I recently attended a webinar where the speaker stated that as facts emerged in mediation, we would be able on the spot to turn to artificial intelligence for a case evaluation.

Teddy Snyder

Uh, no.

Don’t get me wrong. I have test-driven ChatGPT. It is a phenomenal tool and search engine. If you are stuck for ideas, a carefully crafted query can produce excellent results. Then it’s up to you to use those results to produce your own work product.

For example, I asked for five reasons to timely notify an insurance company of a loss. Here is an outline of the answer, omitting the full explanations:

• Fulfillment of policy requirements.
• Faster claim processing.
• Evidence preservation.
• Compliance with legal obligations.
• Protection against further damage.

I tested the ability of ChatGPT to evaluate a case. I provided a figure for medical expenses and lost earnings and no specific amount for pain and suffering. ChatGPT answered:

"As an AI language model, I cannot provide legal advice or determine the outcome of a personal injury case, as these depend on various factors such as the specific circumstances of the incident, the jurisdiction and the evidence presented."

Similarly, the answer about the value of a workers' compensation claim was:

"[E]ach case is unique, and the value of a workers' compensation settlement can vary widely depending on the individual circumstances. To get a more accurate estimate of the value of a settlement for a particular case, it's best to consult with a qualified workers' compensation attorney in California."

And those are the right answers. Lawyers and claims professionals supply the human intelligence to evaluate a case based on all the variables. AI is great at collecting available information and presenting it in a requested format. What it can’t do is analyze and evaluate.

In my book, "Personal Injury Case Evaluation: What’s My Case Worth?", I explain seven specific ways to use your human intelligence to evaluate a personal injury case. AI isn’t going to do it for you. But a mediator can help you figure it out.

Attorney Teddy Snyder mediates workers' compensation cases throughout California. She can be contacted through snydermediations.com or by email at TSnyder@SnyderMediations.com.