technology to strengthen their ability to conclusively prove their clients' cases. In a recent case in Alberta, the plaintiff's lawyers used a Fitbit to prove that their client, a personal trainer who was injured in a car accident, was significantly less active after the collision than an average woman of the same age and level of fitness. The use of the Fitbit provided comprehensive data that could be objectively compared with the data collected from similar individuals.

As a result of this data, the judge was able to use concrete quantifiable data to determine the appropriate pain and suffering damage award for this plaintiff. The use of hard data can potentially reduce the ability of the defense to use expert testimony in an attempt to undervalue the damages suffered by an injured victim. In addition to strengthening plaintiff cases, this data can potentially reduce court time and legal costs.

While these innovations have the potential to be a game-changer in personal injury cases, the data provided isn't without flaws. There is still some debate regarding the accuracy of the data recorded by devices such as a Fitbit. Most likely, there will be a time in the near future where this data is much more reliable, making this debate moot. In the meantime, lawyers will still need to do their due diligence when building their case in order to ensure this data is one component of the argument they present and not the focal point of the claim.

The Rise of New Technology-Based Personal Injury Claims

New technologies are continually being developed that will make our lives more convenient. Years ago, it was easy to get lost when driving to an unfamiliar location. Today, that is rarely a problem. Smart phones are all equipped with GPS devices that will help you find your desired destination with amazing accuracy. However, the use of these devices also creates a distraction for the driver, and this has increased the risk of getting into a car accident.

Other technology that may offer tremendous benefits creates the potential for similar hazards. Self-driving car technology is in its infancy, but will most likely become much more widespread within the next few years. This technology has the potential to make our lives much easier, but it isn't without its issues. Many studies have found that self-driving cars are five times more likely to be involved in a collision than a vehicle operated by a human driver.

Vape pens are helping many individuals quit smoking. While this is tremendously positive, many of these devices have been known to start fires that result in serious burn injuries. A similar issue has been experienced in hoverboards which have caught fire due to faulty batteries. These devices provide great benefits to consumers, but also pose serious risks.

The dangers associated with some of today's technological innovations are leading to serious injuries to consumers, and product manufacturers are facing a growing number of lawsuits over their technology. As these devices get refined over time, these hazards will likely be minimized. However, there will also likely be a new crop of devices produced in a few years that create new hazards which we can't anticipate yet.

Technology is Here to Stay, but the Skill of Your Lawyer is Still Important

It's clear that technology will continue to be adopted with increasing regularity by the legal profession. Overall, that's a good thing. The benefits associated with this technology far outweigh the drawbacks. However, this technology will never replace the value of a skilled, experienced personal injury lawyer who can build a compelling case that demonstrates the extent of your damages. While lawyers have a new, powerful tool at their disposal, it won't eliminate the hard work, knowledge and attention to detail required to achieve a successful outcome in a case.

Contact our Hamilton Personal Injury Lawyers

If you've been injured due to the negligent actions of another, you may be entitled to compensation for your damages. Please contact Findlay Personal Injury Lawyers using the form on this page or call 905-522-9799 today to schedule a free consultation. We serve clients in Hamilton, Brantford, Burlington, Stoney Creek, Niagara Falls and the surrounding areas of Ontario.