In personal injury law, evidence is everything. Personal injury clients count on attorneys to help them recover losses from the harm they’ve suffered. There are numerous ways that personal injury attorneys gather evidence, and technology such as case management software or CRM for law firms helps them: 

• Gather data. Mobile phones are helpful to those injured in a motor vehicle crash by allowing them to call 911 – the phone records the time of the call, which can be valuable evidence in a personal injury case.

• Record evidence. When a dashcam captures the scene of a motor vehicle accident, this video can be shown at trial to establish how the crash happened and who was at fault.

• Prove liability. When law enforcement takes a photograph of a license plate, the photo can be used as identifying information to prove liability.

• Manage cases. Personal injury case management software organizes client information, manages workflows, generates documents, handles billing, keeps files secure, and performs many other essential functions.

Case management software is a valuable tool for personal injury law firms of all sizes. It replaces paper files and client tracking in a spreadsheet on Excel, reduces human error, automates manual processes and repetitive tasks, establishes and maintains client engagement, and ensures that vital information is securely stored and easily accessible.

What is case management software for personal injury?

Personal injury case management software is technology customized to help personal injury attorneys manage their firms and build solid cases. Personal injury-specific platforms typically include custom forms and templates for various types of personal injury cases – medical malpractice, slip and falls, automobile accidents, workplace injuries, and more – as well as specific features like:

• Conflict checking

• Client intake automation

• Task management 

• Appointments scheduling

• Automated appointment reminders 

Because personal injury is a document-heavy area of practice, many of these platforms provide robust document management functionality and the ability to track deadlines and run reports that offer an overview of each case as it progresses. However, since most personal injury attorneys accept cases on a contingency basis, these systems may not include time-tracking functionality, instead focusing on tools to manage all stages of a case, including litigation.

What is the difference between CRM and case management software?

The main difference between case management software and CRM (customer relationship management) is that case management software is intended to streamline the internal operations of a law firm. At the same time, CRMs are professional marketing tools that focus on external communications, allowing attorneys to communicate with potential clients. However, some case management tools include lead management and customer relationship management features.

Case management software helps firms automate and build systems around things like:

• Invoicing and bookkeeping

• Case records

• Client contact information

• Files and documents

• Critical deadlines

• Calendaring and appointments

CRMs are professional marketing tools that allow firms to:

• Build lists of prospects

• Categorize prospective clients

• Conduct drip email campaigns

• Track interactions with potential clients

• Use their website to collect contact information

• Visualize and manage their sales funnel

As law firms grow, they might eventually need both tools. However, case management software is typically a priority for growing firms.

Why do personal injury lawyers need case management software?

Case management software helps personal injury attorneys operate more efficiently. In general, these systems can help law firms:

• Reduce the risk of defending a legal malpractice claim

• Lower the firm’s malpractice insurance rate

• Streamline attorney-client communications 

• Eliminate missed deadlines 

• Reduce staff workload 

Generally speaking, If a law firm isn’t using case management software, it might be wasting time and money compared to firms that have digitized their practice.

Features and benefits of personal injury case management software

Personal injury case management software automates repeatable processes, enabling firms to focus on clients. Here are some of the features and benefits of the most agile, cloud-based systems:

• Client intake forms allow users to capture intake data based on the type of case to save time and money and to reduce human error.

• Document automation that utilizes custom fields to merge data and contacts, then auto-fill directly into boilerplate legal forms with one click.

• Secure communication platforms to help attorneys find and send critical client information quickly and easily.

• E-signature capability to enable lawyers to quickly generate and securely deliver fee and retainer agreements to clients from anywhere to eliminate costly delays.

• File request builders that make it easy to find and send vital case files in seconds.

This article was authored by Jan Hill.