Personal injury lawyers are on the front lines advocating for clients who have been through accidents, medical malpractice, or life-altering events. These cases often involve large financial settlements and highly sensitive medical records, making personal injury law firms an attractive target for cybercriminals.
If you’re a personal injury attorney, cybersecurity should be treated with the same priority as client advocacy. Cyber threats can compromise your clients’ personal information, disrupt active cases, and severely damage your firm’s reputation.
In this blog, we’ll explore why personal injury lawyers are uniquely at risk and what steps you can take to protect your firm.
Why Personal Injury Law Firms Are Targeted
1. Access to Large Financial Settlements
Cybercriminals are drawn to cases involving significant payouts, especially those managed through wire transfers or settlement disbursements.
2. Highly Sensitive Medical and Legal Records
Personal injury cases often involve medical histories, insurance details, accident reports, and personal identification information that can be exploited for identity theft or sold on the dark web.
3. Tight Deadlines and High Case Volume
With strict filing deadlines and multiple open cases, personal injury firms can be pressured into acting quickly—creating opportunities for phishing and wire fraud attacks.
4. Frequent Third-Party Communications
Personal injury cases involve regular contact with insurance companies, healthcare providers, courts, and opposing counsel, increasing exposure to phishing attempts and impersonation attacks.
Common Cybersecurity Threats for Personal Injury Attorneys
Phishing and Spoofing
Cybercriminals may send fraudulent emails posing as insurance adjusters, medical providers, or even clients to trick attorneys or staff into disclosing information or wiring funds.
Ransomware Attacks
Hackers may encrypt case files and demand payment to restore access, which can stall negotiations or trial preparations.
Business Email Compromise (BEC)
Attackers may infiltrate your email system to manipulate communications around settlements, insurance payouts, or client funds.
Data Breaches
Exposing confidential client data—especially sensitive health records—can lead to lawsuits, fines, and reputational damage.
Cybersecurity Best Practices for Personal Injury Law Firms
1. Verify All Financial Transactions
Always confirm wire instructions by phone using known contact numbers.
Establish multi-person approval processes for settlement disbursements.
2. Secure Email and Communication Channels
Use encrypted email for sensitive information.
Implement secure client portals for sharing documents and case updates.
3. Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Require MFA across all accounts to prevent unauthorized email or software access, even if passwords are compromised.
4. Educate Staff and Clients
Conduct ongoing cybersecurity training to help your team recognize phishing scams, spoofed emails, and other social engineering tactics.
Educate clients about your firm’s communication protocols to prevent them from falling victim to scams.
5. Regularly Update Software and Backups
Ensure that all devices, software, and security patches are current.
Maintain frequent, secure backups to protect against ransomware and data loss.
6. Work With a Cybersecurity-Focused IT Partner
Collaborate with an IT provider experienced in supporting law firms, particularly those handling sensitive personal data and high-stakes financial transactions.
Final Thoughts: Cybersecurity is Client Advocacy
Personal injury clients come to you during some of the most difficult moments of their lives, trusting you with their most personal information. Protecting that trust through strong cybersecurity measures is part of your responsibility as their advocate.
By proactively strengthening your defenses, you protect not only your firm’s operations but also your clients’ futures.
