AI Prompts

60 AI Prompts for Plaintiff Personal Injury Lawyers

August 18, 2026
10 min read
OctopusLM Team

Strategic prompts to strengthen your case from intake through trial


Personal injury litigation is a document-intensive practice. Medical records, bills, employment records, expert reports—the volume can overwhelm even the most organized attorney. AI can help you work faster and smarter, but only if you know what to ask.

These 60 prompts are organized by the lifecycle of a personal injury case: from initial intake through discovery, mediation, and trial preparation. Each prompt is designed to extract actionable intelligence while flagging what needs your strategic judgment.


Case Intake & Initial Assessment

1. Case Viability Quick Assessment

Based on the initial facts, assess case viability. Consider: 
liability factors, damages indicators, insurance coverage, 
statute of limitations, and potential defenses. Flag any 
red flags that warrant deeper investigation.

2. Statute of Limitations Calculation

Calculate the applicable statute of limitations. Consider: 
date of injury, discovery rule (if applicable), tolling 
factors (minority, incapacity), and any contractual 
limitations periods.

3. Insurance Coverage Analysis

Identify all potential insurance coverage. Include: 
defendant's liability limits, umbrella policies, UIM/UM 
coverage, medical payments coverage, and any coverage 
disputes that may arise.

4. Damages Categories Checklist

List all potential damages categories applicable to this 
case. Include: medical expenses (past and future), lost 
wages, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, 
disability, disfigurement, loss of consortium, and any 
statutory damages.

5. Pre-Existing Conditions Alert

Review the client's medical history for pre-existing 
conditions that may affect damages. Identify: conditions 
relevant to the injury, prior treatment, and whether 
the injury is an aggravation vs. new injury.

6. Liability Theory Development

Based on the facts, develop preliminary liability theories. 
Consider: negligence elements, potential defendants, 
theories of vicarious liability, and any comparative 
fault issues.

7. Defendant Identification

Identify all potential defendants. Consider: direct 
tortfeasors, employers, property owners, manufacturers, 
governmental entities, and any contractual relationships 
creating liability.

8. Initial Case Value Range

Provide an initial case value range based on: injury 
severity, treatment type, permanent impairment, impact 
on employment, and comparable verdicts/settlements in 
this jurisdiction.

Medical Records Analysis

9. Medical Provider Timeline

Create a complete timeline of all medical providers. 
Include: provider name, specialty, dates of treatment, 
and primary purpose of treatment (injury-related vs. 
unrelated).

10. Treatment Gap Analysis

Identify all gaps in medical treatment exceeding 30 days. 
For each gap, note: dates, reason (if documented), and 
potential impact on causation/damages arguments.

11. Medical Specials Calculation

Calculate total medical specials. Distinguish between: 
injury-related treatment, unrelated treatment, and 
questionable treatment. Note any liens or outstanding bills.

12. Future Medical Needs Assessment

Based on the medical records and expert opinions, project 
future medical needs. Include: treatment type, frequency, 
duration, and estimated costs. Cite sources for each 
projection.

13. Diagnostic Test Summary

Summarize all diagnostic tests. For each: date, type, 
findings, and clinical significance. Highlight tests 
that support or refute the injury claim.

14. Surgery Documentation

Compile all surgery-related documentation. Include: 
pre-operative diagnosis, procedure performed, operative 
findings, complications, and post-operative course.

15. Pain Management History

Document the complete pain management history. Include: 
medications, injections, physical therapy, TENS units, 
and any interventional procedures. Track effectiveness 
and side effects.

16. MMI Determination

Identify when the plaintiff reached maximum medical 
improvement. Cite: provider statements, cessation of 
active treatment, and any impairment rating.

17. Pre-Existing Condition Timeline

Create a timeline of all pre-existing conditions. For 
each: condition, date of onset, treatment history, and 
how it relates to the claimed injury.

18. Causation Evidence Compilation

Compile all evidence supporting causation. Include: 
temporal relationship, mechanism of injury, diagnostic 
findings, and expert opinions. Address any causation 
challenges.

Lost Wages & Earning Capacity

19. Employment History Summary

Summarize the plaintiff's employment history for the 
5 years preceding the injury. Include: employer, 
position, dates, wages, and physical demands.

20. Lost Wages Calculation

Calculate lost wages from the date of injury through 
the present. Include: base wages, overtime, bonuses, 
benefits, and any mitigation income.

21. Future Lost Earnings Projection

Project future lost earnings. Consider: work life 
expectancy, earnings trajectory, inflation, discount 
rate, and any vocational rehabilitation potential.

22. Earning Capacity Analysis

Assess loss of earning capacity. Consider: pre-injury 
vs. post-injury capabilities, transferable skills, 
retraining options, and labor market conditions.

23. Self-Employment Income Analysis

For self-employed plaintiffs, analyze business income. 
Consider: tax returns, profit/loss statements, industry 
standards, and any business continuity during disability.

24. Benefits Loss Documentation

Document all lost employment benefits. Include: health 
insurance, retirement contributions, stock options, and 
any other fringe benefits.

Discovery & Investigation

25. Discovery Request Generator

Generate comprehensive discovery requests for this case 
type. Include: interrogatories, requests for production, 
and requests for admission tailored to the facts.

26. Deposition Outline - Treating Physician

Create a deposition outline for the plaintiff's treating 
physician. Include: background, treatment relationship, 
causation opinions, prognosis, and opinions on functional 
limitations.

27. Deposition Outline - Defense IME

Create a deposition outline for the defense IME physician. 
Include: qualifications, methodology, record review, 
examination findings, and opinions on causation/MMI.

28. Deposition Outline - Fact Witness

Create a deposition outline for a fact witness. Include: 
relationship to parties, knowledge of incident, observations 
of plaintiff's condition before/after, and any bias.

29. Expert Witness Identification

Identify potential expert witnesses needed. Consider: 
medical specialists, vocational experts, economists, 
accident reconstructionists, and liability experts.

30. Subpoena Target List

List all entities to subpoena for records. Include: 
medical providers, employers, insurance companies, and 
any third-party witnesses.

31. Social Media Investigation

Outline a social media investigation strategy. Identify: 
platforms to search, relevant time periods, types of 
content to preserve, and authentication requirements.

32. Surveillance Evidence Analysis

If surveillance was conducted, analyze the footage. 
Compare: observed activities vs. claimed limitations, 
dates, duration, and any inconsistencies.

Expert Witness Management

33. Expert Report Review Checklist

Review the expert report for completeness. Check: 
methodology, data sources, opinions stated, basis for 
opinions, and potential Daubert challenges.

34. Expert Disclosure Compliance

Verify expert disclosure compliance. Check: CV attached, 
publications listed, testimony history, compensation, 
and opinions disclosed in sufficient detail.

35. Expert Deposition Preparation

Prepare your expert for deposition. Include: anticipated 
questions, potential attacks on methodology, areas of 
weakness, and how to handle hypothetical questions.

36. Cross-Examination of Defense Expert

Develop a cross-examination outline for the defense expert. 
Include: qualifications challenges, methodology attacks, 
inconsistencies with literature, and bias indicators.

37. Expert Fee Projection

Project expert witness fees through trial. Include: 
file review, report preparation, deposition, trial 
testimony, and any travel expenses.

Settlement & Mediation

38. Settlement Demand Letter Draft

Draft a settlement demand letter. Include: liability 
summary, damages summary, medical specials, lost wages, 
pain and suffering, and settlement figure with rationale.

39. Mediation Brief Outline

Create a mediation brief outline. Include: case summary, 
liability analysis, damages breakdown, comparable results, 
and settlement range with justification.

40. Negotiation History Tracker

Track all settlement negotiations. Include: date, offer/counter, 
terms, and any non-monetary conditions. Note any patterns 
in negotiation posture.

41. Lien Resolution Strategy

Develop a strategy for resolving medical liens. Identify: 
all lienholders, amounts, negotiation priorities, and 
statutory reduction opportunities.

42. Structured Settlement Analysis

Analyze structured settlement options. Consider: tax 
implications, guaranteed payments, rated ages, and 
comparison to lump sum.

43. Policy Limits Demand Assessment

Assess whether to make a policy limits demand. Consider: 
liability strength, damages relative to limits, bad faith 
potential, and defendant's assets beyond insurance.

Trial Preparation

44. Trial Theme Development

Develop 2-3 trial themes. For each: core message, 
supporting evidence, witness testimony, and visual 
aids that reinforce the theme.

45. Jury Questionnaire Draft

Draft a jury questionnaire. Include: experience with 
similar injuries, attitudes toward lawsuits, employment 
history, and any bias indicators.

46. Opening Statement Outline

Create an opening statement outline. Include: case 
introduction, liability narrative, damages preview, 
and what the evidence will show.

47. Direct Examination Outline - Plaintiff

Outline direct examination of the plaintiff. Include: 
background, injury mechanism, treatment journey, impact 
on life, and current limitations.

48. Cross-Examination Outline - Defense Witness

Outline cross-examination of key defense witnesses. 
Include: bias, inconsistencies, concessions to elicit, 
and impeachment points.

49. Exhibit List Preparation

Prepare the exhibit list. For each exhibit: description, 
foundation witness, relevance, and any anticipated 
authentication issues.

50. Jury Instruction Research

Research applicable jury instructions. Include: liability 
instructions, damages instructions, comparative fault, 
and any special instructions needed.

51. Verdict Form Preparation

Prepare the verdict form. Include: liability questions, 
comparative fault, damages categories, and any special 
interrogatories.

52. Witness Order Memorandum

Create a witness order memorandum. Include: order of 
presentation, estimated time per witness, and strategic 
rationale for sequencing.

Case Management

53. Case Timeline & Deadlines

Create a comprehensive case timeline. Include: filing 
deadlines, discovery deadlines, expert deadlines, 
mediation date, and trial date. Flag any scheduling 
conflicts.

54. Task Delegation Checklist

Create a task delegation checklist. Identify: tasks 
for paralegal, associate, and lead attorney. Include 
deadlines and responsible party for each.

55. Client Communication Log

Maintain a client communication log. Include: date, 
method, topics discussed, action items, and any 
follow-up needed.

56. Medical Records Tracking

Track all medical records requests. Include: provider, 
date requested, date received, completeness, and any 
follow-up needed.

57. Expert Witness Tracker

Track all expert witnesses. Include: name, specialty, 
retention date, report deadline, deposition date, and 
fee status.

58. Budget Monitoring

Monitor case budget. Track: expert fees, court costs, 
deposition expenses, and any other litigation costs. 
Compare to initial budget.

Quality Assurance

59. Case Strengths & Weaknesses Analysis

Conduct a strengths/weaknesses analysis. For each: 
identify the issue, evidence supporting/undermining, 
and strategy to address weaknesses.

60. Pre-Trial Checklist

Create a comprehensive pre-trial checklist. Include: 
witness preparation, exhibit preparation, jury 
selection strategy, opening/closing preparation, and 
logistics.

How to Use These Prompts Strategically

Best Practices:

  1. Start Early — Use intake prompts (1-8) to assess viability before committing resources
  2. Organize First — Medical record prompts (9-18) help you master the file before expert review
  3. Prepare Thoroughly — Discovery and deposition prompts (25-36) ensure nothing is missed
  4. Negotiate from Strength — Settlement prompts (38-43) help you justify your demand
  5. Try to Win — Trial prompts (44-52) translate your preparation into persuasion

What AI Cannot Do:

  • Replace your judgment on case value
  • Make strategic decisions on settlement vs. trial
  • Conduct direct examination or cross-examination
  • Build rapport with the jury
  • Make real-time tactical decisions in the courtroom

What AI Does Well:

  • Extracting and organizing medical data
  • Generating first drafts of documents
  • Identifying patterns and gaps in records
  • Creating structured outlines for depositions and trial
  • Tracking deadlines and case management details

The Bottom Line

These prompts help you work more efficiently, but they don't replace what makes you an effective plaintiff's attorney: your ability to tell your client's story, connect with jurors, and fight for maximum recovery. Use AI to handle the mechanical tasks so you can focus on strategy, advocacy, and client relationships.

Your client hired you—not an algorithm—to win their case.


Need help implementing AI in your personal injury practice? Contact us to discuss workflow integration that maintains attorney judgment and client confidentiality.

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