2025 Legal Industry Report: Personal Injury Insights
Practical insights and real strategies to drive a more productive, profitable practice
The legal profession is shifting rapidly, and personal injury law firms are feeling the pressure. Between rising caseloads, client expectations, and emerging technology, today’s firms must adapt or risk falling behind.
37% of personal injury professionals said they personally use generative AI at work, compared to 31% of lawyers overall, highlighting a more tech-forward approach within this practice area
61% of firms currently using AI anticipated increased productivity, and 36% expected it to replace some administrative functions.
45% of respondents reported that accepting credit and debit cards increases their firms’ monthly collection rates.
33% of firms using payroll software report saving 1–5 hours per month, with another 23% saving 6–10 hours—all by automating previously manual processes.
The 2025 Legal Industry Report: Personal Injury Insights, authored by attorney and legal tech strategist Nicole Black, examines the tools, workflows, and strategic decisions shaping the future of personal injury law. Drawing on insights from over 325 legal professionals, the report shows how firms are adopting generative AI, streamlining financial operations, and defining the role of remote work.
"My hope is that the analysis offered in this report provides the benchmarks and information needed to make informed, strategic decisions about your firm in the coming year."
– Nicole Black, Principal Legal Insight Strategist
Where firms lose time—and money
Accounting tops the list of challenges, with 49% of personal injury professionals calling it a significant or moderate hurdle. While lower than the 61% average across all legal professionals, it still signals a major efficiency gap for nearly half of personal injury firms.
Fee collection isn’t far behind: 42% of personal injury practitioners cite it as a challenge, compared to 68% across the legal industry. Even in contingency-based practices, chasing unpaid fees and expenses, like transcript costs or disbursements, can put a strain on cash flow and resources.
Timely payment and financial clarity remain universal challenges across the legal industry.
But firms embracing modern legal billing tools—like payroll automation, trust accounting software, and integrated billing—are seeing results. These tools eliminate friction, save hours each month, and allow teams to focus on client work, growth strategies, and delivering better outcomes.
AI is here, and it’s not just hype
Personal injury firms are emerging as early leaders in legal AI adoption. From summarizing medical records to drafting correspondence, many are already weaving generative AI into their day-to-day operations.
Among firms currently using AI in personal injury law, survey data shows clear expectations around its impact
61% anticipate increased productivity
44% expect cost savings and gains in efficiency
36% believe AI will replace some administrative functions, reducing repetitive, manual tasks
Personal injury firms are also more likely than others to expect AI to replace outsourced work—19% vs.12% across the broader legal market. With high-volume workflows and the demand for fast, accurate turnaround, this segment is especially well-positioned to benefit from automation.
Still exploring AI for your firm? The report outlines the top adoption challenges—including ethical concerns and data privacy—as well as the features legal professionals value most.
Smarter operations, stronger outcomes
Driving law firm efficiency isn’t just about adopting new solutions—it’s about using them strategically. The report shows how high-performing personal injury firms are improving performance by:
Integrating AI with trusted software to streamline workflows and enhance productivity
Using legal-specific accounting tools for accurate forecasting and tighter oversight
Implementing online payments, with 45% of firms reporting higher collection rates through credit and debit card acceptance
Tracking key performance metrics to guide smarter decisions on staffing, client service, and profitability
Firms that take a focused, strategic approach to technology adoption are seeing measurable gains in efficiency, collections, and client satisfaction.
Remote work is here to stay, but it’s evolving
Only 39% of personal injury firms now require full-time in-office work—a major shift from pre-pandemic norms. Learn how practices blend office and remote work, and why cloud-based tools like e-filing, e-signature, and secure video conferencing are now foundational to modern practice.
2025 legal trends: Your top questions answered
From drafting documents to summarizing medical records, firms are adopting AI to boost productivity. The report highlights top use cases and barriers.
Billing, collections, and payroll inefficiencies top the list. The report offers benchmarks and tech strategies from 325+ professionals.
