AI tools usually work from simplified inputs (injury level, age, treatment type, and a few generic assumptions). That can be useful as a starting point, but spinal cord injuries don’t follow spreadsheets.
In practice, insurers and Iowa attorneys focus on details such as:
- Neurological severity and stability (what the records show today, and what doctors expect next)
- Complications that can change care needs—skin breakdown risk, respiratory issues, spasticity, bowel/bladder management
- Functional loss documented by therapists (transfers, mobility, ability to work, dressing/bathing needs)
- Causation: whether the medical timeline supports that the SCI resulted from the specific crash or incident
AI estimates can drift high or low when the tool can’t see things like MRI/CT findings, detailed neuro exams, or a clinician-supported life-care plan.


