Technology has clearly had a major impact on day-to-day life. Every year, new technological innovations become commonplace in our world, and we now rely on technology to complete a wide variety of tasks. Not only has tech changed daily routines on an individual level, but it has also impacted the way most industries conduct their business.
The legal field is not immune to these technological advancements. In many ways, technology has helped attorneys work faster and more accurately. One area of the law in which tech seems to be particularly valuable is personal injury. Technology has had an especially large influence on car accident cases as vehicles are also rapidly becoming more advanced.
Many lawyers use technology for virtually every step of the process when working on a car injury claim. By embracing new technological innovations, attorneys are using every resource available to them to fight for their clients.
Artificial Intelligence for Claims Assessments
One of the first steps in filing a personal injury claim is assessing the value of the claim. There are so many factors to consider when evaluating a claim, and it can take a long time for attorneys to work through every case they encounter.
Artificial intelligence is making this process easier. This technology is still in its early stages, so it isn’t always the perfect solution for every law firm. Insurance companies are a few steps ahead of the legal industry as most have begun to use AI for processing claims. However, the large law firms that have already incorporated AI into their systems are saving time and energy by letting the technology assess the value of the claims.
AI can also be used by law firms to review documents and extract relevant information. Attorneys can set search parameters for digital documents without using artificial intelligence, but it appears likely that AI will be the future of this practice. AI learns over time, so it will become more and more efficient until it is as fast and accurate as possible. This reduces the number of times lawyers need to pore over documents to search for information, which means they can spend more time building their cases and representing their clients.
Technology for Evidence
Technology that collects data is already playing a monumental role in car accident cases. Accidents happen quickly and chaotically, and it can be difficult to piece together an accurate account of what happened. The drivers involved may have a limited perspective on the story, and there aren’t always witnesses on the scene who can objectively describe the crash. Police officers, insurance companies, and lawyers all make their best inferences based on the facts they have.
Now, with how widespread technology has become, it’s likely that there was at least one device on the scene that recorded some helpful information. Dash cams are particularly helpful when filing a car accident claim as the video recording provides a clear account of the event. A dash cam can prove or disprove a driver’s liability, and it can protect an innocent person from a lawsuit.
Mobile phones can be an asset, too. Drivers can take pictures of their cars immediately after the accident, and these photos of the scene will help lawyers and insurance agents gain a better understanding of the situation.
All vehicles manufactured after 2014 are required to contain an EDR, or event data recorder. An EDR keeps a record of many important pieces of data, which can help lawyers and insurance providers piece together what happened before, during, and after a car accident. For example, the device records the vehicle’s speed, change in velocity, and braking patterns, all of which may be used to determine who was at fault for the crash.
Technology may even play a role in collecting data long after the accident occurred. In one court case, lawyers proved their client’s pain and suffering following an accident by using information from her fitness tracker. By showing data from Fitbit before and after the accident, they made a strong case that the woman’s activity level was significantly impacted.
Technology Causing Car Accidents
Although technology offers plenty of value to lawyers and other professionals, it’s also important to consider the risks that tech creates. When it comes to car accident cases, technology is a major contributor to distracted driving. Texting while driving is a serious concern in this day and age, and the number of accidents caused by distracted driving is on the rise.
Proving that a driver was distracted by their phone can be fairly easy, too. Lawyers and insurance companies could access the driver’s phone records to determine whether or not they were using the device at the time of the crash.
The Future of Technology and Car Accident Cases
As new technology continues to take root in our society, other industries will continue to use it to their advantage. One of the most significant new technologies is artificial intelligence, and it’s likely that AI will play a major role in the legal industry in the next decade. This technology can learn and adapt over time, and its abilities will continue to expand. The more that lawyers can rely on AI to complete time-consuming tasks, the more they can dedicate their time to their clients.
Another technological development that will affect car accident cases in the future is self-driving cars. Although experts are still in the early stages of developing self-driving vehicles, we can expect to see more news about their presence on the road in the next few years. Some people predict that self-driving cars will experience more accidents than cars operated by humans, and other people believe that the widespread use of self-driving cars will drastically decrease the number of crashes.
In the last couple of decades, tech has been immensely beneficial for car accident cases. Modern technology collects helpful data about the accident, and AI programs help lawyers and insurance companies sort and process this information efficiently. No matter how advanced technology becomes, though, it’s always important to work with a reputable and trustworthy lawyer if you’ve been injured in a car accident. Successful attorneys know how to use tech to build the strongest possible case, but their skills cannot be replaced by technology. You can contact Potts Law to connect with an experienced attorney if you have any questions or concerns regarding a car accident case.
