Georgia Personal Injury Claims and AI

What is AI? In its most basic sense, AI is artificial “intelligence” that allows machines or computers to perform tasks that would normally require human intelligence. Google Cloud gives us a straight-forward analysis of AI that includes brief answers to questions like: How does AI work? What types of AI exist? How does AI learn? What are some benefits of AI? 

AI can benefit our lives in many ways, but we should proceed with caution, especially when utilizing AI in conjunction with personal injury claims. When it comes to personal injury claims, this author, believes that current AI technology is a flawed tool for estimating the value of a person injury claim. My law partner and I dig into the “Why” in this video:

Don’t have time for a ten-minute video, no problem. Let’s take a real-world case example to understand the “Why”:

I provided Microsoft Copilot with the following prompt:

What is the value of a personal injury case with the following facts in the State of Georgia? A man visits a restaurant/bar and consumes 7 alcoholic drinks over a 4-hour period. When the bar closed, an employee asked the man to take some items outside. The man did so and was unintentionally locked out of the bar. It was very cold and raining outside. The man attempted to gain re-entry by knocking on the door and calling the employee. He was unsuccessful. Therefore, he tried to walk around the building to gain access through a rear entrance. As he walked around the building, he fell 11 feet off a concrete retaining wall and sustained significant injuries. The retaining wall was located in a dark unlit area of the property. The bar owner knew the retaining wall was a hazard; yet, no guards or railing were placed around the retaining wall. The most severe injuries were a moderate TBI and lower back disk injury. He was hospitalized for 5 days and incurred approximately $350,000 in medical bills. What is this case worth?

I received the following Answer:

I’m really sorry to hear about the injuries sustained in this incident. Determining the exact value of a personal injury case can be complex and depends on various factors, including the severity of the injuries, medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Given the details you’ve provided, the case involves significant injuries, including a moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI) and a lower back disk injury, with substantial medical bills of approximately $350,000. In Georgia, personal injury settlements can vary widely, but severe injury cases can sometimes reach settlements in the range of $200,000 to $500,000 or more.

It’s important to consult with a personal injury attorney who can evaluate all aspects of the case, including liability, negligence, and the extent of damages, to provide a more accurate estimate.

Would you like some help finding a reputable personal injury attorney in Georgia?

There is a lot to unpack here but I must start with the fact that CoPilot undervalued this case by over $4,000,000.00. This is the actual jury verdict our firm obtained in December of 2023 showing exactly what a 12-person jury awarded in a case with these facts:

You can learn more about this specific case here:     

But, I digress. Why, in this example does AI attempt to provide a numerical answer? Perhaps, it is because I asked it to. But why not answer the question in a way that acknowledges AI’s current shortcomings? An answer that simply encouraged me to seek the advice of an experienced lawyer would be more helpful and minimize the risk that I would be misled by the response.

The injured person would need to consult an experienced lawyer and discuss several issues that would arise in a case like this. So, what are some variables an experienced lawyer should consider in estimating case value?

  1. How can Georgia’s comparative fault laws effect a personal injury recovery? In Georgia, a jury can allocate percentages of fault between the Plaintiff, Defendant, and Non-Parties. The juries’ allocation of fault between those persons will determine whether the Plaintiff may recover and whether the Plaintiff’s total damages will be reduced. Georgia’s comparative negligence laws, would completely bar a recovery if the jury determined that the Plaintiff was 50% or more at fault. O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33(g). If the jury found the Plaintiff to be more than 0% but less than 50% at fault, the judge would be required to reduce the total damages awarded to the Plaintiff in proportion to his or her percentage of fault.
  2. Where would the lawsuit be filed? In legal circles, we call that “jurisdiction” and “venue.” Jurisdiction and venue matter! If a federal court has jurisdiction over the case, a lawyer must be admitted to practice before that court and intimately familiar with its local rules. Also, if a state court has jurisdiction, a lawyer must know what county is appropriate for filing suit. This is referred to as “venue.” Jury verdicts vary tremendously between counties in the State of Georgia and, on average, there is a clear difference in the amounts awarded by juries in traditionally conservative venues versus progressive venues.
  3. What is the legal status of the injured person? Was he an invitee, licensee, or trespasser? The duty owed by a property owner is different depending on whether the injured person is a business customer (invitee), social guest (licensee), or trespasser.
  4. Does the amount of time someone will suffer from the injury affect case value? Yes! The lawyer needs to determine whether the injuries are permanent. This is done by consulting with reputable medical professionals who can offer opinions about how the injuries will affect, if at all, the injured person over the remaining years of his or her life. Juries tend to award higher damages if the injured person suffers from his or her injuries for a long period of time.
  5. What if I’m injured, and the property has no insurance? If the property owner or occupier has no unencumbered assets and no insurance, the injured person may not want to bring a claim. After all, the “value” of the case is $0, if there is no person, entity, or insurer to pay for the damages. However, if the property owner has sufficient liability insurance to pay for the injured person’s damages, it may be worthwhile to bring a personal injury claim.

The list of variables one must consider when estimating the value of an injury case is lengthy, but the lesson here is that everyone should use extreme caution when using AI to assign “value” to personal injury claims. AI’s ability to provide an accurate response is limited by the information it is provided. If the person who submits an inquiry to AI does not know the proper variables to include in a question, he or she is likely to receive an inaccurate answer. AI is also limited by what it has “learned” and what information is available when it formulates an answer. AI will undoubtedly make many aspects of our lives easier, but it has a long way to go before it can be relied upon to provide reliable legal advice.

CoPilot did acknowledge that “It’s important to consult with a personal injury attorney who can evaluate all aspects of the case…” Kuddos to CoPilot for acknowledging this important fact; however, CoPilot made a monumental error that could harm the consumer by offering to find a “reputable” personal injury attorney in Georgia. I responded, “Yes” (and am not including CoPilot’s response here because I do not feel it is appropriate to provide additional publicity to one of the firms that was recommended).

CoPilot recommended four personal injury law firms. One of those firms was highly reputable and I would not hesitate to hire them for my own case. However, one of the firms is being sued in a class action in the State Court of Gwinnett County, Georgia for violating O.C.G.A. § 33-24-53 (Unlawful Solicitation of Personal Injury Victims), O.C.G.A. § 16-14-4 (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act), and O.C.G.A. § 10-1-391 (Fair Business Practices Act). The style of the case can be found on the Georgia Court of Appeals website. Why would CoPilot recommend a law firm that is facing such accusations?

All in all, if you are injured and curious about the value of your case, don’t trust AI to provide a value or to recommend a law firm. Do your own research. Talk to lawyers and search for credible information on law firm websites and YouTube Channels. Many reputable law firms provide accurate and free information if you simply look for it. For example, you can find advice on anything from finding the right lawyer for your case to What is a Neck Injury Worth to How Long Will My Workers Compensation Case Take?

The decisions one makes after a personal injury will greatly impact his or her finances. Those decisions should be made with the advice of a reputable and experienced lawyer. CoPilot and I agree on this basic principle. Call a good lawyer. It won’t hurt.