Three Considerations for Personal Injury Attorneys Embracing AI

I recently had the pleasure of hosting a webinar, “Enhancing Efficiency in Personal Injury Law” with Peter Wilborn, Attorney at Wilborn Law and Founder of the Bike Law Network. One of the questions we explored is something that comes up often in my conversations with attorneys: Why pay for a medical record summary service when there are free options available, like ChatGPT, Claude, Microsoft Copilot, and others?

Why pay for a medical record summary service when there are free options available, like ChatGPT, Claude, Microsoft Copilot, and others?

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In this blog, I share key takeaways from our discussion, and offer guidance on what legal professionals should consider when evaluating different AI tools for their practice.

Attorneys’ Options for Faster Medical Record Reviews

When it comes to improving the efficiency of medical record reviews, law firms generally consider three options:

1. Outsourcing: This approach can save time and resources by leveraging external reviewers. However, it may come with added costs, especially if the records require more complex analysis or frequent follow-ups.
2. Hiring an Internal Review Team: Bringing the work in-house gives firms more control and access to legal and clinical expertise. But it can also increase internal workload and pull valuable staff away from more strategic priorities.
3. Using Free or Open-Source AI: Tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and other generative AI options can produce quick medical record summaries at no cost. However, as we discussed during the webinar, there are clear trade-offs, particularly around reliability, accuracy, and data security. These tools are not inherently HIPAA-compliant, or built specifically for legal use, which raises concerns when uploading sensitive medical records containing PII where compliance is crucial.

During the webinar, I asked Peter what he thought about using free or open-source AI as a solution to time-consuming medical record reviews. 

“I think it’s a disaster,” Peter said. “People hear AI and they think all tools are the same—and that's absolutely not the case. I think most of us are familiar with the problems of phantom case law. I am stunned that people trust open source AI. I think it's insane.”

Peter went on to emphasize the importance of choosing AI solutions that are intentionally built for legal and medical use cases, in a controlled, secure environment

“I’m a strong believer in understanding the differences between AI tools, and in choosing a platform that’s specific, focused, and part of a closed ecosystem, not an open one,” said Peter.

The Benefits of Leveraging Specialized AI for Personal Injury Law

One of the core insights from the webinar was that AI can be a powerful asset if it’s purpose-built for legal teams. With the volume and complexity of medical records continuing to grow, the pressure to review them quickly and thoroughly is only increasing. This is especially true for personal injury practices, where tight timelines and medical nuance are critical to case outcomes.

Specialized AI offers a smarter, more reliable way to tackle this challenge. Key benefits include:

• Greater Efficiency: Purpose-built platforms can generate organized medical record summaries and timelines rapidly, freeing up attorneys and staff to focus on case strategy.
• Improved Consistency and Accuracy: Legal AI tools reduce variability across cases and reviewers, minimizing the risk of missed details and human error.
• Enhanced Productivity: By automating the most time-consuming parts of the process, legal teams are able to work faster and more effectively, without compromising quality.

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Three Considerations When Choosing an AI Provider

Later in the webinar, we shifted the dialogue to evaluating AI options. The message was clear: not all AI tools are created equal, and choosing the right one can make all the difference. 

Here are three critical considerations when selecting an AI-powered medical record summary solution:

1. True Cost vs. Perceived Savings: Free tools might seem appealing, but they often lack the support, compliance, and precision legal teams require. What looks like savings on the surface may lead to more time spent fixing errors—or worse, jeopardizing a case for your client.
2. Purpose-Built vs. General-Purpose Tools: General-purpose AI tools aren’t designed to meet the complex needs of legal professionals or interpret the nuances of medical terminology. Look for a platform that’s designed specifically to analyze medical records for attorneys, with a closed and controlled ecosystem for greater reliability.
3. Data Security and Compliance: Legal professionals handle highly sensitive information, and any tool they use must meet strict standards for data encryption, storage, and privacy. Make sure any AI solution you consider is HIPAA, SOC2 Type II, and GDPR compliant, and that it aligns with your ethical obligations as counsel.

One of the most important takeaways from the webinar was that choosing the right AI tool isn’t just about speed. It’s also about trust, quality, and long-term value. Law firms that embrace the right technology are better positioned to handle growing caseloads, reduce operational bottlenecks, and deliver better results for their clients.

DigitalOwl’s Self-Serve portal was built with legal professionals in mind. It helps attorneys and paralegals streamline time-consuming medical record reviews, organize complex files, and generate summaries and chronologies in less time, without compromising accuracy or compliance. The platform is fully HIPAA, SOC2 Type II, and GDPR compliant, so you can work confidently with sensitive information.

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If you missed the live session, you can watch the full webinar recording here.

Or, schedule a demo with me to see how DigitalOwl’s legal AI platform can help your team.