How the Next Technological Revolution Might Change Personal Injury Law

OMAHA, Nebraska. Artificial intelligence is changing the way the world works. From autonomous vehicles to cancer diagnosis to loan approvals, artificial intelligence is slowly taking over the world. According to the Atlantic, artificial intelligence has been called the “fourth industrial revolution.” With technology changing the world, some lawyers are asking how artificial intelligence could change personal injury law.

In addition to autonomous vehicles changing how car accident law might be handled in the future, artificial intelligence can also have a major impact on insurance. According to Forbes, insurance companies are looking to bring artificial intelligence into the claims process. In the future, artificial intelligence programs might review your claim, audit the claim, and produce a settlement. While there might be good things that can come from this—such as greater consistency in how insurance companies settle claims, there can also be challenges. For example, when insurance companies use estimates of average damages, victims who suffer more serious losses may receive settlement offers that are lower than they may require or deserve. Artificial intelligence is also only as good as the programmers who create it. In many cases, artificial intelligence uses proprietary programs where the formulas and numbers being crunched are not always readily available. This could make it harder for personal injury lawyers to dispute lower settlement amounts, especially if a lawyer cannot access the figures or the algorithm being used to reach a settlement amount. It isn’t easy to argue against a process you cannot see.

That said, personal injury lawyers, like Rensch & Rensch Law in Omaha, Nebraska, can still bring forth the facts of a given case and fight for the rights of victims when settlements don’t add up.

Already, insurance companies are using AI algorithms to identify fraudulent claims. Artificial intelligence can also help insurers with the underwriting process. The underwriting process involves an evaluation of risk, and computers, as well as artificial intelligence programs, are good at crunching numbers.

Artificial intelligence may also allow insurance companies to use vast quantities of data supplied to the company by its customers. This can help the insurance company determine insurance premiums and estimate settlements.

Artificial intelligence brings with it the promise of making our lives better and safer. For example, artificial intelligence programs can track doctors’ hand-washing to ensure that they engage in best practices when it comes to patient safety. Yet, the new technology can also be used to create greater disparities of wealth through unequal access to information. While schools like Stanford are trying to bridge the gap by bringing women and minorities into AI research, we’re still a long way away from our goals.

At the end of the day, your insurance company has a responsibility to honor its commitments to you, whether or not it is using a computer program to determine a settlement after a car accident. If you believe that the settlement you are being offered is lower than what you need or deserve, reach out to Rensch & Rensch Law today. Our firm can bring the human element back into your claims process.

 

Rensch & Rensch Law

7602 Pacific Street,

Suite 102

Omaha, NE 68114